Believed Rashid Ali Has Quitted Bagdad As Axis Support Fails

Northern Advocate, 9 May 1941, Page 5

Believed Rashid Ali Has Quitted Bagdad As Axis Support Fails

German Demands For Syrian Bases

(Received 2.30 p.m.)

LONDON, May 8

IT IS UNOFFICIALLY STATED THAT RASHID ALI HAS 1 QUITTED BAGDAD OWING TO HOSTILE DEMONSTRATIONS, REPORTS THE BRITISH UNITED PRESS CORRESPONDENT AT CAIRO.

Rashid Ali’s supporters complained that the Axis had let them down. They expected swarms of German planes to come to their aid, and even lit signal fires at night to guide the German pilots.

The “Daily Telegraph” Jerusalem correspondent says that patrols of Empire troops are now crossing the Transjordan frontier into Iraq without opposition.

According to Swiss reports Germany has demanded permission to land forces in Syria for drives on the Iraq and Iran oilfields, and on Suez. It is stated that the Germans have served demands on the Vichy Government High Commission in Syria (General Sentz).

Germany is also reported to have threatened to land parachute troops on the Syrian coast, and to have declared:

“If the landings are resisted Syria will be considered to have taken up arms against Germany.”

Rebels Pay Price,

Following successful action on May 6 against portion of the Iraq army which, at the instigation of military adventurers, treacherously attacked Habbaniyah, "the situation both at Habbanivah and Basra remains quiet, our captures including six guns and over 400 prisoners, says a Cairo communique. Operations against rebel Iraqis yesterday were carried out by British aircraft with such effect that heavy casualties were inflicted on them and much confusion caused, states a Royal Air Force Middle East communique. It adds that the aerodrome at Moascar al Raschid was again bombed. One hangar was completely destroyed by fire, a twin-engined aircraft on the tarmac was blown up, a number of others were severely damaged, and the aerodrome surface was badly cut up. Our aircraft received practically no opposition. In the Habbaniyah area continuous and close air support was given while Royal Air Force armoured units, troops and Iraqi levies attacked and drove off the enemy from the plateau overlooking the Royal Air Force station. The rebel casualties were very heavy. Ours were negligible. Given No Rest • On the previous night the rebels were given no rest, as their lines were attacked continuously by our aircraft.

British aircraft have been carrying howitzers to Habbaniyah, as well as bringing up reinforcements and evacuating women and children.

Information available in London indicates that all is quiet at Basra. There is no confirmation of reports of heavy fighting in that area, to which reference was made in a broadcast from Bagdad. Coolness Towards Rebels The Iraq army’s reverses are causing increasing coolness among other elements in Iraq, including tribal chiefs, towards Rashid Ali’s antiBritish front, says a message from Cairo. A brigade sent to Bagdad from Basra with instructions to eject the British forces showed little inclination to fight, dallying along the road. Somewhere in Palestine, Jamil Bey Madfai, a former Prime Minister of Iraq, in an interview, described the situation in that country as "only a summer cloud which will soon disappear.

"Every Arab who is loyal to his country knows the real object of this destructive movement which, broke out when the country was enjoying the widest measure of independence.” The R.A.F. Middle East communique says that in Iraq the Bagdad airport was bombed by the R.A.F.' yesterday. Some damage was done to buildings and the aerodrome road. A violent explosion occurred when direct hits were obtained on a magazine at Washash, near Bagdad. . Other bombs hit military buildings. Bombs were also dropped on dispersed aircraft at Hanaidi. There was little activity to report in the Habbaniyah area yesterday. Our troops occupying the high ground outside the cantonment, met with no opposition, except for occasional sniping.

Hostile forces seen to the east of our positions were heavily attacked from the air.