London, May 4.
While the latest reports indicated that fighting was still going on in Iraq. dispatches from Ankara stated that the Mosul ollfelds "hod been flooded by the Traqls, and that Tragi forces are in control of the oilfields and their installations.
Another report from Baghdad states that the pipeline from Kirkuke. to Haifa, through which oil for the Mediterranean fleet Is transported, has. been cut. As this report was quote! by the German radio, however, not too much credence should be attached Anew Iraqi Army. which is to march forthwith against the "revolutionary elements in Iraq." is being formed in Transjordania by the Iraq Regent, Abdul Mah, who fled the country following Rashid All's coup defat. states the Swiss radio, The RAF. had an air battle with Iraqi planes over Habbaniyah aerodrome during the fighting on Friday, Wis learned. The Traqt alr force is known to consist of some 80 obsolete lanes, mostly trainers.
'A number of British aircraft we destroyed on the ground at baniyah aerodrome, when Traql gut sarted shelling at point-blanke range. British bombers silenced q number of the guns. and repulsed an unsuccessful Tragl attack on the aerodrome, Nothing is known in London of anything Justifying the Traql claim to have repulsed a British attack Rutba. The story that British tanks were destroyed on the aerodrome there is certainly not true.
During the last few. days Iraqi Government posted tr00} the British aerodrome at Habbaniyalt, Trenches were dug and guns mounted on the edge of the desert plateatt overlooking the aerodrome.
A request for the withdrawal of these troops was met by the dispatch further forces. Hostilities broke Out on the eatly morning of May With the Iraqi artillery firing point= blank on the aerodrome.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.