GERMAN AIRCRAFT ON THEIR WAY TO IRAQ

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 May 1941, Page 5

GERMAN AIRCRAFT ON THEIR WAY TO IRAQ

Number of Enemy Planes Damaged on Syrian Aerodromes FRENCH AUTHORITIES TELL FOOLISH STORY z OF FORCED LANDINGS EVIDENCE OF COMPLETE SUBMISSION TO AXIS LONDON, May 16. An air communique from Cairo gives the first news of attacks against German planes in Syria. At one aerodrome five German aircraft and one Italian bomber were machine-gunned. Of the six, three were severely damaged and one other was burnt out. Similar attacks were made on the aerodrome at Damascus and on one near Beirut. The first admission by the Vichy authorities that Geiman planes were in Syria came in a communique from Beirut, 'which stated that German planes recently flew over Syria and of them made forced landings on Syrian aerodromes. In coni°nnity with the armistice terms, the statement adds, the Fiench authorities took steps to enable the planes to proceed again as soon as possible. , President Roosevelt’s statement (reported below) has created a profound impression. It is pointed out that if Vichy surrendered her West African empire it would obviously be a threat to the Western Hemisphere. In London it is stated that Marshal Petain’s broadcast aid not amount to much and that the Vichy Government would be judged by its actions. In Iraq units of the Fleet Air Arm attacked a military barracks 200 miles up the Euphrates. A large number of bombs fell inside the compound.