ARAB MENACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22457, 29 June 1936, Page 9

ARAB MENACE

COMBINED RISING

GRAVE DANGER FEARED

PALESTINE AND TRANSJORDAN By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received June 28, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 27 The Jerusalem correspondent of the News Chronicle states that there is a grave danger of the Transjordanian Arabs rising in support of those in Palestine. Some have already crossed the border and joined the armed bands which are daily attacking roads and railways. A meeting of 200 Sheiks has been called at Amman, capital of Transjordama, to discuss action. The Govenunent realises that troublo iu Transjortwnia would bo more serious than in Palestine, where it is a criminal offence to carry arms, guns and ammunition. On the other hand, the law permits Transjordanian Arabs to carry rifles and to import ammunition. Arabs in the streets of Amman sliout "Jew" after European visitors. Bedouin Discontent Fomented

Envoys from Palestine are fomenting discontent among the Bedouins, and another contributory factor to unrest is that the harvest is poor for the seventh time in succession. For this reason the Bedouins find the prospect of indulging in the national pastime of fighting and raiding doubly attractive. Emir Abdullah, brother of the late King Feisal, told the correspondent: "I have been holding back my people from joining in the disturbances for the past two months, but it is becoming more and more difficult to restrain them."

The Emir is in a tight corner, as Britain contributes £60,000 a year to the country and £12,000 to the Emir's privy purse.

Ihe British force in Transjordania is inadequate and already is fully occupied in Palestine. Derailment of a Train A message from Jerusalem states that one British soldier was killed and three others were injured when a train was derailed on the Haifa-Lydda line. Tho rails had been removed where the line crossed a culvert. As the engine and tho carriage immediately behind it toppled over attackers in ambush opened fire, which the soldiers returned. The engine-driver was killed.

lhe town of Lydda has been fined £sooo—the heaviest collective impost inflicted in Palestine —for participation in shooting, the derailment of trains and damaging communications. Troops searched Lydda and arrested five persons in possession of rifle ammunition. They demolished the h -se of a notorious agitator.

For the purpose of preventing further sabotage, the authorities have placed the whole of the Palestine railway system out of bounds at night and have extended the curfew regulations 500 metres on either side of the track.

TROOPS IN ACTION MARAUDERS ATTACKED BOMBS IN A SUITCASE British Wireless RUGBY, June 20 Four Arabs were killed in an engagement with Seaforth Highlanders near Qubalan, a village south-east of Nablus. An armoured car patrol discovered about 50 marauders concealed on a hilltop 200 yards from the JerusalemHaifa Road, awaiting the daily convoy. An airman sent a message to the wireless escort of the convoy and a detachment of Seaforths from Nablus skirmished up the hill with a machinegun, dispersing and pursuing the Arabs. A suitcase containing primitive bombs with a smoking fuse was discovered in the cabin of a car. The driver extinguished the fuse and no damage was done.