JEWISH AND ARAB CAFES THROUGHOUT PALESTINE CLOSED FOR SECURITY

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 January 1947, Page 5

JEWISH AND ARAB CAFES THROUGHOUT PALESTINE CLOSED FOR SECURITY

BRITAIN WARNS JEWS OF STERN MEASURES TO COMBAT TERRORISM Reed. 9 p.m. London. Jan. 4 All Jewish and Arab eafes throughout Palestine were placed out of bounds as a security measure to prevent kidnappers, but the ban was relaxed to the extent of permitting soldiers to take members of Ihe Women’s Territorial Service to cinemas to-night.

A condition was that each couple must be accompanied by two other soldiers armed with tommy guns. ‘lThc Times' Jerusalem correspondent says that'Sir Henry Gurney, who is administering the Government ot Palestine while the British High Uommiss.oner, Sir Alan Cunningnam, is on a visit to London, after meeting the Jewish Agency leaders, said the drastic measures wnich were threatened if repeated terrorist acts did not cease envisaged the imposition ot martial law. The correspondent added that the next 24 hours w.ll possibly be the most critical in Palestine's recent history, for the measures likely to be taken under martial law were bound to be met with violent opposition, which would lead to further repressive measures, and could result in a situation approaching civil war. A British military policeman was seriously injured when a landmine exploded beneath police car near Bethsafafa, a village between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, near Rachiel’s tomb. Sir Henry Gurney called Jewish Agency leaders to a conference on Friday. The leaders immediately after the conference cabled London urgently, recalling Loida Meyerson, head of the agency’s political department, and David Remez, head of the Palestine Jewish Community Council. Field Marshal Montgomery joined with Sir Alan Cunningham in Colonial Office talks on Palestine on Friday. Three more 6th Airborne Division troops were injured when 3 mine blew up a jeep north-east ot rei-Aviv on Friday. British troops made a "tree-to-tree search of orange groves in Tel-Aviv's suburbs, and 400 6th Airborne Division troops began another dawn search of the Tel-Aviv Yemenite quarter. About 500 persons were taken to screening posts. Ten were transferred to the Latrun camp and 34 suspects were detained. Troops searched synagogues in the Hatikvah and Monteliore quarers of the city, accompanied by a British Army chaplain. British troops of all ranks, for their own safety, have been ordered to carry’ arms and walk in pairs when out of barracks, says a communique issued in Jerusalem. It adds that the step follows the renewal of terrorist activities and threats to kndnap soldiers.

Four Arabs were killed, six seriously injured and 11 slightly injured when a train crashed into a bus at a level crossing four miles east of Jaffa.