OLD JERUSALEM

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 95, 19 October 1938, Page 15

OLD JERUSALEM

THE PRESENT FIGHTING

FIRST IN 800 YEARS

BRITISH TROOPS'

EFFORTS

By Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright. (Received October 19, 2.40 p.m.)

LONDON, October 18.

While the British are fighting in the old city of Jerusalem, which has not known such,an experience since its capture by Sajadin in the Twelfth Century, 20,000 troops are preparing for the virtual reconquest of the.entire country.

Armoured-car detachments and - patrols completely surround the old city, large areas of which have been '

cordoned off, and aeroplanes are constantly flying over it. Two B.A.F. men were wounded by gunfire.

The majority of the 27,000 residents , of the old city have been prisoners in their houses for 36 hours and many - are without food and water.

Several children of non-partisans were wounded in crossfire near a mosque. '

The Rebels in the old,- city are esti- -.-, mated at 400. y

A military court sentenced to death an \ Arab who for the eighth week in succession was charged with being in possession of firearms.

The Beirut correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says that German '

agents are closely in touch with the Grand Mufti, the exiled leader of the Palestine Arabs, and are providing him with arms and ammunitions, consign* ments of which are reported to have been recently landed at Latakia, Saida, and Athlit.

The Jerusalem correspondent of the "Daily Mail" states that two of the Grand Mufti's envoys have, gone to the United States to raise funds from Anil emigres.