ARAB UNREST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 279, 7 September 1936, Page 5

ARAB UNREST

HARDENING OF THEIR ATTITUDE. MORE BRITISH TROOPS GOING. DISPLAY OF FORCE INTENDED. (United Press Association —Copyright.) LONDON, September 5. The “Daily Telegraph” understands that 10,000 reinforcements including 12 infantry battalions, are leaving for Palestine next Friday. This will bring the total number of British troops in Palestine to 17,000 sufficient to enable the imposition of martial law, although according to a War Office official, the present intention is to make such a display of force that martial law will he unnecessary. A message from Jerusalem states that the British decision to reinforce the Palestine troops has hardened the attitude of the Arabs, to whom the rebel leader, Fauzi Bey, has issued a call to arms. His presence is believed to be responsible for the highest total of British casualties since the outbreak of hostilities. Tho derailment of goods engines, apparently due to sabotage, resulted in the death of two British soldiers and a native driver, while a reserve driver was scalded. Two naval engine-drivers were injured. The Arab higher committee has resolved to continue the strike ‘‘until the country is saved.” Dealing with the reinforcement of the Palestine garrison, the War Office has stated that a number of reservists in section “Q” of the army reserve was being called up. This action was being taken solely for the purpose of bringing up to establishment certain units which might be required for reinforcements of the Palestine garrison. This particular section of the array reserve consists of a limited number of men who have undertaken to come up far service if called upon without the issue of a proclamation. NO AGREEMENT WITH ARABS. MINISTER DENIES REPORT. LONDON, September 5. The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr W. A. Ormsby-Gore) in a letter to Dr. Weizmann (president of the Jewish Agency and of the World Zionist Organisation), gives a definite denial to rumours published by the Palestine press, and widely believed in that country, that terms far the cessation of the strike have been accepted by the Higher Arab Committee, that these terms have been accepted by the British High Commissioner (Sir Arthur Waueliope), or by the British Government, and that the High Commissioner authorised Noury Pasha (Foreign Minister of Iraq) to give assurances to the Arab committee on this subject.

Mr Ormsby-Gore says that no such terms have been agreed to either by the High Commissioner or by his Majesty’s Government. Moreover, there is no foundation for the suggestion regarding the measures, including the suspension of immigration, to he taken after the cessation of disturbances. Not only has Noury Pasha »’ot been authorised to give any such assurances, but Sir Arthur Wauchope states that he has not asked for any such authority, and to the best of the High Commissioner’s belief Noury Pasha made it clear to the Arab leaders that he was not in a position to give any such assurances.

ARABS KILLED IN AIR ACTION. JERUSALEM, September 4. Detachments of the Lincolnshire and Royal Scots Regiments, escorted bv 10 aeroplanes, searched the vicinity of the Nazi us road where a terrorist outrage occurred yesterday. Twenty-eight Arabs were killed, mostly in an air action. The Arabs are reported to be using machine-guns against the British Hoops. Yesterday an officer of the Lincolnshires was killed and one officer and two privates were wounded. The Arabs suffered 10 casualties.