^7 f^;/. y ; ak London reports that fighting has been going on all day long -> in Iraq. tie is at the Habbaniyah Airdrome, which is x sixty-five miles east of BaghdaTS-s^his airport is of vital consequence for the defense of the Mosul oil'>a^ls, whJxh in turn are an all-important possession of the British Emgjjiid-rf^ast night we heard how a critical state of affairs existed betwefen the British and the Iraq Government, l^hich government is said to be pro-Nazi.\ The word twenty-four hours ago was that forces of the Iraq army had been concentrated near the Habbaniyah Airport - threatening. And Britain was demanding that these forces be r ^ removed - trouble might break out. Trouble did break out. London states that fighting began this morning, and was started by the Iraquies. They opened fire with artillery, shootiM at the British troops holding^the airdrome. ffhcit wtll de^ttlnr —^irrf OTie^f the 'i!ioF8t:> Important gwiiicns in mnnjfcrf Is today* s fighting a mere un-important skirmish? Or is it the beginning of large scale hostilities between the British forces and the Iraq army? J Mil - 2 Hotr p»o Magi government ofM:he rrifi Mes^^^e^»miai»-4An4- tBt«n4 One report tells us that the full Iraq army has been ordered to mobilize. Another states that the Iraq forces have seized the Habbaniyah Airport and various other strategic points. Also - the M^sul oil wells. This rumor comes from Berlin. Tvje British, on their side, have flashed a radio broadcast to the Iraq people, bidding them to overthrow the pro-Nazi government. cdt Of all the rumors, tension is arrested the most sharply by A one from Turkey - which states that the Iraq government has asked Nazi Germany for help in fighting the British. A query about this was made in Berlin tonight, and Nazi spokesmen said they knew nothing about it. However, it would not be surprising. British opinion is positive that the trouble has been stirred up by German -A machinations, incited by Hitler agents. And obviously nothing could suit the Nazi purpose better than to have Iraq in revolt, and have German fighting units established there. Will Hitler sendjaid to Iraq? Can he? That^s a tantalizing question. Nazi air bases in southern Greece are within Uh - 3 reasonable flying distance of the new area of troiible, and air transports could carry troops and light equipment, ^liether they could do it in the face of Bpitish fighting planes, is another thing. Moreover, German units sent by air v.ould be isolated in Iraq - out of communication by land with the forces of the blitzlcrieg. would seem to be quite a yMxxgah gamble - but the Nazis might take it.''On the other hand,j |bhis Iraq uprising might possibly be part of a general plan concerted by the Nazis for a drive to the Mosul oil wells - ultimate destination, the Suez Canal. They might plan it through Turkey, or via French Syria - with the T., revolt in Iraq as one element of a military combinatibn. Much in that case would depend on the relative strength of the British and large Iraq forces. The native army is not^aoufM - twelve or fifteen thousand j men. And the soldiers are probably no better than is customary in such countries. The magnitude of the British units is unknown. Two forces of Imperial soldiers have been landed, and are said to consist largely of In^Jian troops. But how many? From this distance it is impossible to tell how the battle might go, how quickly the 0 r ITAB - 4 British aight succeed in suppressing the pro-Nazi forces. One thing is obvious, that it behooves the British Empire to reestablish its control as ir quickly as possible or the damage may be immense. Iraq was seized from Turkey by the British in the last war. By action of the League of Nations, it was set up as an independent kingdom - under a British mandate. Relations have been I governed by a British-Iraq Treaty, which gave London a large measure of control. There were disputes about the Mosul oil fields. Britain acquired them, and built that famous pipeline to the Mediterranean. During the present war, ail seemed quiet out there, until a military revolt several weeks ago tossed out the pro-British government, and the regime was taken over by an army clique said to be pro-Nazi^And now fighting has broken out - a new chapter in the ancient land, where some ^ believe that civilization began, The country of the Euphrates and the Tigris, the land of the two "Siver. nence the name Mesopotamia, which is Greek meaning - ^between rivers." It’s the realm of ancient Babylon and Nineveh, " 1 1 the Caldeans and the Assyrians. It’s capital is raghdad, J 1 WAR - 5 with its famous legend of Haaron al Rashind and the ARABIAN NIGHTS, of