Hitler's Iraqi Quislings On Run; British Near Bagdad

Northern Advocate, 26 May 1941, Page 6

Hitler's Iraqi Quislings On Run; British Near Bagdad

(Received 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 25. HITLER’S IRAQI QUISLINGS ARE ON THE RUN. THESE WORDS OF ONE CORRESPONDENT SEEMED TO SUM UP THE POSITION IN IRAQ. According to well-informed authorities at Ankara a state bordering on panic exists in Bagdad as the British are now reported to be only 16 miles away, and German aid still remains very slender. While the Ankara authorities are reported to deny that Rashid Ali has asked for a transit visa, Sami Shawkat, Rashid Ali’s envoy, is expected to go to Turkey almost immediately, and the families of both arrived at Ankara during the week-end. The Ankara correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency says Rashid Ali and Shawkat have received visas to enter Turkey. French authorities in Syria state that all Syria’s frontiers are closed except those of Syria and Turkey.

Rashid Ali’s communique, issued in' Damascus, says the Iraqis encountered motorised forces coming from Transjordan, and claims that these were forced to flee after a tough fight. The Berlin radio stated that the son of the Emir Abdullah of Transjordan, has (Left hjls fathfer and is now organising volunteers to assist Rashid Ali.

Counter-Revolution A message from Ankara says the capital is buzzing with , unconfirmed rumours that Rashid Ali has fled to Mosul and is seeking greater German help. It is also rumoured that several of Rashid Ali’s generals have begun a counter-revolution. The British are believed to have gained'control of all the dykes in the Upper Euphrates region and could flood the low-lying land of the Lower Euphrates. German intervention appears to have slackened, but this may be due to a temporary diversion to Crete. Some hundreds of French troops have now crossed from Syria to Palestine and many others are reported to be endeavouring to follow. The French Consulate-General at Jerusalem has been closed and the consul-general (M. Maoutrey) has been asked to leave. Regent’s Return The “Daily Mail” Cairo correspondent says Abdul Illah, Regent of Iraq, on his arrival in the country, accompanied by notable Iraqis, in a statement, said: “I shall make a proclamation as soon as I re-enter Bagdad at the head of my Iraqi troops, announcing my return and the formation of a lawful Government.

“I am certain of popular support. The troop's have already begun to desert from Rashid Ali. My aim is to free Iraq from those enemies of Britain who are also enemies of Iraq, because of the alliance between our two countries.”

It is reported from Haifa that British planes flew over Syria and dropped leaflets, signed by Colonel Collett, calling on all loyal Frenchmen to rally to the Free French cause. Colonel Collett is head of a detachment of French troops which marched across the frontier from Syria into Palestine to join the Free French forces.

Collett Distinguished Soldier “The Times” Jerusalem correspondent says Colonel Collett, whose coming over has caused such a sensation, is an Algerian by birth and one of modern France’s most distinguished soldiers. During the Great War he was mentioned 20 times in despatches and wounded 12 times. He is the youngest commander of the Legion of Honour and his name is a household word, both in North Africa and in Syria. According to the British United Press correspondent in Ankara. Rashid Ali and Shawkat have applied for permission to cross Turkey.