Istanbul.
The R.A.F. has machine-gunned trains crossing Syria with French war materials destined for Iraq, diplomatic reports here said yesterday.
Meanwhile the Turkish press was incredulous toward Vichy reports that German planes which crossed Syria were there only because they had been forced to land. wspapers accused Vichy ot^ for granting Germany rights to use airfields in Syria.
"The agreement between Germany and Admira] Francois Darlan was the heaviest blow to France's honour." said the "Yeni Hsabah."
"The fact that Syria opened its arms to Germany, permitting German planes to use airfields there while en route to Iraq. shows that Iraq. Syria and Vichy have taken a position against England," commented the "Iskdam." "Now the time for America to take positive steps rather than to make speeches and utter diplomatic phrases."
The "Suntelegram" predicted that Germany and Italy would use 7,000 or 8,000 aeroplanes in the Near East.—United Press. y Money, Valuables Stolen One of the biggest armed robberies in the past several mitted at 830 p.m. y when four gangsters enriched themselves by about $10,000 at the expense of the necupants of 71/19 Purdon Road.
The gangsters, two of whom were armed with pistols, entered the house and intimidated the inmates with their firearms. While one of them kept the victims in one room at pistol point, the others searched the premises, stealing all the money and jewellery in the house. No alarm was raised by the victims and the robbers made an easy geta Moscow Bars Diplomats From Certain Zones Moscow, May 18 Tue Foreign Office yesterday pro ited foreign diplomats from tray g in Russian border zones and centres without authorization ficial nited Pr War Materi for Iraq Ankara. May Several train loads of war atonals were sent from Syria to Iraq on Friday and Saturday, it is learned here. The railway passes through Turkey, and under the terms of a convention, Turkey must be notified of the passage of all war material exceeding one truck, but there is no power to impede such traffic.
It is considered that this traffic is not likely to continue, as it is known that stocks of ammunition and petrol in Syria are low.
It is also reported in usually reliable quarters here that French armoured vehicles in Syria are being re-conditioned, and that the Italian commission in Syria is allowing the withdrawal of materials from the depots.
The Royal Air Force is reported to have bombed and machine-gunned Syrian Arab volunteers for Raschid Ah who bad been collected by the French and were being taken across Turkish-Italian Sea Lanes Reopened Istanbul. May 18. ications between Tur-y end Ital and fish cargo United Press have been reopened e en route to Italy, said yesterda
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