The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-05-20
BRITISH SMASH
 AT lRAQ ARMIES
(continued from Page D

lCOlJlDueQ IrOm rage U
 The British offensive obviously was designed for a quick knockout of the Iraqi in an effort to regain control of the great Mosul oil feldS before the, Axis can move strong forces into the Near East.
 The Basra and Habbaniya sec- tors as well as the western Egypt fronts were reported relatively quiet, but the formal surrender today in Ethiopia of the Duke of Aosta, su- prerne Fascist commander in Ethi- opia, released British forces there for participation in the defense Of the Middle East.
 The Duke of AoSta and his staff, who were permitted to surrender formally at Amba Alaji at noon today, were the last Italians to leave that area as prisoners but only minor resistance continued in south- ern Ethiopia
 About 1000 men surrendered ct Amba AIaJi yesterday.
 Britains new drive in Iraq was obviously aimed at smashing the regime of Rashid All Al Gallant as soon as possible, to forestall the arrival Of big German forces
 The Iraqis as FalluJah, 1t was made known, surrendered after British planes had bombed and ma. chine gunned them.
 With their capture Of the town, the British forces now control that important crossing Of the Euphrates, and a continued advance toward Baghdad, the capital, would present only few typographical dificulties, though a crossing Of the Tigrs would be necessary.
 British Use New Technique
 Ill dropping surrender leaflets, the British were using Q new tech- rique.
 It was said authoritatively that there was no confirmation of Axis reports that 1raqi troops had in- yaded Trangjordania.
 A British staff officer, whose name was not given, said in 6 radio broadcast summary of the Ethiop- ian campaign that he capture of the duke's forces at Ainba Alagi virtually meant the end of Italian resistance because the morale Of the remaining forces, at Gondar in the northwest and the lake region in the south, would naturally be affected by the surrender of the main body.
 The Italians had hoped to hold of the British forces until the big rainy season started in June, the officer said, but the plan was snnagh- cd by the relentless pursuit by the British, South African, Indian, Su- danese, East African, West African, Free French, Belgian and Ethiopian forces who co.operated in the cam. paign.
 The scant news of the situation in 1raq and Syria continued to be disturbing.
 French Guns Hit British
 The Swiss radio quoted a Vichy report that French anti-aircraft guns had fired on British planes over several areas of Syria Sum- day and that British planes had continued to drop leaflets on Syrian towns and villages. A United Press Cairo dispatch said that 1t was learned unofficially that 50 German planes had flown to Iraq by way of Syria, instead of 90 as previously reported.
 It was understood here that 8 preliminary examination of the legal position of Syria indicated that the French had been justified, under their armistice with Germany, in sending guns and ammunition to Iraq.
 The armistice provided that Ger many might dispose of war material in unoccupied French territories, and that the German armistice commission might determine the disposition to be made of such nia- terial.
 It was forecast that Germany would soon seek to send war mate rials to Iraq through Turkey, espe- cially tanks and similar heavy ma terial.
 SOLDIERS DAY OFF
 After hakklino t,a ,,a,,fiAr kras,effae