PALESTINE REVOLT

Evening Star, Issue 23092, 19 October 1938, Page 11

PALESTINE REVOLT

OLD JERUSALEM SURROUNDED ARABS’ THREATENING ATTITUDE BRITISH POLICY TIGHTENING Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright JERUSALEM, October 18. Gathering in the dusk, heavily armed Arabs encircled the old walled city in a threatening attitude. They also delivered arms to their countrymen in the mosque area by means of ropes over the walls. A detachment ot the Transjordan frontier force has reinforced the troops, and additional armoured cars and military patrols have surrounded the new city, in which the curfew was imposed last night. Steolhelmefed troops with fixed bayonets are patrolling the suburbs with orders to “ shoot on sight.” There is a now order of the day under the shadow of the holy places, rifles crackling intermittently throughout the day and night as the troops exchange shots with rebel snipers. The steady arrival of additional troops and the summary dealing with terrorists are the only indications of a tightening of British policy throughout Palestine since the Loudon conferences. Specific measures are being formulated, however, whereby a.largescale mopping-up process will be initiated preparatory to discussions on the scheme for a settlement following the issue of the Woodhead report. The British United Press correspondent in Jerusalem reports that troops in full fighting kit have occupied buildings surrounding the old city. The rebels are ‘ congregating in the Moslem area. COMPLETE STATE OF SIEGE TENSION AT HIGHEST POINT. JERUSALEM, October 18. (Received October 19, at 9.35 a.m.) Two thousand troops have surrounded the old city, which is now in a complete state of siege. Tension is at the highest point as an outbreak of mass, terrorism, eclipsing the sporadic murders of the last few months, is feared hourly. The sound of machine gun and rifle fire has been heard throughout the city since dawn. It is officially announced that the police force henceforth will be under military control.