PALESTINE MASSACRES

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 August 1929, Page 5

PALESTINE MASSACRES

ARABS ATTACK JEWISH HOMES

HEAVY CASUALTY LIST

(Australian Press Assn.) (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

LONDON, August 27.

The “Daily Express’s” special correspondent at Jerusalem states: The Holy Land is shocked to its foundations by the outrages. Business is at a standstill. The shops are closed; the telephones are not working, and the .Press is censored. 1 It is officially admitted that .from 80 to 100 have been killed, and the* hospitals are filled with the wounded. The bloodiest tragedy ■ was that which occurred at Hebron, where 73 Jews were slaughtered in their homes, 12 of whom were American students qualifying for the Jewish Rabbinate. They were eating their Sabbath meal when a mob of armed tribesmen descended on the village. Men, women and children were cut to pieces. Eighteen were thus killed in a single home, including Mr Slonim, the manager of the Anglo-Palestine Bank, his wife and two children, and his parents-in-law. The policing of Jerusalem is now m the hands of a volunteer force of 600 British citizens, who are patrolling the streets day and night. All persons are required to be in their homes after curfew at six in the evening. The situation, with the appearance of British khaki and British bayonets, however, has become easier.

,LONDON, August 27. Another correspondent states that the reason the massacre at Hebron was not completed, was that the Arabs desired to make sure they killed those they attacked. They were not content with cutting off ears and noses, and mutilating bodies, but stopped to pillage every house, consequently many Jewish houses escaped entirely. At least twenty-five Americans were among those attacked. Survivors declare that 15 boys were killed and some horribly mutilated.

HARROWING STORIES.

LONDON, August 27.

Sporadic outbreaks continue over a wide area. The Jews in Jerusalem are afraid to appear in the open. Hundreds are hiding for fear of their lives. Hotels and public institutions are packed with refugees. Harrowing stories are told of the murder of relatives in the foulest circumstances. Whole, villages have been been pillaged, and the contents of dwelling dumped in the streets and burned.

A poignant story is told by a 13-year-old Jewish girl, who was seized by a band of frenzied Arabs, but was recovered after a desperate struggle, by her father. No sooner was she released than she was compelled to see her father stabbed to death. A grim aftermath of the rioting was the carrying of Jewish and Arab dead to secret places of burial. Jerusalem to-night is indeed a city of the dead.

BRITISH RESTORE ORDER.

(United Service.)

JERUSALEM, August 27. The first official statistics supplied by the Palestine Government show that 45 Jews and eight Moslems have been killed at Hebron, where oidei has now been established. Two Arabs were seriously wounded in the couise of an unsuccessful attack on the police barracks at Nablus. Since the arrival of the British police and the Trans-Jordan frontier force at Safed, the tension between the Arabs and Jews has diminished. An unconfirmed report indicates that Arabs attacked a troop train at Haifa, and disarmed some British soldiers. A crowd of Moslems suddenly attacked the Government offices at Jaffa. Thereupon British police fired on them, repelling the attack, and killing five and wounding more than thirty. The disturbances at Telavav were started in the vicinity of a spot 'whme 200 British troops were stationed The Moslems there were parading in the streets to bury their co-religionists. Suddenly their procession broke up, upon which the police opened fire, killing six of the Arabs.

JERUSALEM COUNCIL.

LONDON, August 27.

The Jerusalem City Council announced Arabs were attacking Mahne Yehudali and Shaaray Hesed, and that between 120 and 150 are reported to have been killed. Later this evening the Jerusalem Council issued a further message as follows: “Arabs making fresh attacks in new localities every moment. The Government is vacillating. It is l putting obstacles in the way of our self defence.” . Martial law has been proclaimed at Telavav.

BRITISH ’PLANES ACTIVE.

LONDON, August 27. The latest news from Hebron tells of the gruesome massacre of eighty Jews and the wounding of forty, including theological students and children. „ British aeroplanes saved Jews from the same fate at Bethalfa and Esdraelon. It is repotred that Bedouins swept down on Affoute and burned Jewish homes. Seven Jews were mutilated and burned to death at Motza. It has been confirmed that H. Sykes, superintendent of the Palestine railway, was fatally wounded in the rioting on Sunday. It is reported also that a British journalist was killed. The Government has closed the Eastern Frontier in order to prevent Trans-Jordian Arabs advancing on Palestine. The Egyptian Consul was stoned while motoring outside Jerusalem. FURTHER CLASHES. (Received August 28, 10.30 a.m.) JERUSALEM, Augusft 27. Though the situation here is quieter, further clashes have occurred at Haifa, Jaffa, Damascus and Berisan. At the last-named place all the Jewish homes were burnt. In order to prevent the TransJordian Arabs from entering, troops are guarding the Allenby Bridge over the Jordan. The report that,the rebels were dis-

armed by British troops, near Haifa, is not confirmed.

NEW YORK JEWS PROTEST.

