15 AUGUST 1925, Page 2

Much sympathy is felt with the French, who have a

new and unexpected trouble on their hands in the Jebel Druse revolt. Last week the Jebel Druse tribesmen of the Hauran in Syria surrounded Sueida and captured . part of the garrison and the French Acting Governor: French troops sent from Damascus to relieve Sueida failed to reach it. According to the Jerusalem corres- pondent of the Times, the first section of these troops was ambushed and the second section broke up and scattered. As a result of this rebel success the French have evacuated Southern Hauran. Since the. _first attempts at relief the French have confined themselves to aeroplane bombing expeditions. About 1,500 men originally destined for Morocco have been diverted to Syria. It seems that the casualties among the French - troops amount to several hundreds. * * * *