Habbaniyah is a Royal Air Force training centre, and as a result. the aircraft there are logely training machines. The cantonment, which housed the ground staff and a small nard of Assyrian Jevles, Is untor-
As regards Iraqi claims to have coupled all wells and all the aerodromes in the country. it is palated Sut in London that these have always been in Iraqi hands with the single exception of the Sheiba aerodrome near Basrah, where, so far as is Known, no hostile action has been attempted.
The Iraqi Army is divided into three main groups. stationed at Baghdad, Basrah and Mosul. with a smaller section on the outskirts of Baghdad. The troops attacking Habbaniyah were drawn from the Baghdad group, which is known have connections with the Nazis. How {far the sympathies of the other groups incline towards Germany is not known.
'According to reports from Vichy. all is quiet in the Sraqi capital 'The people of Iraq have been asked over' the: radio"to report to the police the presence of foreign aircraft or parachutists. The Iraqi Government is Known to have called up the reserve of officers in two classes.
Foisal If, the four-year-old King of Iraq, is at present in Baghdad with his mother. Although the country is rent with intrigue. all sections of the 12,000 Troops Not Accounted for Sydney, May 4.
Mr, Spender, Minister for the "Army, announced that after an analysis of messages from General Blarney, Second-in-Command in the Middle East, he estimated that some 12,000 British, Australian and New Zealand' troops were not yet accounted for following the Greek Campaign. Three thousand left on-beaches were mostly non-combatant and labour. Al nurses serving with the army had been eva-enated, he added—Reuter, nation undoubtedly remain loyal to the dynasty. since the memory of King Feisal is universally revered.
Reports from Vichy state that the Withelmstrasse Is observing an ostentations silence over the events in Iraq. Correspondents in Budapest remarke that the reports of an appeal by the Iragi Prime Minister to the Reich cause no surprise in Berlin Political circles.
It is recalled that Hitler asserted that Germany will attack Britain wherever she Is to be found.
'The German radio hay, however, been heard quoting Istanbul information that the Iraqk Ministry of Defence has called on' all to report for the 1906 class colours next Tuesday.
'The opening of hostilities in Traq follows an intensive and carefully prepared campaign of Nazi intrigue, writes Reuters' special correspondent in Cairo.
"The arrival of British troops Basrah on April 18 finally" forced Rashid All to show his hand, disclose ing that the Iraqi administration which effected a military coup d'etat on Aprit 1 had a secret agreement with Berlin and Rome. pondent, that Rashid AlL the transit of British troops in order fo maintain the illusion that he intends to respect the Anglo-iraqi treaty, Nevertheless, knowing that Rashid AN was secretly negotiating with Germany, the British authori. les and services in Iraq took the necessary precautions to safeguard their Interests in the event of possible disturbance,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.