It is added in London that there is reason to believe that a consider able section of the Iraqi population deplores Rashid's anti-British policy; and would welcome the restoration of the friendly relations formerly existing between the two countries.
Traq is Important for its great all eld and_pipe lines to the Mediter-Fanean. Oil production in 1938 was 4,272,000 tons. The country has an 'fea of 116,600 square miles and the Population was assessed in 1935 at over 3,500,000, Traq "was admitted to the League of Nations in 1932 when the British Mandate ceased and an army for Iraq was established in 1938. The army and air force has a total strength of 25000 ofoers and men. The Treat Police force numbers 10339 officers and men.
The king is Felsal 11, who was six years old yesterday, ite succeeded this father King Ghazi, who died as the result of an accident in 1939, A /Regeney was set up under the King's juncle Emir Abdul Irah.
Last month the Nationalist leader lSayid Rashid el Gallani effected a coup d'état and assumed the pewees of Regent. Emir Abdul Irah few to Trans-Jordan, 'An official communique issued by the Rasehid All Government Baghdad as reported by the oficial Mahan news agency claims that attempt, by British motorized troops to seize a desert aerodrome and post at Rutbsh in eastern Iraq has' been repulsed.
Butbah is an oasis in the Syrian [Desert some 220 miles east of Baghdad and is an important post on the alr and land route from Palestine to Iraq.
Adviees reaching London from Jerusalem state that Arabs in Palestine have heard with surprise broadcasts emanating from a station purporting to be Baghdad. This station is broadcasting highly coloured counts of the military: situation in Iraq and vivid descriptions of alleged disturbances in Palestine. Since people in Palestine are wel! aware that there have been no such ity.
"The circumstances in which Iraqi forees opene' hostilities against the Habbaniyah Aerodrome yesterday have now become known in authori tative circles in London, Iraq forces had previously surrounded 9 canfonmeht and dug in on high ground. The cantonment was heavily shelled and British sireraft retaliated against the Iragi artillery. silencing some Guns. Fighting continues.
'A plan to meet any interference with the pipe-line in Iraq has long been taken it is staled in London, pud there is no confirmation reports that any part of the line has been seized. It is understood that the position of the Iraq Legation in London is unaffected, The action taken by the British Government in fraq is warmly welcomed by the press. The appeal of Raschid Al for help from Berlin and the al lack en one of the British aerodromes are known to be in keep {ing with the policy which has allowed German and Italian agents to pene= trate all parts of the country.
'There has been little definite news {rom Iraq in the past few hours. Rome quotes a statement issued by Raschid All's administration that the Traqian authorities did everything possible 10 favold an incident but that the British Government's political acts were in+ compatible with the treaty The statement speaks of British provocations against Iraq and alleges that British troops opened fire on an Tragi garrison which was foreed to refaliste. These allegations are effec tively answered by an official British sletement broadcast to Iraq. It points out that Raschid Ah declared he would act in accordance with the treaty but of the same time he was appealing to Berlin for armed assist ance.
The British were obliged to take counter-measures. The British statement appeared to the people of Trac to overthrow Raschid All's regime: Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.