ARAB CRISIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23184, 2 November 1938, Page 13

ARAB CRISIS

GENERAL STRIKE OMINOUS SIGNS SPIRIT OF RESISTANCE BRITAIN'S CAMPAIGN THE DECISIVE STAGE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 1, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 31 The British Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, will arrive at Haifa in the flagship Warspite to-morrow and will go to Jerusalem by air to confer with the military authorities in Palestine, says the Haifa correspondent of the Daily Mail. The conference coincides with the entering of the campaign upon a decisive stage.

The Arabs have organised a general strike to begin to-morrow in opposition to the Government's order requiring everyone journeying even on donkey-back to possess a permit. The Arabs refuse to apply for permits owing to their leaders' threat of the death penalty. Accordingly the whole Arab population is at a standstill and trade between villages and towns has ceased. The Government has taken steps to maintain the water supply, sanitary services, electric power and lighting. These will bo-run mainly by Jewish labour, which will be protected. It is regarded as ominous that all the wealthy Arabs in Northern Palestine have crossed the Syrian border. A motor tour in Galilee, Haifa, Safed, Tiberias and the Nazareth area by the correspondent to-day revealed a state of apprehension. There is no doubt that the Arabs are animated by a desperate spirit of resistance.

ARABS AROUSED BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS JERUSALEM. Oct, 31 In spite of the fact that British troops, were guarding the post office, law courts and police station at Jaffa, rebels placarded a proclamation on the post office building warning British residents that "the savage murders the British Army is committing against peaceful Arabs will be met by reprisals 011 British officials and civilians. You ignited the fire and must bear the consequence." The authorities have imposed a dawn curfew. It is believed that this is a preliminary to a British clean-up and the reassertion of authority in the rebel-infested city, where murder, arson, theft, intimidation and racketeering are rife.

The casualties throughout Palestine in October, compiled from official statements," totalled 520 killed und 240 wounded, including 14 British killed and 66 wounded, and 58 Jews killed and 61 wounded.