ACTION IN PALESTINE

Evening Star, Issue 23093, 20 October 1938, Page 13

ACTION IN PALESTINE

TROOPS BESIEGE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM REGONQUEST OF ENTIRE COUNTRY PLANNED AIH FORGE OFFICERS WOUNDED BY GUNFIRE Press Association-By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, October 18. While British troops are besieging the Old City of Jerusalem, which has not known such an experience since its capture by Saladin in the twelfth century, 20,000 troops are preparing for virtual reconquest of the entire country. Armoured car detachments and patrols completely surround the Old City, large areas of which are cordoned off. Aeroplanes are constantly flying over the city. Two Air Force officers were wounded by gunfire. The majority of the Old City’s population of 27,000 have virtually been prisoners in their houses for 36 hours, many being without food and water. Several children were wounded by crossfire near the mosque. The rebels in the Old City are estimated to number 400. A military court passed the death sentence on an Arab who w r as found in possession of firearms. [Saladin was Sultan of Syria and Egypt. Son of a Kurdish general, he spent his youth in Damascus, of which city his father was governor. In 1164 he accompanied his father on a campaign against Egypt, whose friendship to the Franks was a source of danger to the. Moslem powers. For five years he fought the Christians who came to the aid of Egypt, and by 1170 he, had become vizier. On the death, in 1174, of his master, Nur-ed-din, Sultan of Syria, Saladin hastened north, and by the following year had made himself master of the realm, and been declared Sultan. The next few years were spent in extending his territory, and in strengthening his hand for the inevitable struggle with the Christians, which he opened in 1187 by a brilliant sweep through Palestine, culminating in the capture of Jerusalem, October 2. 1187. Only Tyre remained in Christian hands, but thence they marched on Acre. Hastening thither, Saladin surrounded the Christian host, but the latter was reinforced by sea, and the arrival of Richard Coeur de Lion. 1191. followed by the fail of Acre, checked the victorious paynim. Next year, however, he forced the Christians into the unsatisfactory peace, which closed the Third Crusade, September 2, 1192.; Six months later Saladin died at Damascus, March 4, 1193. ‘-Devout, enduring, kindlv, honourable, ■ and chivalrous. Saladin was the Mohammedan leader at his best.] ’ • ■

POLICE UNDER MILITARY CONTROL TANTAMOUNT TO MARTIAL LAW JERUSALEM, October 19. The troops intend to storm the Old City later to-day in order to clear out the rebels. The replacement of district commissioners by military governors and the placing of the Police Force under military control is tantamount to the establishment' of martial law throughout Palestine. Major-general O’Connor has been appointed military governor of Jerusalem. Two of the Mufti’s envoys have gone to the United States to raise funds from Arab emigres, states the ‘ Daily Mail’s ’ Jerusalem correspondent. GOLDSTREAMS ENTER OLD CITY DESULTORY FIRING FROM SNIPERS JERUSALEM, October 19. (Received October 20, at 8 a.m.) A battalion of the Coldstream Guards, the vanguard of the British troops detailed to clean up the Old City, marched in at 3 a.m. Other troops are stationed at vantage points outside the walll. Desultory firing from rebel snipers is going on. The four-day continuous curfew immobilised the population, and the food problem is getting acute. ARAB ARMS AND MUNITIONS GERMAN SOURCE OF SUPPLY LONDON, October 19. The 1 Daily Telegraph’s ’ Beirut correspondent says that German agents who are in clbse touch with the Grand Mufti, the exiled leader of the Palestine Arabs, are providing arms and ammunition, consignments of which are reported to have been recently landed at Latakia, Saida, and Athlit. FRENCH COUNTER-MEASURES BEIRUT, October 19. (Received October 20, at 8 a.m.) The French Commissioner has instructed the Governments of Syria and Lebanon to prevent the entry of arms to Palestine. ABANDONMENT OF PARTITION NEW PROPOSALS TO CABINET LONDON. October 19. The ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ says Mr Malcolm MacDonald will to-dav submit new Palestine proposals to tho Cabinet, involving the abandonment of partition and tlie establishment of a unified State under British guidance. The Government is unlikely to agree th the cessation of Jewish immigration, but suspension might be considered • expedient.

DETAILS OF ENTRY LITTLE RESISTANCE OFFERED LIGHT. CASUALTY LIST JERUSALEM, October 19. (Received October 20, at 1 p.m.) As the Coldstream Guards, wearing steel helmets and with fixed bayonets, marched towards tho old walled city for the purpose of combing out the rebels aeroplanes flew over scattering leaflets in the Arab, Hebrew, and English languages warning the inhabitants that, serious operations were about to begin. The Coldstream Guards forced the Damascus Gate and the St. Stephen Gate, both being barricaded by the rebels. '*■ Meanwhile the Northumberland Fusiliers entered by the Zion Gate and other troops by the New Gate, Dung Gate, and Jaffa Gate, making, with the police force, about 2,000 troops. They advanced slowly through the maze of narrow streets, fearing land mines, which are a favourite form of Arab warfare. Within two hours the troops had secured control of practically the whole of the Old City. There was a sharp affair at the Damascus Gate, and thereafter there was only bomb-throwing and sniping. The troops, after cordoning the city, began a house-to-house search. Many houses were found to be deserted, but occasionally the men discovered abandoned and crying children. Only the harem area was not entered. There planes sighted- many armed men. It is expected that the Arabs will be starved out, as the area is too honeycombed with subterranean passages to permit exploration. When they were satisfied with the Situation the military authorities reopened the Damascus Gate, allowing communication with Outer Jerusalem. The whole city is now filled with soldiers and armoured cars. The total British casualties are two constables and one soldier wounded. Nine Arabs, including a woman, were killed, and 18 were wounded. Forty were arrested. It is believed that the Arabs planned an attack after taking possession of the Old City. The police frustrated their plan by closing the gates; thus the rebels were trapped. . CLEANING UP PROCESS NINE ARABS KILLED JERUSALEM, October 19. (Received October 20, at 10 a.m.) Nine Aralj£ were killed in the cleaning up process by the Coldstream Guards. A British policeman was injured. - Arabs killed two‘"Jews; onO of whom was Inspector Abraham Cohen, of tho Jewish Defence Corps, during a raid on the llishon Lezion colony. Four Arabs were wounded. A transport convoy of the Dead Sea Potash Company was ambushed on the Jericho road, with several Jewish casualties. • Two bandits were killed and a quantity of arms captured when a gang was surprised in tho act of puncturing tho Iraq oil pipe line. KING RECEIVES MR MACDONALD (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 19. • (Received October 20, at 11 a.m.) Mr MacDonald, who received an audience by the King last evening, was waited upon yesterday by deputations from the Parliamentary Palestine Committee and the British Commonwealth Peace Federation. Mr MacDonald took note of the views expressed, but was unable at tHis stage to make a statement of British policy.