OPERATIONS IN SYRIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 17 May 1941, Page 6

OPERATIONS IN SYRIA

GERMAN TANKS MOVING TOWARDS IRAQ FREIGHTERS ENTER AEGEAN SEA (Rec. 11.15 a.m.) London, May 16. According to the Cairo correspondent of the British United Press the R.A.F. has begun operations against German planes on the aerodromes of Syria. The Independent French Agency’s Cairo correspondent says that German tanks and light war material are crossing Syria in the direction of Iraq. Twenty big bombers landed at Damascus and transport planes at Rayak aerodrome, thirty miles from Beirut. Frev French Air Force planes dropped pamphlets urging the French in Syria to throw off the Vichy yoke. At least eight German freighters and four or five Italian or Rumanian ships entered the Aegean Sea from the BlackSea laden with troops and water material, states the British United Press Istanbul correspondent. A Berlin spokesman refused to comment on the Luftwaffe's use of Syrian aerodromes, but said that if France permitted the passage of German troops and planes across Syria she would merely be applying the United States principle of lease and lend.