EASTWARD DRIVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 118, 21 May 1941, Page 8

EASTWARD DRIVE

NAZIS MAKE READY

WIDE FRONT LIKELY

BRITISH IN IRAK

The German drive eastwards is

gaining momentum on a battlefront extending from Mosul to Tobruk.

(Rec. 2.30 p.m.)

LONDON, May 20.

The invasion of Crete will, it is now expected, be developed with full vigour. German armoured forces in Libya are doing their utmost to beat off, and then push back, the British forces, and intense activity is apparent throughout Greece, Syria, and the Dodecanese Islands in preparation for an offensive against Cyprus, "Palestine, or any other obstacle to the onslaught On Alexandria and Suez. German troops are heavily concentrated at the Greek mainland ports and in the Aegean Islands, eastwards to Rhodes, and the Luftwaffe's strength in these areas is reported to be over 700 planes. The German ground staffs are transforming over twenty Syrian airfields as offensive bases. The large aerodrome at Aleppo is now completely in German hands. German technicians are billeted in many other airfields and equipment is constantly being ferried by plane from the Dodecanese Islands. Large supplies of petrol are arriving by train from Mosul. German experts are also reported as taking over the Syrian railways and establishing large stores at various junctions. M. Dentz, the Vichy representative in Syria, has stated: "On instructions from Vichy, I notified Mr. Havard, the British Consul-General at Lebanon, that he must cease his activities and leave the country. This measure is a reply to the expulsion of the French Consul-General from London." Another announcement from Beirut says that after British attacks on Syrian aerodromes the Government has decided to terminate the activities of all British Consulates in Syria and Lebanon. The officials were notified yesterday and will leave with their staffs this week. DRIVE IN IRAK. Meantime the British forces in Irak were on the road to Bagdad from Falluja, the capture of which was a triumph of co-ordination. A British column covered 600 miles from the Mediterranean to Habbania in five days, 300 miles of the journey across a waterless and roadless desert with the temperature 130 degrees in the shade. When they reached Habbania, the column, which comprised hundreds of lorries, armoured cars, and guns had .to tour around a vast stretch of desert which the Irakis flooded from the Euphrates.

R.A.F. troop carriers landed troops east of Falluja, barring the road to Bagdad. Operations began at dawn with a leaflet demand that the town should send delegates to discuss and arrange a surrender. No delegates appeared, and a few minutes later terrific bombing of the town began. It continued until 3.30 p.m. when Iraki machine-guns having ceased, British troops entered the town unopposed and found most of the defenders had abandoned their uniforms and fied.— U.P.A.