FIGHTING IN IRAQ

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 May 1941, Page 5

FIGHTING IN IRAQ

BRITISH AIRCRAFT BOMB BAGDAD AERODROME DAMAGE DONE TO BUILDINGS & PLANES. TRIBAL CHIEFS COOL TOWARDS RASHID ALL LONDON. May 8. In Iraq, a British Middle East communique states, a heavy bombing attack was made yesterday on Bagdad aerodrome and on other airports held by the rebels. Buildings were damaged and dispersed aircraft, was bombed. Troops occupying the high ground outside Habbania met with no opposition except from snipers. Hostile forces to the east were heavily bombed. The Iraqui army's reverses states a message from Cairo, are causing increasing coolness among the other elements in Iraq including the tribal chiefs, toward Rashid Ali’s anti-British front. A brigade which was sent from Bagdad to . Basra with instructions to eject the British forces has shown little inclination to fight and is dallying along the road. It is learned in London that all the British al the Embassy in Bagdad are safe. R.A.F. REPORT ENEMY SUFFERS HEAVY LOSSES. MUCH CONFUSION CAUSED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 7. A Royal Air Force (Middle East) communique states: “In Iraq operations against the rebel Iraquis yesterday were carried out by our aircraft with such effect that heavy casualties were inflicted on them and much confusion was caused. “The aerodrome at Moascar at Raschid was again bombed; one hangar was completely destroyed by fire, a twin-engined aircraft on the tarmac was blown up, and a number of others were severely damaged, and the aerodrome surface was badly cut up. Our aircraft received practically no opposition. Tn the Habbania area continuous close air support, was given while R.A.F. armoured units, troops and Iraqui levies attacked and drove off the enemy from the plateau of the R.A.F. station. The' rebel casualties were very heavy, and ours were negligible. On the previous night the rebels had been given no rest, as their lines were attacked continuously by our aircraft. RAID ON MALTA. “A heavy raid was carried out on Malta by the enemy yesterday, and some damage was caused to both military and civil property. Our fighters intercepted the enemy, but were in turn attacked by Messerschmitts. The combat was inconclusive.”

DISORDER IN DAMASCUS FICTITIOUS ENEMY REPORTS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. May 7. Fictitious reports of a grave attack on the British Consulate at Damascus by thousands of Arabs in which a building was said to have been destroyed are slated authoritatively to be based on a demonstration in front of the Consulate a few days ago by a band of hooligans. A number of stones were thrown, and a few windows were broken, but no serious damage was done, and the' whole business was disposed of by police in a few minutes. ONLY SUMMER CLOUD WHICH WILL SOON DISAPPEAR. OPINION OF EX-PREMIER OF IRAQ. LONDON. May 8. From “somewhere in Palestine" Jamil Beymadfai, ex-Prime Minister of Iraq, interviewed, described the situation in Iraq as “only a summer cloud which would soon disappear. Every Arab who is loyal to his country knows the real object of the destructive movement which broke out when the country was enjoying the widest measure of independence.”