French In Syria Prepare For War

Northern Advocate, 24 May 1941, Page 5

French In Syria Prepare For War

LONDON, May 23. It is reported from Beirut that French troops in Syria are on the move, and a French squadron trapped there when France collapsed has begun exercises. It is stated in Berlin that the Vichy Minister sent to Syria (M. Bergeret) has begun preparations to defend the French possessions in the Middle. East against air attack. The Ankara correspondent of the “Daily Express” says French arms and ammunition are still pouring from Syria into Iraq, and trains are returning carrying oil and petrol for German planes crossing Syria. The German radio tonight claimed that Rashid Ali’s air force had successsfully bombed the British position at Amman, and described the raid as “the first operations by Iraqi forces outside their own territory.” This contradicts earlier German reports that Iraqi troops had penetratThe latest news from Syria indicates that the position is substantially unchanged, says the Ankara correspondent of “The Times”. French military material and ammunition are still reaching Iraq by railway and some German officers are reported to have arrived in Beirut to organise this traffic.

German aircraft have flown to Iraq across Syria, the passengers consisting of German officers and instructors. A Cairo communique says that our troops successfully dispersed an. enemy counter-attack on the outskirts of Fallujah in Iraq. Twenty Iraq rebel officers and 90 other ranks were taken prisoner.