PALESTINE UNREST

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 202, 23 May 1936, Page 9

PALESTINE UNREST

Highlanders’ Battle With Arabs SITUATION WORSE Jewish Omnibus Ambushed In Defile THREE SOLDIERS WOUNDED By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received May 22, 9.15 p.m.) Jerusalem, May 22. The situation arising from the hostility between Arabs and Jews is becoming worse. Three British soldiers were wounded in a battle with Arab snipers who had previously ambushed a crowded Jewish omnibus and three private cars, containing prominent Jewish leaders, in a narrow defile on the main Jerusalem-Jaffa road. Two bus passengers were wounded, A party of Cameron Highlanders was immediately rushed to the spot in lorries, and met a fairly heavy lire from snipers. Taking cover behind trees the soldiers retaliated and the snipers retreated. One was captured.

Troops have now taken over from the police the guardianship of vulnerable points, including the oil area and the post office. Further reinforcements are en route from Cairo. The “Daily Mail’s” Jerusalem correspondent reports that Arab lightermen at Jaffa presented an ultimatum to the District Commissioner threatening serious trouble unless the unloading of ships at Tel Aviv ceases within 24 hours. Tel Aviv, where there is a large Jewish settlement, is at present being used as a temporary port owing to the Jaffa strike. The destroyer Beagle was on May 21 sent to protect ships unloading. Communication between Jerusalem and Jaffa has been severed, thus in terrupting communication with Cairo. An Arab village near Acre was collectively fined £2OO for setting fire to fields and attacking passing cars.