Alladin and tJinbad the Sailor. A land of ancient wonder, and now in the spotlight of the war news. - 0 - The other important item in this same war news of tonight tells of Tobruk. the latest word from Cairo is that a violent battle is raging, with Axis infantry and tanks launching heavy assault) supported by intense bombardment from the air. Last night we heard that German ard Italian forces had penetrated the outer defenses of Tobruk. Today, the British stated that at one point where enemy units had broken through, a vigorous counter-attack was launched, - axis tanks destroyed, German and Italian troops driven back. Today the attack went on with increased violence; says Cairo. Alarming news comes from Spain — in the form of an address made today by Spanish Foreign Minister Suner, brother-in-law of Franco, and regarded as the leading pro-Nazi pro-Fascist in Spain. Today Suner launched a denunciation of what he called — the pluto democracies.” That's the term the Axis people like to fasten on the democratic nations. So the Suner attack was directed at Great Britain \ ! and the United States. And the inevitable surmise is that it points j WAR - 6 In the direction of the possibility of Franco lining up with Hitler. The goal, of course, being Gibraltar. ^1 -.v r ROOSEVELT President Roosevelt today put pressure on the Office of Production iianagement - demanding an all-out effort for defense. twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. In a telegram.to the O.PM. Associate Directors William S. Knudsen and Sidney Hillman, the President stated that this nation is confronted bv what he called - ^a critical situation.” He propounded to Knudsen and Hillman the following program.* — Mobilize every bit of machinery that can be used to build armament. Pijt <*^4 the maoteines opopfetion where* thay -^ire, ^pansport them-W-pieees where the^ een-bo^ UGod. ”The goal,” wired the President, ”should be to work these machines twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week, relieving the machines only for such time required for overhauling and repair.” Mobilize skilled workers, and put them on shifts for the full time operation. Canvass the whole country for men who can operate the machines. Scrutinize the armed forces, and look for v/orkers who can be used. Instead of giving them military training, employ their skill in the building of weapons. 1 t£ That^s the gist of the telegram which the President \ I sent today to the Directors of Defense - spurring them and the nation t to PT*on^^tion* WILLKIE Today we have an answer that Wendell Wlllkie makds to Colonel Lindbergh — or are we still entitled to call him ^Colonel”? Some weeks ago, COLLIERS MAGAZINE printed an article by Lindbergh, in which the Lone Eagle expressed his familiar views — that we canH save Great Britain from defeat, that peace should be made, and that isolationism is the best policy. So now COLLIERS, to effect a balance, prints a retort by the recent Republican candidate. Wandell Willkie asserts that Great Britain can win. ^England can even lose the Mediterranean and still win this war," he writes. Willkie emphasizes that Britain’s desperate need is ships. And he adds — that we should give Britain destroyers. v'.tv FUIiDS T^ere has been talk about freezing funds the Axis powers, iitrpar^i^triasu Today Secretary of State Cordell Hull was asked about it - the likelihood of the United States tying up financial resources owned by Nazi Germany and Fasl^cist Italy in this country. The Secretary's response was rather surprising. He stated that the governiuent is considering the idea of freezing all funds, tying up the financial resources of every nation, The word from Weshington is that the Secretary of State has been opposing suggestions that the United States take action to freeze the Ayis funds. Today, he says that they’re considering the idea of tying^p all funds - of every nation^ ta :< es The tax issue continues to dominate in Washington — how to raise more billions for national defense and aid to Britain, Two proposals in drect contradiction were made today. One suggested. more income taxes. The other - less. Edward O’Neill, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation told the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives that there should be a drastic cut in income tax exemptions. The idea is that the present exemptions should be slashed in half. Right now, they are eight hundred dollars for single persons and two thousand dollars for those who are married. The President of the Farm Federation would have these exemptions reduced to four hundred for the single, and a thousand for the