WAR ON BANDITS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21458, 4 April 1933, Page 7

WAR ON BANDITS

ARABS IN PALESTINE DEATH OF DARING LEADER PROTRACTED RIFLE DUEL The reign of the Arab bandits on the Sinai-Palestine frontier was brought to an effectual end a short time ago when a British inspector of tho Palestine Police shot the last remaining member of the gang after a protracted rifle duel. In the year 1920, as one of the aftermaths of tho war, a gang of Arab desperadoes appeared on the Sinni-Palestine frontier between Kosseima and Rafa and for some seven years terrorised the whole area, holding up and robbing passing merchants —shooting on sight when any resistance was offered. The Sinai Camel Corps and Palestine Police made many concerted attacks on the gang, but with no success, as whenever reprisals were contemplated the party broke up and scattered into Trans-Jordan ,-and the Hedjaz, reforming when the coast was clear. In 1925 a patrol of seven men of the Palestine Police succeeded in capturing of the gang, but during the - night they were surrounded by the remainder, assisted by many of tho local Arabs, and a battle took place in which three policemen were killed and two wounded. Concerted tions by the two Governments after this resulted in the capture of most of the party, some of whom were executed. while others were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment. Finally, only one man,, Eid Sanie, \ the leader of the gang, remained at large, and he sivore that he would never be taken alive. He was a fine shot with a rifle and possessed a grey ?nare remarkable for her speed and endurance, and he managed to escape on. several occasions when the police had practically surrounded him. Eventually information was brought into Beersheba that he was staying with some Arabs in a lonely tent on the Sinai-palestine frontier, and British Inspector Leaves set out in a car, having arranged for mounted patrols to make an encircling movement. The inspector drove up to within 70yds. of the tent, when Eid Sanie rushed out, fired point blank at the car and then attempted to mount his mare. Leave,3 returned the fire and tho mare dropped dead. Eid Sanie then rushed to some rocks, and, crouching behind cover, opened fire on Leaves, who was lying in the open. The bullets struck the sand in front of. his face several times, but the inspector reserved his fire till Eid Sanie incau-* tiously showed his head,' then, with a well-aimed shot in the centre of the forehead, killed his man instantaneously. i The death of this bandit has effec- v " tuallv cleaned up the uncertain situation on the frontier that was bound to exist so long as the leader of tho desperadoes was still at large. The inspector of police has been rewarded, with the British Police medal. ■%