'The advance northward late Syria of Allied. forees, consisting of me-ebonized Beilish,' Free French, Aus tralian and Indian detachments, is progressing, according Fecelved here, 'A military spokesman in Cairo re~ vented that since Sunday afternoon The advance "had proceeded average depth of 38.0 40 malles, Only Geatlered centres of resistance' were encountered," and. the. number of British casualties was negligible, "it Is stated that a. considerable} number of French officers and men have already come over the side of the advancing Free French and Im~ perial troops, and that. a number of Others have ceased to fight, It is considered very. satisfactory that the Allies have erossed the river Litani, which might have been a Very few details are as yet avail able Here on the political aspect as "French reaction, but it seems evident that reslsténce must have been slight so far.
"The advance from Dora through the aimeult Jehol-Druze country Is also progressing satisfactorily, This area mostly composed in the south-east of lava beds, and transport must needs Keep to the tracks, But Jehol Druzes have memories of ruthless repression and are. believed to be pro-British, "The" roads through Dora and Quinetra, both 40 to. 45 miles from Damascus, converge on that eity—the moat important centre fa. Syria, Sheikh-Miskine is half way' between them, "Tyre is about 90 to 95 miles from' Beirut, and the Litani river some ten miles to the north.
There is yet no evidence of German action.
'The speaker added that local populations were enthusiastically wel-foming the Allies in Syrian the reas already occupied, while French troops in these areas' were falling back into line ready to ght alongside the British and 'Free' French—Reuter,
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