LAWLESSNESS INCREASING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19024, 26 May 1936, Page 5

LAWLESSNESS INCREASING

MOB RULE IN PALESTINE BOMBS IN JERUSALEM FATALITIES IN FIGHTING (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. May 26, 9.30 a.m.) JERUSALEM, May 25. Attempts to bomb Government Buildings and the cutting of the .wires of the broadcasting station were among the week-end' disorders. As the Jewish steamer Richard Bouchardt was approaching Jaffa four Arabs from a rowing boat fired guns and threw crude bombs at the steamer but were driven off.

Lawlessness is increasing, in the country districts, especially the Nablus area, which claims the political leadership of the Arab towns. Raiders hidden on the hillsides are repeatedly attacking armoured cars, troops and police, sometimes firing volleys. The troops invariably return the fire, but the mobs’ casualties are difficult to discover as they carry off their dead and wounded.

So-called “Black Hand” warnings are being distributed among the British troops, urging them not to walk the streets if they value their lives. STREETS BARRICADED The Arabs barricaded the streets of Nablus, throwing stones and firing from the roofs when the police attempted to clear the thoroughfares. The Seaforth Highlanders arrived and 1 fired, killing two persons and wounding four. Another died from fright. The mob again attacked, but was dispersed. Firing from the hills continued all night. The curfew has been introduced to prevent rioters leaving Nablus at night time for sabotage, but crop destruction and cutting of ’phone wires continues, also attacks on the railways,_ despite the circulation of armoured trains.

A mob attempted, to raid the Nerulsliew prison, but fled and reopened fire from the hillside. One Sea'forth Highlander is reported to have been killed and another wounded.

Five prominent agitators have been arrested and others expelled from the cities and ordered to reside in distant villages.

•Special precautions have been taken to protect Government House, owing to threats of attack.

Malcontents ambushed 1 a convoy of tanks at Motzaballey. The soldiers replied with machine guns and switched on searchlights and the attackers disappeared iu the darkness.