The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-05-08

that RaShid'S troops had awaited German help anxiously, and that they had even been leaving signal flares burning each night at air fields to guide German troop-carry- ing planes.
 A Daily Mall Cairo correspondent said 1t was reported that Rashid had sent message after message to Berlin, complaining that help was being dangerously delayed, and that he had expressed to Italy his un- easlness at the non.arrival of 1tal- Ian funds he was expecting.
 British experts were deeply sus- picious of the agreement reached between the French Vichy govern ment and Germany.
 There was no tendency at all to believe that Germany in burst Of generosity had made concessions to Vichy without exacting an adequate return.
 Speculation turned to the pos- sibility that Admiral Jean Francois Darlan, Vichy vice premier, might have entered Q secret agreement which would permit German planes to use Syrian air bases for an at- tack on 1raq.
 Report from Cairo Cairo, May B. (UP) - British forces in Iraq followed up @ victory ct Habbaniya airdrome Tuesday by bombing the Banghdad airport yes- terday, damaging buildings and the airdrome road, according to com muniques issued here today.
 Other raids made by the Royal Air Force as part of the British de- termination to crush what they now term an 1raqi rebellion resulted in direct hits on tn eWaSilaSh muni- tons magabine near Baghdad Bombs were said to have hit mili- tary buildings.
 "Bombs also were dropped on dls- persed aircraft ct the Hanaidi air. drome," RAT middle east headquar- ters said in Q confnunique.
 British middle east general head- quarters said that SO far as land op- erations were concerned, the situa- ton at Basra and Habbaniya had been quiet since Tuesday wher British forces attacked 1raqi troops near Hahbaniya, capturing six guns and more than 400 prisoners.
 Yesterdays raid was one in Q series of RAF attacks on the Bagh- dad airdrome. Other bases of the Iraqi air force have been attacked in 0 plan designed to weaken armed opposition to British troops in Iraq
 Tho action, Tuesday was taken by British forces which had been flrec on by Iraqi forces at the Habbaniys airdrome, 65 miles west of Baghdad The British move was intended te relieve military pressure on Hab' baniya.
 Tn Iraq, following our successful action of May against q portior of the Iraq army which, at the in' gtigation Of military adventurers treacherously attacked Habaliya the situation at both Habaniya aIle Basra remained quiet" the cornnnu' nique said "Our captures includs six guns and over 400 prisoners" British Patrols Active
 British patrols in war areas nea; Sollum, Egypt, and Tobruk, Libya again were active and empire force In Ethiopia have made new gains capturing additional prisoners ans taking new positions covering ap
 brooches from the north to Italian entrenched on Mt. Alaji, 8 com , munique said today.
 "In the Tobruk and Sollum area our patrols again were active" comunique issued by British mid , dle east general headquarters, sail , today.
 Tn Abyssinia (Ethiopia) furthe . positions covering the approacl from the north to Mt. Alaji wer } captured and Q number of prison , CTS were taken.
 "In all other areas (of Eas . Africa) operations are continuin , satisfactorily"
 An enemy convoy in the Mediter
 ranean and scored direct hits on tw merchant ships, one of which wa left smoking, and RAF communiqu said today. Both ships were seel
 to be listing badly.
 During the engagement an enem . plane was shot down at sea, tn communique said.
 ] It added that enemy planes raid . cd the British Mediterranean islam
 base pt Malta on Tuesday nigh , causing some property damage [ British antl-alrcraft guns, however were said to have shot down w
 German Junkerg- eaH. Anothe