NAZI AIRCRAFT IN IRAQ

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 19 May 1941, Page 5

NAZI AIRCRAFT IN IRAQ

AERODROME RAIDED BY R.A.F. FIGHTING REPORTED NEAR BASRA REBELS SAID TO BE IN PALESTINE London, May 17. Bagdad radio claims that some of Rashid Ali's troops have penetrated into Palestine after overcoming a British force which crossed the frontier into Iraq. The Iraqis claim that they seized the heights overlooking Nablus (28 miles from Jerusalem), where Palestin Arab rebels are joining them. An Iraqi communique claims that troops are attacking the British positions near Basra, where a big battle is developing. The first official mention of German aircraft in action in Iraq is contained in an R.A.F. Middle East communique, which states' “In Iraq a number of German aircraft were machine-gunned at the aerodrome at Mosul. A Heinkel was set on fire and destroyed and other aircraft were damaged. Petrol oil tanks were successfully bombed at Amara by aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm. The R.A.F. station at Habbania was raided by a formation of Heinkels supported by MellO’s. The damage caused was slight and there were few casualties. The Mesesrschmitts also machinegunned an ambulance on the plateau.”

NOT ACT OF AGGRESSION

BRITISH BOMBINGS IN SYRIA ATTITUDE OF VICHY London, May 17. The British bombings of Ger-man-occupied Syrian aerodromes are not considered an act of aggression, according to a statement issued by the Vichy Government. The statement added: “France is anxious to safeguard her position as a great Power and maintain the integrity of her territory and empire, and is entitled to discuss with her conqueror conditions for the mutual reorganisation of Continental Europe. That does not mean that she intends to attack Britain and still less the United States. Earlier the French High Commissioner in Syria, M. Dentz, called the British bombings flagrant acts of hostility. Vichy’s counter announcement is interpreted in some quarters as a move toward stemming the crisis with Britain. It is even suggested that Vichy may be prepared to abandon her Syrian mandate in order to avoid a clash. Authorised circles in Vichy say that the presence of German transport planes on Syrian aerodromes is authorised by armistice clauses. According to the Rome correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain Italian planes have also arrived at Syrian airports. It is revealed in Cairo that a French plane on 14th May dropped the following dramatic message on a British aerodrome in Palestine: “The Germans are here. For God’s sake bomb our aerodromes.” It is believed the pilot flew from Damascus, where a French squadron is stationed. The Commander-in-Chief of the Free French Forces in the Middle East, General Catroux, broadcasting to the Syrians, said 800 tons of arms and munitions drawn from French stores in Syria had been sent to Bagdad. “If you should choose to take up arms and chase out the enemy, I am at your gates with ardent French cohorts,” he added. FRENCH PROTEST Swiftly after the announcement of the British bombing of Syrian aerodromes came the news of a French protest. The protest, which was lodged with the British Consul-General at Beirut, stated: "The British action constitutes flagrant hostility against France. In recent days German planes made forced landings on Syrian aerodromes, and the French authorities, in accord-

ance with the terms of the Armistice, procured their departure as rapidly as possible.” M. Dentz issued a communique stating that a French officer was killed when British planes bombed Palmyra and Rayak, and machine-gunned barracks at Beirut and Damascus and at the Rayak aerodrome. Vichy’s decision to collaborate with Germany caused consternation in influential circles in Syria. It is reported that scores of Frenchmen who were sent there to try to counter the activities of General de Gaulle's supporters have now resigned. Many inI cidents have occurred since the announcement of the agreement between Hitler and Admiral Darlan. Free French flags mysteriously appeared on public buildings at Beirut. They were immediately taken down. Scores of suspected British sympathisers have ; been arrested. FOOD SHORTAGE Refugees from Syria arriving in Transjordania report an acute food shortage throughout Syria because the authorities have confiscated all hoarded foodstuffs for military purposes. It is stated authoritatively in Lon-, don that should Britain enter hostilities against Vichy the French warships at Alexandria will certainly be seized. The French units have been demilitarised, but they could be quickly commissioned. A fair proportion of the French naval personnel is believed to be on Britain’s side, but not the majority. The Beirut radio stated that the French are strengthening their Syrian defences and reinforcing their garrisons on the Palestine and Turkish frontiers. France has confidence in Hitler’s word, declared a French Government spokseman, at Vichy, countering President Roosevelt’s statement. He emphasised that Marshall Petain used the word collaboration as meaning political and economic and not military.

FRENCH ACTION CONDEMNED

SHARP COMMENT BY CORDELL Washington, May 18. The Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, at a Press conference, struck out sharply at France, sarcastically referring to the Vichy explanations of the Franco-German “collaboration” agreement. Strongly supporting President Roosevelt’s statement condemning the agreement, Mr Hull described the Vichy explanation as rhetoric. "Enough facts of the circumstances have filtered in here to support President Roosevelt's statement completely,” he said. Mr Hull’s vigorous attitude has caused fresh conjecture on the possibility of American action to protect the western hemisphere defences, including the seizure of Martinique, Dakar and other strategic French colonies. Mr Hull will make an important speech at 2.30 p.m. (New Zealand time) on Monday. POLITICAL PRISONERS RELEASED IN IRAQ The Cairo representative of the British United Press says Rashid Ali has released all political prisoners, including Sulaiman, who has been appointed Iraqi Ambassador in Russia.

DEFENCE OF IRAQ RUSSIAN-GERMAN COMBINE MOOTED Tokio, May 17. The newspaper “Yomiuri Shimbun” states that a Russian-German combine to defend Iraq is being considered. It was reliably learned that Russia had invited the Afghanistan Foreign Minister to visit Moscow.