Vatican City, June 14.
The "Osservatore Romano" yesterday Stockholm published reports that the Russian peasant population was being evacuated from part of the Ukraine and Russian-occupied Poland.
At some points the entire civilian population was being moved, said the reports, Industrial workers and machinery have been in the process of being evacuated for some time ego Sd it ae said.
"Osservatore" also reported that work on the "Stalin line" was being rushed with all possible speed while large-scale army manceuvres were being held—United Press.
; lnereased pressure by British and de Gaullist troops in all sectors in Syria during the last 24 hours is reported in a Vichy communique, which declares that no important results were achieved.
The communique admits, however, that in the coastal region, with the support of a British naval force. which has been still further increased. British troops have succeeded in advancing several kilometres to the outskirts of Sidon, where it says Vichy units are still resi-ting despite a very violent bombardment.
The communique also admits that in the Merj Ayoum area one Vichy defence post was occupied. but claims that the attackers. "Canadian troops," were held everywhere else. It claims the "dispersal of enemy armoured units east of Ermon, and the repulse of an infantry attack with tanks at Kiswe. and adds that yesterday morning British troops directed their efforts further east, where fighting is proceeding.
During the night of June 12-13, the communique says, the R.AF. again bombed the port of Beirut several times, while the Vichy air force continued offensive action against enemy troops despite very active anti-aircraft fre. Vichy bombers are said to have successfully attacked concentrations of motorized units south of Sidon—Reuter.
Canadian troops are ready to be used in amy field to aid Britain, stated Mr, Mackenzie King in a speech which is reported in this issue, Picture shows a large contingent of Canadian airmen arriving in Britain recently.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.