The War in Syria

Having captured the Druse capital of Suedia (TIME, Oct. 5), General Gamelin, the French commander, proceeded to blast it into complete obliteration with every engine of scientific destruction at his command. Alleging that every house had been filled with snipers at the time of their entrance into the city, the French proceeded to dynamite countless ramshackle structures.

An interlude is reported to have occurred when French airmen noticed hundreds of Druse warriors participating in the funeral of a sheik. A few high explosive bombs turned the funeral into a shambles.

Stern Frenchmen opined that the Druses would heed permanently such a warning that they must not murder Christians, pillage caravans, or continue to ambush French regiments. The Druses replied by engaging the French in battle with what weapons they can command for three entire days. At the end of that the French forces evacuated Suedia after an occupation of 36 hours, "on account of lack of water," according to French communiques, and took up a position at Messei Frey.

There they found themselves back at the starting point from which they set out to capture Suedia a fortnight since; found ample wells and bountiful supplies. General Gamelin reflected that he had at least rescued the French garrison, which had been held besieged in Suedia by the Druses for 66 days (TIME, Oct. 5).