ARAB RAIDERS ACTIVE.

Wairarapa Age, 26 May 1936, Page 5

ARAB RAIDERS ACTIVE.

LAWLESSNESS INCREASING IN PALESTINE ATTACKS ON ARMOURED CABS FROM HILLSIDES. MOBS DISPERSED BY TROOPS. (Received Monday, 7.40 p.m.) JERUSALEM, May 24. 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 the armoured cars of the troops and police, sometimes firing volleys. The troops invariably return the fire, but the mob's casualties are difficult to discover, as they carry off their dead and wounded. So-called Black Hand warnings have been distributed among British troops, urging them not to walk the streets if they value their lives. Arabs barricaded the streets of Nablus, throwing stones and firing from roofs when the police attempted to clear the thoroughfares. 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. A curfew has been introduced to prevent rioters leaving Nablus at night time for sabotage, but crop destruction and the cutting of 'phone wires continues; also attacks on railways despite the circulation of armoured trains.

A mob attempted to raid Nurelshew Prison, but fled and reopened fire from the 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 cities and ordered to reside in distant villages. Special precautions are being taken to protect Government House, owing to threats of attack on General Sir A. G. Wauchope, High Commissioner. Tulkeram malcontents ambushed a convoy of tanks at Mortzaballey. The soldiers replied with machine- guns and switched on searchlights. The attackers disappeared in the darkness.