ARAB FEROCITY.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17803, 30 August 1929, Page 7

ARAB FEROCITY.

RABBI’S STORY. , EIGHTEEN STUDENTS BUTCHERED. WOMEN FEARFULLY ILL-USED. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) (Received August 30, 9.20 a.m.) JERUSALEM, August 29. A first-hand story is told by Rabbi Slonlm of the massacres at Hebron. The Chief of Police scouted the idea of danger, and declined to hear tho Rabbi. Eighteen students of Talmudic College barricaded themselves in the Rabbi’s son’s house, to which the Arabs forced an entrance and butchered every one, Including two women, who were fearfully 111-used and mutilated. One woman saved herself by smearing her dress with the others’ blood, feigning death. The sacking continued till the British police arrived and shot 30 looters. BRITISH TROOPS ACT. ARABS FORCED TO FLEE. PLUNDER AND VANDALISM. (Australian Press Association.; LONDON, Aug. 29. The special correspondent at Jerusalem of the Daily Express says British troops were in action for the first time a few miles from Bethlehem on the peak of the hills which dominate Jerusalem and form a gateway to Transjordinia. Two companies of the King’s Regiment, a squadron of Bristol lighting aeroplanes and armoured cars were detailed to encircle the village of Surbaiyali and capture a band of Arab gunmen. The troops seized many Arabs in their beds. They also recovered loot taken in recent raids. Hundreds of other Arabs fled as the troops approached. They were pursued by mounted policemen and were intercepted by machine-gun lire from low-flying aeroplanes. Plains Strewn With Dead.

The plains were strewn with dead when the correspondent visited the area.

It would be impossible to exaggerate the vandalism of the Arabs, says the writer. They have plundered the houses of wealthy Jews. Pianos have been battered to pieces, pictures have been slashed, and everything breakable has been smashed to smithereens.

All Jewish burials are carried out secretly. The bodies are taken to the Mount of Olives by night under the escort of armoured cars.

Telegrams from Cairo slate that the demonstrations in Syria are increasing.

Ten thousand Christians and Moslems, headed by clergy carrying crosses and Moslem banners, marched through the streets of Beirut crying “Palestine for the Arabs." A detachment of cavalry accompanied the procession witli the object of preventing breaches of the peace. Former Turkish officers have formed a force of GOO men at Nablus, Palestine, with the avowejd object of surrounding Jerusalem. Forces of Bedouins made terrific onslaughts on the Jews at Tiberias, Nablus and Safed. Designs on Jerusalem. News from Damascus, Syria, states that the “Deaf Pasha," leader of the Druses, intends to march on Jerusalem to protect the Mosque of Omar. At a meeting of the Zionist Federation Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organisation, gave details of an interview lie had had with Lord Passfield, Colonial Secretary. As a result, he said, he was able to announce that there would be changes in the Palestine administration which had permitted the riots to take place. Dr. Weizmann also stated that Britain would more vigorously observe the promise in the Ralfour declaration of a Jewish national home in Palestine. Lord Passfield recognised in principle the justice of the demand for compensation for loss of Jewish lives and property.

FIFTY TO ONE. INCIDENTS IN TIIE RIOTING. A COURAGEOUS CORNISHMAN. (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) ’CAIRO, Aug. 29. Travellers who have arrived at Cairo from Palestine give graphic descriptions of the rioting there. One describes how a Cornishman named Carafata, commanding 30 police at Hebrorr, quelled a force of several thousand villagers. The latter had looted Jewish houses and murdered tiie inmates, including many children and infants. Carafata then collected tiie surviving Jews and escorted them to the police station. In another case six British policemen dispersed 300 rioting Arabs. In the course of the brawl an Arab made a sword thrust at one .of the British policemen, who ducked in the nick of time and them shot the aggressor. The savagery of the mobs was exemplified by numerous bodies hanging from windows. Investigation showed that their deaths resulted from knife wounds. LATER. TROOPS IN CONTROL. AEROPLANES IN ACTION. SOLDIERS MAKE BAYONET CHARGE (Received August 30, 1.20 p.rn.) LONDON, August 29. A Beirut message slates that the .British authorities have closed all roads in Palestine between the towns and villages. The whole of Palestine is now under iron military control. Aeroplanes fired on the rebels in the villages of Soubahil, from where looting was carried out. The troops later captured 50 villagers during a bayonet charge.