WAR IN IRAQ

Grey River Argus, 23 May 1941, Page 5

WAR IN IRAQ

R.A.F. RAIDS IRAQ ’DROME. RUGBY, May 21. A R.A.F. communique states: — In Iraq, our position at Fallujah has been consolidated. An enemy air attack wa's intercepted by our fighters on patrol and driven off. The aerodrome at Raschid was heavily bombed at dawn yesterday, and considerable damage was done to hangars and other buildings. Two JUs2’s on the ground at Palmyra were bombed and damaged. At Damascus, a few German aircraft were attacked, but the results could not be observed. According to the Berlin radio, General Dentz announced that the British rebombed the Rayak aerodrome. British planes from Palestine also bombed Messe and Kassu. Iraq Forces FIGHTING IN HABANIYAH. LONDON, May 27. An Iraqi communique states: The battle at Habaniyah continues. Our planes bombed hangars and stores, causing considerable damage. Iraqi Prisoners TAKEN BY BRITISH. RUGBY, May 21. A Cairo General Headquarters communique states:. Following the capture of Fallujah, operations are continuing in the area to round up rebel detachments. A number of prisoners have been taken. Habbaniyah and Basra remain quiet. LONDON, May 22. There were 300 Iraq prisoners taken at Falinji. ENEMY RAIDERS IN IRAQ. RUGBY, May 26. Al R.A.F. communique states: German aircraft which raided Habbaniyah during the afternoon did some' damage. Our fighters .intercepted them, and it is believed that at least two machines were severely damaged. GERMAN PLANES BOMBED. LONDON, May 21. British and Free French planes are reported to have bombed, without loss to themselves, parked German planes, leaving huge fires r.t Iraq ’dromes. MORE GERMAN PLANES REACH IRAQ. LONDON, May 21. A Haifa message states that more German planes have arrived at Palmyra and Damascus aerodromes. ARMS FOR IRAQIS GOING THROUGH TURKEY, BRITISH REPRESENTATIONS. LONDON, May 21. Britain has directed Turkey’s at tention to the passage of arms and of munitions from Syria to Iraq by the Alleppo-Mosul railway. This railway runs across Turkey

Turkey’s Fears ARF. THEY SHORT-SIGHTED? (Received May 22, 9.50 p.m.). ’ LONDON, May 22. “The Times” diplomatic correspondent says: The Turkish Government, apparently, is more fearfu’ than some of its military advisers are. It believes that any intervention by Turkey would result, in the I Iraqi rebels preventing the dispatch i of arms to Turkey by the BasraMosul route. Turkey does not seem I to realise that, while the Iraq rehellion persists, there is no likeli- . hood of the rebels allowing that, traffic, and it is most improbable I that Germany and Italy would sanction such a concession. The isolation of Turkey is an important par)' of the Axis plan for the conquest of the Near East and the Middle East; and the less well-armed that Turkey is, the easier it will be lo isolate hoi; Turkish Papers CRITICISE IRAQIS. RUGBY, May 21. ; Turkish opinion strongly supports British action in Iraq, according to responsible quarters, as the Ankara newspaper “Yenisabah,” for instance, deplores the fact that Iraq has fallen a victim to German intrigues. “The Iraqis,” it says,” “should recollect they owe their independence to the British, who, if they had wished, could have remained in occupation and have governed the country as their colony.” The newspaper “Cumhuriyet,” recalls that Britain had voluntarily surrendered the mandate over to Iraq, and sponsored the latter’s admission to the League of Nations as an independent state. It' adds /'Consequently it was impossible to suspect the British of designs on Iraqi independence.” Other newspapers emphasise that these events, occurring in her southern zone 1 of security, interest Turkey as much as the Balkans question. | Free French Troops INVADE SYRIA. , LONDON/ May 21. | Free French troops are reported to have penetrated Syria, states an independent French Agency dispatch from the Syrian frontier. Their strength and the conditions under which they crossed the frontier are unknown. Signs of lively reactions among the French garrison in Syria may lead to support for the de Gaulle forces, although M. Bergeret is doing his utmost to stiffen resistance. fir French Regiment ! JOINS DE GAULLE INVADERS IN SYRIA. LONDON, May 21. l" A French regiment in Syria has