WELL IN HAND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20547, 6 May 1941, Page 8

WELL IN HAND

IRAQI POSITION BRITISH FORCES GARRISON INTACT AIR RAIDERS CHECKED CONCERN IN TURKEY (Elne. Til. Copyright—TJniti’il Press Assn.) I British Official Wireless.) Reed: 1.40 n.m. RUGBY. Mav 5. It is understood that the Turkish Government has been prepared to attempt mediation in the situation which has arisen in Iraq through (he repudiation by Rashid Ali of the Iraq: obligations under the Anglo-Iraqi treaty and the action taken by element:-; in the Iraqi army and air force. British Government is concerned it is obvious that the withdrawal of the troops which menaced tiie attacked aerodrome at liabbuniyah would be an essential prerequisite to any discussions. In Ihe meantime a communique issued from British headquarters in the Middle East this afternoon shows that the British forces in Iraq have the situation well in hand. This communique states: ‘‘The Iraqi artillery posted in the vicinity of Habbaniyah was rendered comparatively inactive yesterday by our aircraft. The garrison of Habbaniyah is intact and lias suffered very few casualties from the unprovoked Iraqi attack. Air Force Destroyed "The greater part of the Iraqi air force lias already been destroyed by cur air action, either while attempting iO attack British camps or as a result of attacks by our air force on Iraqi air bases. "After attacking ail unarmed British construction parly which was in the vicinity, Iraqi forces on May 2 occupied Rutba. In the Basra area our troops remain in occupation without interference.

The Ankara correspondent of The l Times says trat Turkey is gravely eons cerned about the British-Iraqi clash. - It threatens at least temporarily the 'i loss of the railway to Basra which, s since the war spread to the Mediterranean. has ben a most important , route for Turkish trade. There is also serious anxiety that, o if the conflict continues. Germany will r get a footing on vet another Turkish t frontier. 1 Turks Irritated s The Turks are irritated because they think the British could have prevented the situation. They do not understand why the British were content until this late hour to entrust 1 vitally-important strategical centres 1 to people whose politics consist of ' selfish, dishonest intrigue. The Turks are of the opinion that the 'time to 1 send troops to Iraq was when there was a friendly Government in power. They believe if the trouble is not quickly settled the Germans will inter- [ vene. using Syrian air bases. They state that the Syrians are. one ■ clay for the British and the next day 1 for the Germans, according to the ) fluctuations of war. 1 Official Turkish circles do not expect trouble from Iran. The authority of the Shah is high and the proGerman sentiment there is primarily a reaction to Soviet pressure. The British Treasury has made an order excluding Iraq from the sterling area. The German news agency, quoting a Beirut message, says that the Iraq authorities on May 1 put English banks there under control and that all British accounts were blocked. The Berlin radio to-day said that a British cruiser and destroyer had arrived at Basra. An Iraq communique issued at Baghdad stated that the “encirclement of the Habbaniyah aerodrome was closing in. Explosions and lircs wore seen as a result of artillery fire."