TAKEN AGAINST IRAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1941, Page 5

TAKEN AGAINST IRAN

British and Russian Forces Enter Country MEASURES TO FORESTALL GERMAN COUP GENERAL SIR A. WAVELL DIRECTING BRITISH OPERATIONS LONDON, August 25. British and Russian troops this morning' entered Iran, it was announced officially in London, Moscow and Simla. The latest news of the joint action thus taken by Britain and Russia is that British troops have entered Iran at several points, strongly supported by the R.A.F., while naval units off the Persian coast are also co-operating. The British troops are moving’ into Iran from the south and the Russians from the north. One British force was landed at the head of the Persian Gulf, 70 miles from the Iraq border. Although it was opposed, it was obviously successful. At another point Indian mechanised forces, strongly supported by the R.A.F., passed over the Iraq frontier. A message from Bagdad stages that British forces have moved over the frontier from Iraq at several points. . ~ The Iranian Parliament has met. The Prime Minister said Iran had been attacked by land, sea and air and the authorities had taken measures to face the attack. The strength of the British forces is not disclosed. The plans of the campaign were worked out by General Sir Archibald Wayell, Commander-in-Chief in India, who is directing the operations. The Iran forces are believed to number about 150,000 men, including one armoured division. It is believed that Iran possesses very few modern aircraft. ' The extent to which the German penetration of Iran has been carried out is indicated by the grave shortage of food in Iran, as the result of German demands. Immediate plans have been taken to supply the Iran people with food and other commodities. Sixty thousand tons of wheat have been sent to Iran from India.