MUCH IMPROVED SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 189, 8 May 1941, Page 9

MUCH IMPROVED SITUATION

Fighting in Iraq AIR BASE SIEGE RELAXES

Insurgents Give In At Oil Post

LONDON, May 7

A Royal Air Force communique from the Middle East headquarters states that the situation surrounding the air station at Habbania, Iraq, is much easier. Some of the hostile force have retreated away from the station. A British reconnaissance plane saw other insurgents who had been occupying a point on the oil pipe line waving white flags, signifying that they wished to surrendet. Subsequently the post was occupied by our ground troops. The situation at Basra is still quiet. (British Official Wireless aud Press Assn.) (Received May 7, 8.20 p.m.) LONDON, -May 0.

Ankara radio slates that three Bi*tish transports have arrived at Basra with strong reinforcements of troops and tanks. . The radio earlier said that the Iraqi troops bad retreated from the area round Basra. A Royal Air Force (Middle hast) communique states that throughout yesterday British aircraft maintained constant patrols over the Iraqi positions outside the Habbauia R.A.F. station. Motor transport and personnel were bombed and several direct hits were made on gun positions. The results or the shelling of the 'station and of a little machine-gun lire were negligible. Iraqi military positions were bombed at Diwaniya and many direct hits were obtained on barracks and administrative buildings. Motor transport at Falluja was also bit. The Italian news agency claims that the Habbania airfield has been rendered useless but says that the Iraqi troops Have not yet entered because the barbed wire defences are electrical!) charged. t . An Iraqi communique claims that the Iraqi police force have occupied a British post near Samarra, and have captured the wireless station. Arabs’ Ammunition Shortage,

A German report says the Iraqi High Command has ordered its troops to use their ammunition very sparingly, as no fresh supplies are available. Berlin radio says the Iraqi Government announced that it has rejected the proposal of mediation by a iieuhal country. Iraq is willing 'to negotiate only after the British have left Iraq. „ “Anti-British tendencies in Syria, it was stated, “are growing daily. The local population is collecting money for Iraq. The British police have forbidden the population of Palestine to listen to the Iraqi radio.” Ankara radio said that Turkey is strengthening her defences on the Turco-Iranian frontier under the Turco-Iranian agreement reached last December which provided for protective measures. , , French officials in Beirut denied that Axis planes have landed at Syrian airports or that Syria has granted passage for. Axis forces. STALIN BECOMES PREMIER Molotov Relieved Of Soviet Post STILL PROMINENT IN GOVERNMENT (Received May 7, 7.20 p.m.) LONDON, May 6. . Moscow radio stated that ivi. Molotov, at his own request, lias been relieved of the chairmanship of the Council of People s Commissars. M. Stalin becomes chairman and M. Molotov assistant chairman. M. Molotov remains Commissar for Foreign Affairs.

M. Stalin’s chairmanship of the Council is equivalent to the Premiership. This is the first time he lias taken any Government post except lor his membership of the Soviet Parliament. Hitherto he has been content to be the power behind the Kremlin as general secretary of the Communist Party. The broadcast stated that Al. Molotov had been relieved of the Premiership as he wished to devote himself to the duties of Foreign Commissar. M. Stalin, addressing Red Army graduates at the Kremlin today, referred to “profound changes” in the nrmy, which in the light of experience of modern warfare had been reorganized and considerably rearmed.

[Viacheslav Molotov (a pseudonym lor .Scriabin, which name he discarded in his “underground” days) is aged 51 and has been Hie official head of the Soviet Government. for 10 years and Stalin s righthand man. Molotov is the son of a nierchant’s clerk and joined the Communist Party in 1906. "Scholarly, black; moustached, wearing pince-nez glasses, said an English writer, “Molotov looks more like a doctor or professor Ilian a veteran revolutionary. Yet he Inis been imprisoned six times and was twice exiled before the revolution. After Hie October revolution Lenin appointed, him chairman of the Council of National Economy. From that time his rise lias been rapid. He is held to be one of the ablest of present-day Soviet lenders. I