NIGHT-LONG FIGHT

Grey River Argus, 16 October 1936, Page 10

NIGHT-LONG FIGHT

Arabs and Britishers GRAPHIC .STORY TOLD. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, October 13. How six Britishers' fought 150 Arabs night long, near Tulkaram., one of the last, engagements in Palestine, but- probably the most, exciting in the whole campaign, was told to the ‘‘Telegraph’s” Haifa correspondent. Three banks, manned by an officer, three non-commisioned officers, and two privates, were returning from' a reconuaisance, under sniper fire, when one tank shed a (rack. Lieutenant Hutton, ordered -the other two. to take up positions on either side. Repairs were begun,, but sniping was so intense that the six men were obliged to return and close down. This was effected without casualties, though the Arabs were firing from an olive grove only fifteen yards away, and could be seen running from the surrounding hills, screaming like maniacs. The tanks were an easy target, but never more than one of the attackers came within the field of fire at a time.

The position became critical as Lieutenant Hutton’s machine-gun jammed. Coporal Lewis, in the second -tank, was able to fire only rille shots, only Corporal Prosser’s machine-gun operating in the third. The Arabs who were closing in at a great speed, were within thirty yards when an aeroplane appeared, attracted by Hutton’s Verey lights and dropped a message. Hutton pluckily left the tank and secured the message, which merely said the pilot would report the position. The Arabs renewed' more fiercely when rhe plane disappeared. A bullet struck the spring-catch of Hutton’s gun-turret cover which jammed, and could not be closed.

An Arab crept; up to (Prosser's tank in the darkness, and was about, to priso open (he visor, when Prosser swung the tiirrent round and shot ithe man dead.

The firing reused in Ihe early morning, but (lie Britishers were unable to leave, the tanks in fhe. darkness, .Evenuallv, planes arrived, ami reported no lign of the enemy. Repairs were effected, and the tanks returned to camp. There were no casualties.