MARTIAL LAW ENDING

Northern Advocate, 17 March 1947, Page 5

MARTIAL LAW ENDING

(Rec. 1 p.m.) JERUSALEM. Mar. 16. Martial law, which was imposed in the Tel Aviv area and a section of Jerusalem a fortnight ago, wall be lifted at noon local time tomorrow. An official announcement adds that the army and police have completed their immediate task, but tbe Government could, and would, rcimpose martial law if necessary. The withdrawal of martial law was partly the result, of evidence of the Jewish communities’ willingness to cooperate against terrorists. An appreciable number of Stern Gang and Irgun Zvai Lcumi members have been caught during the period of martial law and much valuable information has been gained. Irgun Zvei Lcumi’s secret radio, soon after the announcement that martial law was to be lifted, boasted that the authorities had not, as they had claimed, captured any Irgun. members. “We have had no losses. We will continue our work.” BACK-HANDED COMPLEMENT The broadcast repeated the Government statement about cooperation, and commented: “If this is cooperation, then we are satisfied.” The Jewish Agency, commenting on the lifting of martial law, said: “One good thing about dealing with the British is that if they make a mistake they admit it and correct it before too late.” The Jerusalem correspondent of The Times, discussing the extent of cooperation received by the Government from Jews during the period of martial law, says a number of Right Wing groups have been in touch with the British Army. There is also reason to believe that ihe Jewish Federation of Labour decided that it was best to assist theGovernment against terrorists. These organisations, closer in touch with the commerce of the country, have by-passed the Jew.ish Agency, which wrongly assumed that the Government regarded martial law as a mistake. The Government will reimpose martial law if cooperation is not forthcoming. PIPELINE ATTACKED Terrorists tonight blew up the oil pipeline near Haifa. It is officially believed that pamphlet bombs caused explosions heard in Jerusalem tonight. One bomb burst in the Jewish Agency pressroom, which was burnt out. Jewish terrorists last night attacked military installations on the main Tel Aviv-Haifa road near Haderah. They blew up a canteen building. After refusing for several hours to leave the landing craft, the first batch ! of Jewish illegal immigrants to Pales- J tine by the Susanna went to the Cyp- J ’-us camp quietly. j More than 100 Palestinians, found among the illegal immigrants who disembarked at Famagusta (Cyprus), were caught without identity cards while helping Jews who waded ashore from the stj-anded Susanna, says the Nicosia correspondent of The Times. Police rounded them up inside the cordon thrown round the district.