ON THE INCREASE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 26 May 1936, Page 5

ON THE INCREASE

LAWLESSNESS IN PALESTINE TROOPS AND POLICE KEPT BUSY “BLACK HAND” WARNINGS DISTRIBUTED (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 26th May, 9.15 a.m.) JERUSALEM, 24th May/ Lawlessness is increasing in the country districts, especially in the Nablus area which claims political leadership of the Arab towns. Raiders hidden on the hillsides are repeatedly attacking armoured oars, troops and police, sometimes firing in volleys. The troops invariably return the fire, but the mobs’ casualties are difficult to discover, as they carry off the dead and wounded. So-called “black hand” warnings are distributed among British troops urging them not to walk the streets if they value their lives. Arabs barricaded streets in Nablus, throwing stones and firing from the roofs when police attempted to clear the thoroughfares. The Seaforth Highlanders arrived and fired, killing two and wounding four. Another died of fright. The mob again attacked but was dispersed. Firing from the hills continued all night. The curfew was introduced to prevent rioters leaving Nablus at night time for sabotage, but crop destruction and . the cutting of phone wires continues, also attacks on the railways despite the presence of armoured trains. A mob attempted to raid the Nurelshew Prison but fled and re-opened fire from a hillside. One Seaforth Highlander is reported to have been killed and another wounded. Five prominent agitators have been arrested and others have been expelled from the cities and ordered to reside in distant villages. Special precautions were taken to protect Government House owing to threats of attack on Wauchope and Tulkeram. Malcontents ambushed a convoy of tanks at Motzaballey. Soldiers replied with machine-guns and switched on searchlights, and the attackers disappeared into the darkness. ATTEMPTS TO BOMB Attempts to bomb the Government Buildings, and the cutting of the wires at the broadcasting station, are among the week-end disorders. As the Jewish steamer Richard Bouchardt was approaching Jaffa, four Arabs from a rowing boat fired a gun and threw crude bombs at the steamer, but were driven off. The vessel later arrived.