IRAK ACTIVITIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23966, 16 May 1941, Page 9

IRAK ACTIVITIES

GERMAN AIRCRAFT BRITISH REPEL REBELS VIGOROUS AIR ACTION (Herd. 9.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 15 The official news agency at Vichy announces that two German aeroplanes have landed at an aerodrome in the region of Mosul. It is not known whether they are civil or military machines, for which reason it is not wise to deduce that this is the start of military aid bv the Axis to Irak. The first group of women and children evacuated from Habaniyah has arrived at Bombay. When the rebels attacked the station shells burst all round the evacuees' quarters, but there were no casualties. Some of the aircraft which took them to Basra were fired upon by rebel machines. The' entire evacuation was carried out without a single casualty. Control of Habaniyah The British official wireless says that the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, answering a question in the House of Commons, said that, according to the latest reports from Irak, the small forces of the Royal Air Force stationed at Habaniyah, having successfully beaten off the attack of the Iraki forces under the orders of Rashid Ali, now control the whole area round the cantonment. Both they and the Imperial forces at Basra are being rapidly reinforced, and vigorous air action is being carried out by the Royal Air Force against military objectives throughout Irak. This will be continued. Rebels a Minority The British Government, said Mr. Eden, is convinced that the action of Rashid Ali and his supporters in launching an attack upon a loyal ally of their country is not upheld by the Irak people as a whole. The British Government never had, and has not now, any intention of threatening the independence of Irak. Its sole desire has been to safeguard its legitimate treaty rights, which rights it is its intention to maintain.

A Vichy message quotes a communique from Rashid Ali's headquarters as follows: —"Our desert patrols have frequently made contact with the enemy. A single British aeroplane flew over Bagdad and dropped many bombs, but without result." The communique also alleges that enemy aeroplanes bombed two clearly-marked Red Cross ambulances. The Fleet Air Arm was in action over Irak yesterday. A barracks and compound north of Basra were attacked and hits scored on the buildings. A factory south of Bagdad was bombed.

NAZIS RELEASE INDIANS BERLIN, May I I The German authorities have ordered the release of all Indian citizens detained in civil internment camps as British subjects in occupied France. It is claimed that this gesture showed German friendship.