MINISTERS LEAVE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 122, 26 May 1941, Page 8

MINISTERS LEAVE

IRAQ REBELS RETREAT

R.A.F. Bomb Roads, Oil And

Transport

lirili.-li iiilicial Wireless. Rec. 2 p.m. RUGBY, May 25. It is learned in London that Naji Suwaidi, Iraq Minister of Finance, who reached Iran some days ago, allegedly, on official business, took his family Avith him. Moreover, it is understood that Mohammed Ali Mahmud, Minister of Communications and Works, has now also reached Iran with his family. The R.A.F. Middle East communique says: "Yesterday R.A.F. bombers carried out an attack on a number of German aircraft on the aerodrome at Aleppo, Syria. One was destroyed and many others were damaged. A bomb, which made a direct hit on a hangar, caused a number of explosions. R.A.F. aircraft bombed insurgent positions at Qurmet Ali, in Iraq, and obtained direct hits on roads and trenches.

"Rebel motor transport was attacked on the roads in the Habanniyah area. Enemy aircraft machine-gunned the cantonment at Habanniyah yesterday on two occasions. Only negligible damage was caused."

A communique issued by British headquarters in Cairo states that damage to roads from intensive flooding about Failujah has caused a temporary pause in operations in this area, according to a British Official Wireless message. Repairs are proceeding.

A Vichy message says it is reported from Bagdad that martial law has been proclaimed in the Bagdad and Kirkup areas.

An Iraqi petrol dump at Cassel's Post. 12 miles from , was bombed and machine-gunned, four large fires being started. The resultant column of smoke was over a mile high. The Mosul aerodrome was machine-gunned by Royal Air Force fighters, two enemy aircraft being destroyed and another damaged. German aircraft bombed and machine-gunned Habanniyah, causing some damage to buildings and slight casualties. From all these operations two British aeroplanes are missing.

British troops successfully dispersed an enemy counter-attack on the outskirts of Failujah. Twenty Iraq rebel officers and 90 other ranks were taken prisoner. A number of lorries and tanks were captured.