FIRST ARRIVALS IN IRAQ

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 197, 17 May 1941, Page 11

FIRST ARRIVALS IN IRAQ

Agitators And Air

Staffs

MILITARY SITUATION QUIET

(Received May 16, 7 p.m.) LONDON, May 15.

A Cairo communique stated:

“Following an urgent appeal by Rashid Ali to the Axis partners, a certain number of German aircraft have now arrived in the country, bringing propagandists, agitators and other similar Axis specialists. The situation at Basra and Habbania is quiet.”

According to a dispatch from Reuter’s Cairo correspondent, a number of German planes with disguised markings landed in three Syrian aerodromes, apparently bound for Iraq, and two Axis military missions arrived in Bagdad after Hying over Syria. The Italian mission, the correspondent said, consists of two air generals with their staffs and the German mission has 15 members, who arrived in two planes. A high German personage in Beirut, Syria, is conferring with the Italian commission and the French authorities.

British sources in Syria said that most of the planes landed at Aleppo, after which they were distributed to other airfields in Syria. They are mostly bombers, not troop-carriers, and on their arrival bore French markings. Reports ascribed to Jerusalem that 120 German bombers had arrived at Mosul yesterday are not confirmed. Another unconfirmed report stated that German supply ships had reached Syria with arms. It is pointed out that Germany has only seven supply ships in the Aegean Sea. It is learned that the R.A.E. continues to attack rebel positions and military objectives such as aerodromes, railways, and motor transport in Iraq. it is learned th.il the French Go- | rernor of Syria, M. Deutz, asked I Vichy on May 12 what attitude he l should take in the event of German planes landing in Syrian air bases, but it is not known whether be received a reply. Certainly be lias taken no action to prevent the landings. INTERVIEWS IN ANKARA LONDON, May Id. It was announced in Ankara this morning that President Inouu received Rashid All’s Foreign Minister. It is reported that the German Am- I bassador, Herr von I‘aperi. presented ' no demand when lie was received by General Inonu yesterday. Herr Hitler's message is said Io have expressed Germany’s desire for trade with Turkey on a la rger scale. BERLIN DENIES SPANISH ' AGREEMENT LONDON. May 15. I The report.- of an agreement with ' Spain granting permission for German . troops Io march through Spain were i declared in .Berlin today to have been inspired by rumour-mongers.