MAJOR FARRAN HERO OF MANY EXPLOITS

Chronicle (Levin), 25 June 1947, Page 3

MAJOR FARRAN HERO OF MANY EXPLOITS

Received Tuesday, 7 p.m. LOKDOK, J uuo 24. A Jerusalem despatcli to tlie European edition of tlie Kew Yorlc IleraldTribune, says tlie 17-year-old Jewisli youth, Alexander Ilubowitz, whose dis appearanee led to the arrest of Major itoy Alexander Farran, is believed to have been tortured and murdored and the body given to a bedouin for disposal. Major Farran, who is aged only 26, has oue of the outstanding records of the war. He holds the D.fcS.O., M.G. with two bars, and the Freneh Croix de Guerre and Legion of Merit. Aftor six yOars of waf service during wliich he was the hero of a number of daring expeditions behind the enemy lines, Major Farran joined the Palestine Military Police with the rank of Assistant Superintendent. Another report from Jerusalem claims that Major Farran was responsible for organising a number of police and military oflicers into a secret organisation to light the terrorists and that the discovery of this organisation led to re- ■ ports of a purge in Palestine. Major Farran, who enlisted when 19, earned a reputation during the war for reekless eourage and for treading on the toes of senior oflicers. One of his fellow ohicers said he had never met a man who inspired such devotion in the troops serving under liiin. fIn another life he would have been a pirate or Kobin Hood, " he said. "I know liundreds of men in Britain today, all of them civilians, who would rise in a body to go to his help." Major Farran, who escaped from police custody in the J erusalein Allenby barraoks after being extradited from Syria, has twice before eseaped from captivity. He wriggled out of Nazi clutches in Grcece and escaped from prisoner of war camp when recaptured. Palestine police headquarters refuse to conlirm or deny reports that he was lieiped to freedom by members of his own unit on guard in Allenby barracks.