PROTECTING IRAK.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1922, Page 5

PROTECTING IRAK.

OPERATIONS OF AIR FORCE. ■SUCCESSFUL WORK. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, November 2. Reports from Basra state that the Air Force’s bombing operations on the northern frontier were most eatisfactory. An intense bombardment was carried out, in pursuance of Sir John Salmond’s policy of restoring the original frontiers of Irak in the Mosul and Kirkuk districts. In the Mosul and Kirkuk districts the Turks were obliged to retire, the villages refusing to assist in their maintenance. The operations proved the capacity of aeroplanes to suppress raiding and propaganda parties, provided the air base is protected. The importance ot this in relation to the future internal defence of Irak, India and Egypt is obvious. The recalcitrant tribes in Arbil, afraid of being bombed, are now paying the revenue regularly, and altogether the situation is much brighter. The Braemar Castle, with 1000 men of the Air Force, has arrived at the bar of the Shat-el-Arab. The Irak Liberal Party, which is now the only existing political party as the result of the suppression of the Nationalists, has issued a manifesto thank, ing King Feisul for his efforts to secure the realisation of the national aspirations, expressing pride in the conclusion of the Anglo-Irak treaty, admitting the British sincerity, hoping that cordial Anglo-Irak relations will be permanent, and demanding an early summoning of a National Assembly representative of the nation.