NAZI ATTEMPTS TO SPEED TRANSPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 120, 23 May 1941, Page 8

NAZI ATTEMPTS TO SPEED TRANSPORT.

LATE_CABLE NEWS

AID IRAQ REBELS Turks Say British Land Operations Imminent ruilr<! I'rc-s Assm-i; Him.- ■C.p.vrli.'hl. Ree. 2.;J0 p.m. LONDON. May _>2. The liitot news from Syria indicates that the pusition is substantially unchanged, say., ••The Times" Ankara correspondent. French military material and ammunition is Mill reaching Iraq by railway. Some German officers arc reported to have arrived at. Meirut to organise this uallic, German aircraft are being noun to liaq across Syria, the passengers consisting of Gorman ollicers ami instructors.

Shipping circles in Istanbul are talking 01 the Germans attempting to inarter Uussian steamers to convey German arms and ammunition to Turkish ports, from which it is intended to send cargoes to Iraq by rail. In view of the Turkish feelings about the situation in the .Middle 1-Jast it is difficult to imagine Turkey giving the Germans any transport facilities whicn she is not bound to give under the convention, as in the case of railway traffic between Syria and Iraq.

Expectations that the Germans would not long be content with the transport facilities to Syria are speedily being realised. There are already indications of the Germans using the aerodromes at Damascus, Kayak, Palmyra and Aleppo as oases for operations against the British in Iraq. The Turks expect .his development will compel the British soon to send land forces against Syria.

Turkish security is not regarded is being threatened while the Gernans confine their activities to aerial lostilities with the Jiritish in Syria, ait a section of opinion, represented >y the eminent publicist, Yaltchin, irongly holds the view that a fullcale (.iMinan military occupation of >yria and Iraq would mean death to Turkey by asphyxiation. llig Forces in It uinan in The correspondent adds that inforintion received in Ankara confirms :umanian reports that a large German troop concentration in Moldavia sortn Rumania, which was apparently completed at the beginning of -lay, is estimated to comprise IS -rerman and 11 Rumanian divisions. Two theories are held about the easons for these concentrations. The rst is that Hitler desires to bring ■ressure on the Soviet in order to wain economic concessions, also to lfVn e *?? viet collaboration in the iddie East The second is that fit er intends at all costs to attempt n invasion of Britain, and is S ;>ie taking precautions against a