JEWS' LAST CHANCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22242, 30 January 1947, Page 5

JEWS' LAST CHANCE

ARMY OFFICER STILL MISSING . MARTIAL LAW PREPARATIONS JUDGE UNHARMED AND WELL TREATED ■ (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.l 11a.m.) LONDON, January 29. Although the curfew has been lifted throughout Palestine, about one-third of the country may yet be placed under martial law. Despite earlier reports, Major H. I, Collins is still missing, according to a high police official. The police are speculating that the kidnappers may have decided to keep him longer for treatment. The Colonial Undersecretary, Mr.~A. Creech Jones, in the House of Commons, said Major Collins was believed to be seriously injured. According to the Associated Press, he was hit on the head with an axe handle and then chloroformed at the time of his abduction.. The British ultimatum expired several hours ago, but some correspondents believe that it has been extended. The lifting of the curfew is believed to have been ordered to facilitate the letiirn of Major Collins. To-day the High Commissioner, General Sir Alan Cunningham., conferred with service chiefs. A Government announcement states that “statutory” martial law In certain areas in Palestine will be imposed if Major Collins is not returned unharmed. The Exchange Telegraph’s correspondent says the spokesman emphasised the word “unharmed.”

Menaliem Beigin, the Irgun Zvai Leumi commander, replying over the secret radio to Mr. Creech Jones’ statement that, further terrorism would mean the imposition of military control in Palestine, said: “We don’t fear your threats. The British will pay sevenfold if they execute Gruner.” Mr. Justice Windham’s Treatment Reuter’s correspondent in Jerusalem say it is authoritatively reported that Gruner has now agreed to sign an application for leave to appeal to the Privy Council. Mr. Justice Ralph Windham, who was released, is back at work to-day. He was still wearing his black courtroom robe when the police picked him up. The kidnappers kept his wig as a souvenir. He walked for threequarters of an hour across muddy fields to a factory after being set free. Mrs. Windham told reporters that the guards who watched the judge constantly wore black masks. They had long political arguments with him in German in the friendliest manner. They joked about the possibility of having to kidnap him again in future. Mr , Justice Windham told The Times correspondent in Jerusalem that after being dragged from the Court on Monday he was hustled into a car Which drove at. great seeed for 20 minutes. He was then blindfolded and led into a shed in what seemed to be a Jewish settlement. His captors were young men who guarded him one at a time They told him that he was a hostage for the condemned terrorist Gruner. ' Given Food and Fruit. Mr. Justice Windham said he was given Jewish food and fruit also the English language newspaper the Palestine Post, and when he read that Gruner had been given a respite he

was not surprised when he was told that he would be freed. He was led from the shed and made to walk by a roundabout route for more than an hour with a mask on. The mask was finally taken off and replaced by a handkerchief. His captors then left him. He walked and eventually found the factory from where he telephoned the police. Commenting on the Palestine situation in his diocesan letter the Archbishop of York, Dr. C. Garbett, says'. “Justifiable anger is felt not only against the actual terrorists but also against the reckless and unscrupulous supDort they receive from Jews in the United States and elsewhere.” The Archbishop also says: "If the Jewish Agency is powerless to suppress terrorism, it won't be equal to the task of maintaining justice and order in a Jewish State.”