NEW YORK, August 26. Ten thousand Jews assembled in the East Side, where they heard addresses given by Jewish leaders. Then they marched to the City Hall and also to the British Consulate, to protest against the Palestine situatiojj. At the British Consulate, Jewish. Cantors chanted a funeral dirge, and sang the Jewish Anthem. At the City Hall, the Mayor, Mr Walker, assured the Jews he believed that “persecution has never accomplished anything.” The Mayor said he would do all he could to aid them. Sir Harry Armstrong (British Con-sul-General) stated that he did not agree with the thesis of the Jews’ formal protest, but he would advise London of their wishes. * The Jews carried a placard, accusing Britain of failing to maintain its protectorate in Palestine sufficiently. The Zionist organisation met to-night to plan further protests.

WARSAW DEMON STR ATION S

WARSAW, August 26. The police dispersed an attempted Jewish anti-British demonstration here, but the Jewish unrest m the city, and the police are. guarding the British Legation against possible further demonstrations.

SEARCH FOR ARMS.

(Received August 28, 1 p.m.) JERUSALEM., August 27. The Jews are evacuating the old city where friendly Arabs refuse to continue to shelter them.. The Arabs are reported to be massing outside Nalbus Gate preparing to attack.

The Bedouins have begun to cross the Jordan. Twenty-five Jews, working in Rothschild mills have been arrested. The Government is instituting a search for arms.

OFFICIAL REVIEW.

“SITUATION WELL IN HAND.”

(Official Wireless)

(Recd. August 28, 2.30 p.m.) RUGBY, August 27. The Colonial office in a statement issued this evening says: — . The situation in Palestine is reported as well in hand, all being Quiet in Jerusalem and Jaffa, where up to the present most of the rioting has taken place. The country outside these centres is, however, still unsettled, continuous organised attacks being canned out by the Arabs .on numerous scattered Jewish colonies. Theie have been no attempts so far at interfering with essential services. The following reinforcements have either arrived in Palestine or are on their way from Egypt and Malta: British warships Sussex, Barham, Courageous, Veteran and Wanderer; the Second Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, Second Battalion Green Howards, First Battalion South Wales Borderers, one company of the first battalion of the King’s regiment, one squadron of armoured cars, Twelfth Lancers, detachments of the Royal Engineers, Signals and the Royal Army Service Corps, and one squadron of the Royal Air Force. Two infantary battalions at Malta have received orders lo hold themselves in readiness if required. The acting High Commissioner under date August 26, reports that a demonstration took place at Jaffa on Sunday, and that the trouble arose there after midday, when an Arab mob attempted to enter Telaviv. The police fired, causing casualties, the extent of which is not yet known, and the mob dispersed. Later, au Arab mob attacked the district office and assaulted some Moslem notables, but an armuored car firing overhead dispersed them. Troops arrived at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, when the attack on Telaviv was impending, and at sight of the troops, the crowd dispersed. After that, except for isolated assaults, the situation became and remained quiet.

An impending attack on the Hadarhacarmil quarter of Haifa was prevented by the arrival of British troops early on Monday morning. Later news from Haifa indicates, however, that the disorder there is not yet in hand. In trans-Jordan the general situation is not free from anxiety, following receipt by tribes of news of Friday’s events, but so far no disturbances are reported. The Acting High Commissioner reports later on August 26, that the outlying Jewish suburbs of Jerusalem, Jaffa, and Haifa, have been subjected to attacks and assaults. The Jewish quarter of Hebron was the scene of a particularly DETERMINED ATTACK and the Jewish colonies from the south of Jaffa to the south of Haifa have been subjected to threats of attacks. The Jews had evacuated some of these colonies and the Arabs were looting and- destroying property in them. The Jewish colonies in the Valley of Esdraelon, and Jezreel have been under threats of attack, and actual assaults have taken place. At Gaza, the Jews have suffered some loss of life and injuries. The Acting High Commissioner states that the prompt response to his request for naval and military assist-, ance had enabled the Government to maintain control. The officers of the District Administration had rendered invaluable services in a very responsible situation, and the special constables were indispensable. The local press is still .suspended, but could' probably not function in any case. The Government, however, commenced the issue of a series of news bulletins. No censorship on outward telegrams is in force, but in a few cases’, press telegrams.have been held up for a period not exceeding 48 hours. Following are the casualties up to the morning of August 26: —

Jerusalem and Hebron: Killed — Moslems 23, Christians 3, Jews 78; wounded inpatients, Moslems 25, Christians 2, Jews 102. Wounded outpatients, Moslems 35, Christians 17, Jews 63.

Nablas: Ten Moslems wounded, of whom two are in-patients. Jaffa: Killed —Moslems 10, Jews 4 Wounded in-patients: Moslems 18, Jews 15. The number of out-patients is not yet reported.

Beisan: Twenty-one Jews wounded, one being in hospital. At Haifa, one Jew was killed and 50 Jews were wounded.

A laiqr telegram gives the casualties reported. up to this morning for all Palestine as follows:—

Killed: Moslems 46, Christians 4, Jews 93. Wounded, in hospital: Moslems 73, Christians 12, Jewsi 153. Wounded, out-patients, Moslems 45, Christians 27, Jews 116.