Vichy, June 11, French officials admitted last night that British and "Free French" forces had driven to within 18 miles of Damascus in the face of strong French resistance, and revealed that the British Navy had succeeded in landing a small force on the Lebanon coast, between Tyre and Beirut, under cover of a barrage from Bute ish warships, The French, howe counter= attacked the B tish landing party and the "latter "are in the process of being reduced," it was stated, French planes and submarines attacked the British warships and damaged two more British destroyers, officials claimed, Four British planes were shot down during the day.
Despatches published by the German-controlled press in Paris stated that the British had launched a new attack, employing—semi-motorized units, from Iraq along the Euphrates river towards the French desert frontier post of Absoukemal, Fourth columns were being employed in the penetration, The French Air Force, reinforced by units from North Africa, bombed a British motorized column operating in the Marjayoun sector, and this column was "wholly stopped."
At the conclusion of fighting on the third day, the British had advanced a miximum of 30 miles inside Syria, official quarters stated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.