Cairo, June 15, "Meeting at times spasmodic resistance and at other times hindrance due to demolitions, the Allied army continues to slowly into Syria", states a late report from the Syrian front, Authoritative military circles declare that the Allies are now "very closed indeed" to Sidon, Apart from these statements no information is given here regarding the present position, A report from Jerusalem quotes a military spokesman there as stating that the Allied forces which took Merj Ayoum have now split up into two columns, one going in a northwesterly direction and the other continuing the advance to the north-east, In the meantime, the spokesman added, pressure around Damascus was being maintained, A correspondent with the force which took Merj Ayoum reported that in this area there were no signs of hostility to the advance of British forces, aport from the blowing up of bridges by retreating Vichy troops.
Local inhabitants seemed genuinely pleased at the arrival of Allied troops, the correspondent asserted,—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.