"While German propagandá is making the most of hostile. comments attributed to Marshal to General Weygand, there is rejoicing throughout the Middle East—and ni the least among Free French forces—over the elimination of Axis authority and intrigues from this point of vantage in the -eastern Mediterranean, "As Mr, Churchill indicated, there is every reason for satisfaction in the improvement of the military situation in the Middle East during ihe past two months, The British forces are now in firm control of the eastern Mediterranean up to the Turkish frontier, The Italian Empire in East Africa has been wiped off the map; and Irag has returned to her alliance with Britain. While German armoured columns are stil in the confines of Egypt, the security of ihe Nile Valley has, at any rate for the present, been reasonably assured, "On the Spot"
"All this has coincided with the arrival on the spot of General Sir Claude Auchinleck ahd General Haining, and of Mr, Lyttelton as Minister of State, "These appointments will obviously give" occasion a far-reaching Teview of the military and political situation arid of possibilities of the future, The Middle East has hitherto tanked as a major theatre of war, lis importance is not, likely to diminish now that our position there his been strengthened by the acquisition of Syria."—Reuter Honours of war are to be rendered is] to the French
cluding guns, machine-guns, tanks withdraw Their transport inè forees which
and munitions-commissioned authorized to keep their arms, oldiers will not keep any All other war materials will be the control. of the destroyed by the French under the supervision of the British authorities. Prisoners belonging to the Allied forces will be released ly. French prisoners will be oleased when the whole Syrien and Lebanon territories have been ied and the armistice terms ful!
(Choice of whether to join the Allied cause or be repatriated will be left to each individual. Certain ofcials and special service officers will remain at their posts to ensure continuity of administration until they can be replaced,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.