Nicosia, Cyprus, May 4.
With the war drawing nearer'.in the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyphüs and Palestine have been quietly and swiftly perfecting their defences, Full precautions against. possible air attacks on Cyprus are being taken.
The Governor yesterday issued a statement advising all with no special reason for remaining in towns to go at once to hills. Those compelled to remain for business reasons, he added, should enlist in A.R.P. services, An air-raid warning was sounded in Nicosia yesterday, when an aeroplane wes sighted near the coast, but no raid developed.
Incessant movements of aeroplanes, warships and transports in these waters have brought home to the people of Cyprus and other territories in the eastern Mediterranean that the war is coming near.
At the same time the British Navy's recent mining of the eastern Mediterranean has given confidence, Alexandria is busily ' preparing against air attacks, and the building
ple is pies being pushed inno From the Turkish mainland. come reports of the movement of troops and aeroplanes to defensive positions in the Taurus mountains, un 'The sitüation in Syria remains obscute, Both French and native Fé- fugees reaching here tell of the cons tinual arrival of Nazi "tourists."; The' frontier with Palestine is closed-and guarded.—Reuter.
The highest estimates put the Mahan strength at Amba Alagi ati 30,000.
Steady progress is being made around the Fike and Jimma area, but Lght rains have hindered increased British pressure on the enemy, Nazi Ships Sunk The sinking of an enemy destroyer and a merchantship in the Mediterranean is recorded in a R, A.F, Middle East communique.
R.A.F, bombers attacked an enemy destroyer and merchantship in the Mediterranean, three direct hits were registered on the destroyer and one on the merchantship, Subsequent reconnaissance proved that both were sunk.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.