London. May 4.
While the latest reports indicated that fighting was still going on in Iraq, dispatches from Ankara stated that the Mosul oilfields hod been flooded by the Iraqis, and that Iraqi forces are in control of the oilfields and their installations.
Another report from Baghdad states that the pipeline from Kirkuk to Haifa, through which oil for the Mediterranean fleet is transported, has been cut. As this report was quoted ey the German radio. however, not too much credence should be attached to it.
A new Iraqi Army. which is to march forthwith against the "revolutionary elements in Iraq." is being formed in Transjordania by the Iraq Regent, Abdul Iah. who fled the country following id All's coup d'etat, states the Swiss radio.
The R.A.F. had an air battle with Iraqi planes over Habbaniyah aerodrome during the fighting on Friday, it is learned. The Iraqi air force is known to consist of some 80 obsolete planes, mostly trainers.
A number of British aircraft were destroyed on the ground at Habbaniyah aerodrome, when Iraqi guns started shelling at point-blank range. British bombers silenced a number of the guns, and repulsed an unsuccessful Iragi attack on the aerodrome.
Nothing is known in London of anything justifying the Iraqi claim to have repulsed a British attack at Rutba. The story that British tanks were destroyed on the aerodrome there is certainly not true.
During the last few days, the Iraqi Government posted troops round the British aerodrome at Habbaniyah. Trenches were dug and guns mounted on the edge of the desert plateau overlooking the aerodrome.
A request for tte withdrawal of these troops was met by the dispatch of further forces. Hostilities broke out on the early morning of May 2. with the Iragi artillery firing point-blank on the aerodrome.
Washington, May 4.
Reports that United States ships had reached Suez with war supplies were stated in maritime circles here last night to be "quite possibly true."
Freighters are known to have left America early in April with supplies for Greece and Yugoslavia following President Roosevelt's action in excluding the Red Sea from areas banned as combat zones.
Authoritative quarters stated that these shipments were never cancelled despite the fall of these two countries.—Reuter.
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