THEFT OF AMMUNITION

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22154, 28 September 1943, Page 3

THEFT OF AMMUNITION

LONG TERMS FOR JEWS ( Received Sept. 28, 11.30 a.m.) JERUSALEM, Sept. 27 After a seven weeks’ hearing a Military Court sentenced Leib Sirkin and Abraham Raichlin, Jewish civilians, to 10 and 17 years’ imprisonment respectively. The prosecution alleged that they were connected with an organisation which directed the stealing of large quantities of ammunition, which they received. The chief witnesses for the prosecution were two British soldiers, who were sentenced last month. On August 12 allegations that Eritish troops, army depots and army and air force lorries had been used for large-scale gun-running and ammunition running to Palestine were made at a trial in which two British soldiers were sentenced to 1§ years’ imprisonment. The soldiers were Privates Charles Alfred Stoner and Christopher Ronald Harris, of the British Army. Evidence was given that the soldiers, armed with forged passports, carried Italian, German and American guns and ammunition in service lorries, in what were apparently legitimate convoy journeys, from a number of places, including the* El Alamein battlefield. One of the largest consignments taken to Haifa included 300 rifles and 105,000 rounds of small arms ammunition, for which the soldiers received £9OO.