married. The President of the C.I.O. Phillip Murray, appeared before the Committee, and his argument was — raise the income tax exemptions. He wants to put them back to idiere they used to be - the former level of the one thousand dollar exemotlonfor those who are single. Twenty-five hundred for the married people. Raise taxes, is one phase of financing national defense and aid to Britain. Another angle is — cut down ordinary government exoenditures - the none-defense kind. Speaker Rayburn of the House ll TAXES - 2 of Representatives stated today that he’s going to take to the White House a plea for the governjaent to save a billion dollars. This economy is in accordance with proposals made by the Secretary of the Treasury. He suggested that there should be a cut in the huge sums appropriated for such things as the Civilian Conservation Corps, the National Youth Administration - and also lead the way in effecting the saving of a billion dollars, farm relief. That would seem to give the economy idea the blessing of the administration, but Congress wants the initiative in the non^defense cuts to come from the White House. Let the President if ill BONDS -1 : The first precinct to report in the sale of defense securities is Meddybemps, Maine. That*s a town with a pretty name - Meddybemps. The population is ninety-nine^ And the sale of defense r • bonds and stamps is one hundred per cent. The postmaster reports '■i; that on the first day everybody invested in defense savings - each one of the ninety-nine people of Meddybemps je/"vs^ in EDJ)IE EAGAjj - BOYS LEAP.Tfl-. PRESENTfTjnu EDDIE EAGAN;- Lowell, may I break in on your news for just a couple of seconds? —o— L.T.; - V.liy, sure Eddie, anything you say. My interrupter is Eddie Eagan, President of the Boys Athletic League. Eddie, one-time amateur heavyweight boxing champion of the world, is now a New York lawyer, and be devotes his spare time to serving as President of the Boys Athletic League. —o— EDDIE Eagan; The reason for my interruption is just this! We recently took a poll of the boys in twenty-two states and the District of Columbia. As a result, I am here to present you their trophy. because they have again voted you their favorite commentator. r —O— i L.T.Thanks a lot, Eddie. Thanics in behalf of myself and my sponsors, the Sun Oil Company. The Boys Athletic League is doing magnificent work, through its recreation centers, craft-shops and summer camps. I hope we can get together on some ballgames this summer. THEATnE Kerens some bad news for the actors and playwrights of New York. The dramatic critics will be able to pan them to their in 4 heart’s content -write bad reviews, say that the play was terrible. the acting av/ful, plain ham. This privilege to pan is iinplied in a bill which Governor Lehman of New York signed today. *ii In the past, theatrical managers have been known to bar critics from their theatres, when said critic roasted said A manager’s dramatic productions - criticism too harsh. They’ve refused to sell tickets to such reviewer^, wouldn t let them in. I put now that’s all a thing of the past. The New York Legislatu*re passed a law which makes it to bar any adult from a theatre, providing he has the price of a ticket and behaves himself during the performance. /V especially designed to prevent critics from being kept out, and the Governor signed the bill today, critics can pan and pan-with impunity^ "They can write that the acting is bad, the play dull, and much too long. a Talking about ttim play being too long, we may note an A experiment in brevity that's being conducted at the Music Hall here 'Y THMTilL - 2 in RocKefeiler Center. For the stage shov; that accompanies the motion picture, they’re giving a tabloid version of Madame butterfly - the whole opera compressed aar-trhat—Lt -±^s1a a mere hour. ^ /I It’s played four times a day with alternate casts of singers* One of these is a brilliant young Philippine soprano, Enya Gonzales - the perfect Jiadame Butterfly. Talking about the tabloid version at the Mxisic Hall, Senorita Gonzales tells me about the length of some operas - which seem as if they’d never end* The classic is ’’Parsifal”, which lasts for nearly five hours. The first act goes on for two hours, and in it the baritone has one long stretch of singing which continues right on - for forty minutes. The longest aria on earth - marathon singing. Later on, the tenor. ? \ A K Parsifal, stands gazing entranced at the Holy Grail - for fifty minutes. Sainifchlng^so^endurance record for gazing with rapture net. 9Wt nn^re- ony^ —I to turn this program into a Parsifal of news-broadcasting. A So here’s Hugh James.