TRANSPORTS REACH BASRA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21957, 8 May 1941, Page 5

TRANSPORTS REACH BASRA

Troops And Tanks For Iraq Situation Easier By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. 10.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 7. The Ankara radio states that three British transports have arrived at Basra with strong reinforcements of troops and tanks. The Stefani (Rome) agency claims that Habbanlyah airfield has been rendered useless. Iraqi troops have not yet entered because the barbed wire defences are electrically charged. The Beirut correspondent of the Official German News Agency says that the Iraqi High Command has ordered troops to use ammunition sparingly as there are no fresh supplies available. A communique from British General Headquarters in Cairo states: “In the Habbanlyah area our aicraft were again active yesterday. Hostile shelling was intermittent and inaccurate. In the Basra area the situation remains quiet.” “Throughout yesterday aircraft of the Royal Air Force maintained constant patrols over Iraqi positions outside the R.A.F. station at Habbanlyah,” states a R.A.F. Middle East communique. “Motor transport and personnel were bombed and several direct hits were registered on gun positions. The results of the shelling of the Royal Air Force station and of a little machine-gun fire were negligible. Iraqi military positions were bombed at Diwanlya and many direct hits were obtained on the barracks and administrative buildings. Motor transport at Falluja was also hit.” The Berlin radio states that the Iraq Government has announced that it has rejected the proposals for mediation by a neutral country. Iraq is willing to negotiate only after the British have left Iraq. Antl-British tendencies in Syria are growing daily. The local population is collecting money for Iraq. The British police have forbidden the population of Palestine to listen to the Iraq radio. Referring to Iraq during his speech on the war situation in the House of Commons, the Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) said that the trouble there was of great concern to Turkey and Britain. The unconstitutional action of Rashid Ali had largely led once to his fall. When later he seized power again Britain could not see how this or any other event in Iraq should deprive her of her Intention to land troops at Basra and open up lines of communication through Iraq in accordance with the terms of the treaty. "Nothing can excuse the action of the Iraq military leaders in first accepting and then challenging our clear treaty rights,” said Mr Eden. “This country has a record of which it has no need to be ashamed in its dealings with the Arab peoples, and, above all, with Iraq. It was we who ensured the Independence of modern Iraq. It is we who have assisted her and in every respect kept our word. I do not propose now to describe in detail the events of the last few days, but only to make plain to the world our present position "We are very grateful for the offer of good offices by Turkey and Egypt. Our position is as follows—the first requisite is the withdrawal of troops from Habbanlyah and the cessation of hostilities against his Majesty’s forces in Iraq. When this has been done Britain is prepared to discuss the fulfilment of her treaty rights, which she must make plain that she is, in all circumstances, determined to maintain. “One word of friendly counsel to our Arab friends in all lands —no people have more reason to fear an Axis victory than those who dwell in Arab lands.” A later Royal Air Force communique issued at Cairo says: The situation in the area around Habbanlyah is much easier. Our night patrols found the enemy positions on the edge of the escarpment unoccupied. The plateau due south of the cantonment is reported to be clear of rebels. Insurgents occupying a post on the pipeline signified their surrender by waving white flags when one of our reconnaissance planes approached. Our ground troops subsequently