BRITISH PRESSURE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20569, 31 May 1941, Page 9

BRITISH PRESSURE

IRAQ GARRISON DEFENCES OF RAMADI WHITE FLAG TRICKERY TROOPS IN DISGUISE (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. May 30, 3 p.m.) LONDON, May 29. The British forces are relentlessly pounding the Iraqi defences at Ramadi where portions of the forces ejected recently from a plateau overlooking the Habbaniyah aerodrome are now established. Cutting the dykes and thus inundating the surrounding land the Iraqis acquired strong defensive positions. The importance of Ramadi lies in the fact that it is a potential threat against our land communications until the opposition there is completely silenced. The Iraqi garrison is believed to number 2000. On two occasions at least they showed a white flag, after which they opened fire. Another trick is to disguise themselves as women and approach our positions as if intending to work on the river side. This trick was exposed when the British force fired a warning shot, whereupon the “women’’ immediately assumed open order as only trained soldiers could and produced rifles concealed under their robes. The Swiss radio announces that it is reported from Beirut that the Britir/ authorities have completely suspended Syria-Palestine frontier traffic.