TROUBLE MAY SPREAD

Evening Star, Issue 23881, 10 May 1941, Page 11

TROUBLE MAY SPREAD

SITUATION IN IRAQ REBELS FORCED FURTHER BACK MINOR RIOTING IN BASRA (British Official Wireless.) presa Association —By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, May 9. ■ (Received May ■ 10, at 10 a.m.) No further news of importance has been received from Iraq, where it appears that the rebels have been forced further back front around Habbaniyah. Six howitzers of 3.7 in were captured in the recent fighting, as well as some lorries and armoured cars. The captured howitzers are of value, as they are of exactly the same type as used by British mountain batteries. Dealing with the situation generally, competent commentators point put that the position has not yet been cleared tip, and it is possible that the trouble ■will spread, but the opinion is expressd that the German-paid clique in the Iraqi army is apparently not at present making much headway in fomenting dissensions. Rioting, but not of a serious character, occurred at Basra, where the British troops have extended the area of occupation by taking over banks, telegraph offices, and similar undertakings. IRAQI AIR ARM SMASHED PRACTICALLY ALL LIQUIDATED BRITISH WOMEN EVACUATED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 9. (Received May 10, at noon.) Although the R.A.F. does not yet claim to have destroyed all the Iraqi aircraft, it can be taken for granted, states the Air Ministry news service, that Rashid Ali’s air arm has ceased to be effective as a .fighting force. A sehio. - officer of the R.A.F. in Iraq said yesterday; “ It is a little early to form a complete picture, but it is safe' to ■ay that we have practically liquidated what Iraq possessed. They certainly cannot undertake: any offensive air action of any value.” . The personnel at the flying training ■chool at Habbaniyah put up a magnificent show during the investment and afterwards in pursuing the defeated attackers in the air and on the ground by R.A.F.. armoured cars. It was the two bombing attacks made yesterday at the Baknba and Shahnaban lauding grounds, .north-east of Bagdad, which probably., completed the destruction of the;lraq force at Basra,' Another Air Ministry ■ bulletin records that a very large fire was started near the Rashid air base of the Iraqis about 15 miles south-east of Bagdad yesterday morning, and it - was still burning fiercely in .the afternoon., " A pilot "who had been on inimerdifs raids over Germany and France declared that it was ehsily the biggest blaze he had seen anywhere. ” Something very big and very important wast he official description of the fire. The Rashid, aerodrome was founded by the R.A.F. and was formerly known as Hanadi. , Thousands, of the men : of the R.A.F. have served there. All the British women and children who were in Bagdad when hostilities began in Iraq have now left for India by sea. American-built Douglas troopcarrying aircraft which had taken re T inforcementa from India to Habbaniyah brought a- party numbering over 200 Vomen south of Basra from Habbaniyah. The pilot of one said that his machine ■was shot at by the Iraqis who at the time were on the escarpment overlooking, the: aerodrome at Habbaniyah. “ They must have seen us as we were loading up the women,” said the* pilot, ‘‘and they can have had.no doubt as to who‘were on board.”

PLATEAU OCCUPIED QUANTITIES OF WAR MATERIAL CAPTURED (British Official - Wireless.) RUGBY, May 9. (R eccived May 10, at 11 a.m.) 'A Cairo communique states: “In Iraq our troops occupied a plateau over--100 kino Habbaniyan, while salvage operations in the area are continuing. In addition to. the guns reported in yesterday’s communique as captured, quantities of Iraqi war material of all descriptions have been brought in. Meanwhile the remnants of dissident elements of the Iraqi army which attacked Habbaniyah have withdrawn to Ramade and Falljuja Stol. Our patrols have been active towards both these places. The Basra area is all quiet.” POPULATION NOT SUPPORTING REBELS ARABS REALIst HOLLOWNESS OF NAZI PROMISES SIMLA, May 9. (Received May 10, at 8 a.m). The Indian Government, which is interested in the Indian troops in Iraq, has issued the following communique : “ There has been a slight improvement in the situation in Iraq in the past few days, particularly in the Basra area. The population has shown no inclination tassist the hostile actions inspired by certain Iraq military leaders against the British forces. Implicit orders have been issued to the officers commanding the Imperial units Ito avoid injury to civilians or civil property, and to keep clear of holy places.” Sir Mahomed Usman, former acting Governor of Madras, said: “ I feel sure that no Moslem who. has the interests lof Islam at heart will support the intrigues of .Rashid Ali. I am convinced that the hostilities are the culmination bf a long period of intrigue by Nazipaid Quislings. Germany holds’ before the eyes of the Arabs the goal of a pan-Islamic State, but those who know the worth of German promises realise that the German promise of help is made only with a view to domination

of Iran, Mesopotamia, and the Middle East in furtherance of her scheme for world domination.” DEPOSED IRAQI REGENT MEETING WITH FORMER PREMIER RESTORATION OF LEGAL GOVERNMENT PLANNED CAIRO, Mav 9. (Received May 10, at 8 a.m.) TeWfik Suweidi Bey, Prime Minister in the former Iraq Government, is reported to have gone to Amman from Bagdad to meet the deposed Regent, who is returning to restore the legal Government. An Iraqi communique states: “ As a 'result of enemy surprise action at Hahbaniyah onr troops were compelled bo take np new positions, but they immediately counter-attacked. ’’ SABOTAGE BY ITALIANS IMPRISONMENT SENTENCES NEW YORK, May 9. Captain Bersia and ’ Chief Engineer Novella were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for violating the sabotage laws in regard to the Italian ship Villaperosa. Eight other members of the crew were sentenced to 18 months each.