IN PALESTINE

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 5 September 1929, Page 5

IN PALESTINE

BRITISH TROOPS IN ACTION. FIGHTS WITH ARABS, POSITION GENERALLY QUIET. (United Prese Association—By Blecl-ric Tcicgrapb Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) LONDON, Sept. 4. Tlxere was a spectacular fight' between Bedouin Arabs and British troups on Sunday night-, reports the “Daily Lx press’’ Jerusalem correspondent. Three companies of iutantry, supported bv armoured oars and aeropLaney, came to grips with a thousand tribesmen on the open plains between Tioerias and Attin, which the Arabs had previously ransacked. A fierce struggle ensued, twelve Arabs being killed and many wounded 1 . Eight who were captured were sent- to Tiberias. A company of South Wales Borderers, with aeroplanes and seaplanes, also surrounded the Arab town of Li Ida, north-west of Jerusalem, during the night', in addition to other raids on Arab villages in the Jerusalem area. In all cases the villagers were surprised, loot being recaptured and prisoners taken.

Arabs made a determined night attack upon tli e South Wales Borderers at Talpoith, and! were replied to by the brisk sweeping fire of the Lewis guns on the roofs of the houses'. After two hours the Arabs vanished in the darkness.

The authorities are generally satisfied with the position, though, there are still mobile forces of armed Ara.bsi on horses and camels on thy plains north of the Sea of Galilee. Troops near Jericho, however ,ar© prepared for ail eventualities. Ale an while Jerusalem has taken on a normal air of patriarchal respectability. News vendors were sellings newspapers for the first time for a fortnight. Though censored, they hear a- heavy black border of mourning and invariably the one common heading in bo'id. black letters: “Seven days’ bloodshed and horrors in Palestine.” Shops are reopening land armed sentries are posted at important spots.

ARAB. MANIFESTO

JEWS BLAMED FOR FIRST

ATTACKS,

LONDON, Sept. 4. The Palestine Arab executive lias broadcast a manifesto declaring that most of the Jews were sel Farmed and that the Government armed the others, savs the Jerusalem correspondent of “The Times.” They deny that any Jews were mutilated, bub assert' that the Jews mutilated certain Arabs, that Jewish mobs kflled isolated Arab women and children, and that Jews committed the first murders of women and children. Disciplined British troops, it is alleged, shot Arab women and children in their homes and in their beds. The Palestine troubles, says the manifesto, are directly _ due to the BritishZionist policy aiming at the annihilation of the Arab nation because they favour reviving the non-existent Jewish nation. The Arabs insist upon an impartial inquiry not influenced by Zionism.