RIOTS IN PALESTINE

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 28 August 1929, Page 9

RIOTS IN PALESTINE

OUTBREAKS CONTINUE. SERIOUS IN SOME QUARTERS. THE CASUALTIES. (JLinUsL UUielal Wireiesa.j Received 2.15 p.m., to-day. RUGBY, August 27. The Colonial Office, in a statement issued this evening says “The situation in Palestine is reported as being 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 carried out by Arabs on numerous scattered Jewish colonies. There have been no attempts so far at interfering with the essential services. The following reinforcements have; either arrived l in Palestine or arc. on their way from Egypt and Malta. The British warships Sussex, Barham, Courageous, Veteran Wanderer, the second battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment, the second battalion of the Green Howards, the first battalion of the South Wales Borderers, one company of the first .battalion of the King’s Regiment, one squadron of armoured cars, the Twelfth Lancers, detachments of the l Royal Engineers,, signallers and the Royal Army Service Corps, and one squadron of the Royal Air Force. Two infantry battalions in Malta have received orders to 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 mid-day, when an Arab mob attempted to enter Tel-Aviv. The police fired, causing casualties, the extent of which is not- yet known, and the mob dispersed. Later an Arab mob atacked the district office: and assaulted some Moslem notables, but armoured cars, firing overhead, dispersed them. Troops arrived 1 at two o’clock in the afternoon, when an attack on Tel-Aviv was impending and at the sight of the troops the crowd disappeared. After that, except for isolated assaults the situation became and remained quiet. An impending attack on the Madarhacarmil 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 Transjordinia the general situation is not free from anxiety, following the receipt by tribes of the news of Friday’s .events,, but so far, no disturbances are reported. The Government is instituting a search for arms.

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 attack. 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 assistance had enabled the Government to maintain control. Officers of the district administration had .rendered invaluable services in a; very serious situation, and special constables were indispensable. The local Press is still suspended, but could probably not function in any case. The Government, however, has commenced the issue of a series of news bulletins. No censorship on outward telegrams is in force, hut in a few cases Press telegrams have been held up for a period.

The following are the casualties up to- the morning of August 26:

JEWS LEAVING OLD CITY AT JERUSALEM. ARABS PREPARING TO ATTACK. (An.l.ralian TUei-s Association—United Service.) Received 1.10 p.m. to-day. JERUSALEM, Aug. 27 The Jews are evacuating tin- old city, where friendly Arabs rot use to continue to. shelter them. A nibs are reported to be massing outside Nalbus gate, preparing to attack. Bedouins have begun to cross the Jordan. Twenty-five Jews who were working m the Rothschild mills have been arrested .

JERUSALEM AND HERRON. Killed. Moslems ... 23 Christians .. 3 Jews .. 78 Wo uruled In-patients . Moslems .. 25 Christians .. 2 Jews ... 102 Wounded) Out-patients. Moslems .. 35 Christians ... 17 Jews .. 63 NABLUS. Ten Moslems wounded, of whom two a re' i n-patitnts . JAFFA. Killed. Moslems .. 10 .. 4 Wounded In-patients. Moslems .. 18 .. 15 The number of out-patients is not yet reported. At Beison 21 Jews were wounded, one being in hospital. At Haifa one Jew was killed and 50 Jews were wounded’. A later telegram gives the casualties reported up to this morning fojr all Palestine as follows:— Killed. Moslems .. 46 .Christians 4 .. 93 Wounded in Hospital. Moslems ... 73 Christians .. 12 Jews .. 153 Wounded Out-patients .. 45 Christians ... 27 Tn„,n .. 116