DRIVE ON WIDE FRONT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21969, 22 May 1941, Page 5

DRIVE ON WIDE FRONT

NAZI PREPARATIONS Concentrations At Many Points By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. 6,30 p.m.) LONDON, May 20, The German drive eastward is gaining momentum on a battlefront extending from Mosul to Tobruk. The invasion of Crete will, it is now expected, be developed in full vigour. German armoured cars in Libya are doing their utmost to beat off and then push back the British forces and Intense activity is apparent throughout Greece, Syria and the Dodecanese in preparation for an offensive against Cyprus, Palestine and any other obstacle to an onslaught on Alexandria and Suez. German troops are heavily concentrated at Greek ports on the mainland and in the Aegean Islands eastward to Rhodes, and the Luftwaffe’s strength in these areas is reported to be over 700 planes. The German ground staffs are transforming over 20 Syrian airfields into offensive bases. A large aerodrome at Aleppo is now completely in German hands. German technicians are billeted at many other airfields and equipment is constantly being ferried by plane from the Dodecanese. Large supplies of petrol are arriving by train from Mosul. German experts are also reported to be taking over the Syrian railways and establishing large stores at various junctions. The French Commander-In-Chief In Syria (General Dentz) Issued a communique as follows: “On instructions from Vichy I notified Mr G. T. Harvard (British Consul-General at Lebanon) that he must cease his activities and leave the country. This measure is a reply to the expulsion of the French Consul-General from London.” Another announcement from Beirut says that after the British attacks on Syrian aerodromes the Government decided to terminate the activities of all British Consulates in Syria and Lebanon. The consuls were notified yesterday and will leave with their staffs this week.

In the meantime on the road to Baghdad form Falluja, the capture of which is a triumph of co-ordination, the British column covered 600 miles from the Mediterranean to Habbanlyah in five days, 300 miles of the journey being across the waterless and roadless desert at a temperature of 130 degrees in the shade. When it reached Habbaniyah the column, which comprised hundreds of lorries, armoured cars and guns, had to tour around the vast stretch of the desert which the Iraqis flooded from the Euphrates. Royal Air Force troop-carriers landed troops east of Falluja, barring the road to Baghdad. The operations began at dawn with a leaflet demand that the town should send delegates to discuss and arrange its surrender. No delegates appeared and a few minutes later terrific bombing of the town began and continued until 3.3 p.m., when the Iraqi machine-guns having ceased, the troops entered the town unopposed and found that most of the defenders had abandoned their uniforms and fled.

A correspondent of the British United Press in a message from the German frontier says the fact that German troops under General Romnel crossed the Mediterranean from Marseilles to Algiers and thence to Tripoli is now openly admitted in Germany. Indian Opinion Aroused A condemnation of the action of Raschid All and his intrigues with Germany are forthcoming from the press of India. ,“ Ahsal V’ a Lahore dally, writes: Germany s sole objective is to see Moslems annihilated. Turkey would never break her pledge given Britain, While it is generally believed that the Iraq tangle is the outcome of Raschid All’s intrigues with Germany, Turkey has taken the first opportunity to express disapproval of the action taken by the Iraq Government because she is convinced that the countries which have agreed to act as instruments to Germany have lost their independence and sovereignty.” “Hamdam Urdu”, a daily of Lucknow, says: “Hitler’s moves and threats fail to influence the Moslem countries which have proclaimed their friendship towards Britain and have refused to become involved in the European war. The present Government in Iraq has alone struck a d’ eordant note.” “Shahbaz,” another daily of Lahore writes: “Raschid Ali’s activities which have jeopardised the entire Islamic world, are being denounced in every Islamic country.” “Inquilab” in a leader declares: “The danger which appeared in Iraq constitutes a direct threat to the safety of India,”