GUILTY OF CARRYING ARMS

Chronicle (Levin), 28 June 1946, Page 5

GUILTY OF CARRYING ARMS

SCENES CREATED IN COURT Received Thursdav 9.30 p.m. . JERUSALEM, June 27. Tliirty members of the Irgun Zvai T.eunii who were found guilty of eharges of earrying tirearnis and cxjdosives, were senteneed to lifteen years i inprisonment. Tlie reniaining accused who, 111 addition, was found guilty oi diseliarging /ireanns, was senteneed to ponui servitude for life. The Exehange Telegraph eorrespondent says that inunediately the sentences were annouiiGcd, the accused rose and said "Hatikvan" and booed the tliree members of tlie Military Court. Re I titi ves in tlie Court joined in the dciuonst ration. An earlier niessage stated that all the accused sprang to their feet in tlie jirisoners' dock and shaped up nienacingly when British troops niove.d towards the dock to diseipline one of ttie accused wlio refused a court order to sit, down. Relafives of tlie accused men who were in court sliouled eneouragenicnt. Troops and police surrounded tlie dock and restored order. Before the third dav's hearing opened the prisoners shouted greetings m Hebrew over the lieads of tlie militarv guard to relatives. Some oi' the accused refused to stand when the members of tlie Court entcred the eourt-room, but they were brought shuH'ling to their feet when a British sergeant sliarply ordered theni to stand up. Oue of the accused said in evidenee that the Jevvish undergrouud army was fighting a "righteous war for the independencc and Hberation of a slave nation against an oppressor nation." lie tlien shouted deliantly: " If Jcwisn blood is outlawed, the British will be outlawed."