DISORDERS IN PALESTINE

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 29 August 1929, Page 5

DISORDERS IN PALESTINE

POSITION EASIER. BRITISH GAINING- CONTROL, GUERILLA WAR ON JEWS. (Australian Press Association —United Service.) LONDON, Aug. 25. Two thousand armed Arabs are reported to he approaching Jerusalem. Much bloodshed occurred at Haifa, where British marines fired on Che rioters. The American consul summoned help in order to .prevent trouble at the children’s village.. Desultory firing continued for 32 hours at Kastina, fortunately occasioning few casualties. Troops were rushed to- Jewish quarters at Damascus, following a hostile demonstration by 20,000 Arabs. The special correspondent of the “Daily Express” at Jerusalem confirms that the position is decidedly easier. British troops are stationed in most of the disturbed areas, and with -the news of the arrival of three more British warships at Haifa the populace experienced a. marked sense of relief.

The Arabs, nevertheless, seem to have embarked on a determined guerilla crusade against the Jews.

The principal disturbances were at Haifa, where a number of Arabs and Jews were killed.

Jerusalem was quiet on Monday afternoon, the situation being entirely under British command.

A petition from Arabs and Zionists, demanding the intervention of -the League of Nations in Palestine has already reached the League Secretariat ■at Geneva. It is certain -the situation will be brought up at the Assembly on Monday.

An offer of 1000 volunteers for immediate service in Palestine has been cabled to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Ramsay. MacDonald, by Jewish citizens of Toronto, Canada. “The Times,” in a leader commenting on the deplorable incident at the Wailing Wall, says: “The outbreaks have been so numerous as to convey the impression of a .premeditated, organised movement which .demands a searching investigation, both of .the criminals themselves and those we placed in authority in Palestine. Why were the forces insufficient to keep the peace when it was notorious that troubles might arise at any time? Armed insurrection could hardly have heen chosen at a better time, when -most of the departmental heads were absent on leave. “A .repetition of this sordid and cowardly civil war must be regarded as impossible. Orientals will construe the concessions as weakness and co-re-ligionists of both Jews and Arabs will narrowly seek 'signs of vacillation. If we shrink from our plain duty fresh attempts to wrest new concessions -are bound to. follow, not only in Palestine, but on the .part of some fomenters of disorder in other lands.”