JEWS BURNED TO DEATH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 753, 28 August 1929, Page 1

JEWS BURNED TO DEATH

Gruesome Atrocities By Arabs EIGHTY MASSACRED AT HEBRON Horrors of Palestine Rising (United I*.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Received 10.20 a.m. LONDON, Tuesday. rE latest news from Hebron tells of the gruesome massacre of 80 Jews, and the wounding of 40, including theological students and children. British airplanes saved Jews from the same fate at Bethalfa and Esdraelon. It is reported that Bedouins swept down on Affoute, and burned Jewish homes. Seven Jews were mutilated and burned to death at Motza.

It has been confirmed that Mr. 11. Sykes, superintendent of the Palestine Railway, was fatally wounded in the rioting on Sunday. It is reported also that a British journalist was killed. The Government has closed the Kastern frontier, in order to prevent Transjordan Arabs from advancing on Palestine. The Egyptian Consul was stoned while motoring outside Jerusalem. A special correspondent of the ‘ Daily Express” at Jerusalem says the Holy Land has been shocked to its foundations by the outrages committed by the Arabs. Business is at a standstill and the shops are closed. The telephones are not working and the Press is censored. It is officially admitted that SO to HW people have been killed. The hospitals are filled with wounded. The most sanguinary tragedy occurred at Hebron. There 73 Jews were slaughtered in their homes, 12 of whom were American students who were qualifying for the Rabbinate. These people were eating a Sabbath meal when a mob of armed tribesmen descended upon the village. Men, women and children were cut to pieces. Eighteen were put to death in one home, including Mr. Slonin, meager of the Anglo-Palestine Bank, hi, wife, two children, and his wife's parents. The policing of Jerusalem now is in the hands of a volunteer force of 600 British citizens who are patrolling the streets day and night. All persons are required to be in their homes after curfew at 6 p.m. With the appearance cif British khaki and British bayonets, however, the situation became easier. Sporadic outbreaks continue over a wide area. The Jews in Jerusalem are afraid to appear in the open and hundreds of them are hiding in fear ior their lives. The hotels ami public institutions in the city are packed with refugees. They tell harrowing stories of relatives murdered in the foulest circumstances. Entire villages have been pillaged and the contents of the dwellings have been dumped In the streets and burned. A poignant story was told to the correspondent by a 13-year-old Jewish girl. She said she was seized by a band of frenzied Arabs, but was rescued by her father after a desperate struggle. No sooner was the girl released than she was compelled to see her father stabbed to death. A grim aftermath of tho rioting was the carrying of Jewish and Arab dead to secret places of burial. Jerusalem tonight is indeed a city of the dead. Another correspondent says the reason why the massacre at Hebron was not completed was that the Arabs wished to make sure they killed those they attacked. The Arabs were not content with cutting off the ears and noses of their victims or with mutilating their bodies, but they stopped to pillage every house. At lease 25 Americans were among those who were attacked. Survivors declare that 15 boys were killed and that some were horribly mutilated. Further despatches from Jerusalem report that a crowd of Moslems suddenly attacked the Government offices at Jaffa. Thereupon British police bred and repelled the attack. Five Arabs were killed and more than 30 were wounded.

93 JEWS KILLED

total of casualties UP TO YESTERDAY SITUATION REVIEWED British Official Wireless The Colonial Office, in a statement issued this evening, says: “The situation in Palestine is reported as well in hand, all being quiet ih Jerusalem and Jaffa, where up to ffie present most of the rioting has taken place. The country outside these centres is, however, still unsettled, continuous organised attacks being carried out by Arabs on the numerous scattered Jewish colonies. There have been no attempts so far at interfering with the essential services.

“The following reinforcements have either arrived in Palestine or are on their way from Egypt and Malta: The British warships Sussex, Durham, Courageous, Veteran, and Wanderer; the second battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment; the second battalion of the Green Howards; the first b&ttaiion of the South Wales Bor-

(levers; one company of the first battalion of the King’s Regiment; one squadron of armoured cars; the Twelfth Lancers; detachments of the Royal Engineers, Signallers, and the Royal Army Service Corps; and one squadron of the Royal Air Force. Two infantry battalions at Malta have received orders to hold themselves in readiness if required. “The Acting High Commissioner, under date August 26, reports that a demonstration took place at Jaffa on Sunday, and that trouble arose there after midday, When an Arab mob attempted to enter Tel-Aviv, the police fired, causing casualties the extent of which is not yet known, and the mob dispersed.” Later an Arab mob attacked the district office and assaulted some Moslem notables, but an armoured-car firing overhead dispersed them. Troops arrived at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, when an attack on Tel-Aviv was impending, and at the sight of the troops the crowd dispersed. After that, except for isolated assaults, the situation became and remained quiet. An impending attack at Haifa was prevented by the arrival of British troops early on Monday morning. Later news from Haifa indicates, however, that the disorder there is not yet in hand. In Transjordania the general situation is not free from anxiety, following the receipt by the tribes of the news of Friday’s events, hut so far no disturbances are reported. The aeting-High Commissioner reports later on August 26 that the outlying Jewish suburbs of Jerusalem, Jaffa and Haifa have been subjected to attacks and assaults. The Jewish quarter of Hebron was the scene of a particularly determined attack, and the Jew-ish colonies from south of Jaffa to south of Haifa have been subjected to threats of attack. The Jews had evacuated some of these colonies, and the Arabs were looting and destroying the property in them. Jewish colonies in the valley of Esdraelon and Jezrael have been under threats of attack, and actual assaults have taken place. At Gaza the Jews have suffered some loss of life and injuries. The Acting-High Commissioner states that the prompt response to his request for naval and military assistance had enabled the Government to maintain control. The officers of the district administration had rendered invaluable services in a very responsible situation, and the special constables were indispensable. The local Press was still suspended, but could probably not function in any case. The Government had, however commenced the issue of a series of news bulletins. No censorship on outward telegrams Is in force, but in a few cases Press telegrams have been held up for a period not exceeding 45! hours. The following are casualties up to the morning of August 26; Jerusalem and Hebi'on. —Killed: Moslems, 23; Christians 3; Jews, 76. Wounded, in-patients, Moslems, 25; Christians. 2; Jews, 102. Wounded, out-patients: Moslems, 35; Christians, 17; Jews, 63. Nablus. Ten Moslems were wounded, of whom two are in-patients. Jaffa.—Killed: Moslems, 10; Jews, 4. Wounded, in-patients: Moslems, IS; Jews, 15. The number of out-patients is not yet reported. Belsan —Twenty-one Jews were wounded, one being in hospital at Haifa. Haifa. —One Jew killed. 50 Jews wounded. A later telegram gives the casualties reported up to this morning for all Palestine, as follow: Killed: Moslems. 46; Christians, 4; Jews, 93. Wounded, in hospital: Moslems. 73; Christians, 12; Jews, 153. Wounded, out-patients: Moslems, 45: Christians, 27; Jews, 116. The Jews are evacuating Olf City, where friendly Arabs refuse to continue to shelter them. Arabs are reported to be massing outside the Nalbus Gate and preparing to attack. Bedouins have begun to cross the Jordan. Twenty-five Jews -working in the Rothschild mills have been arrested and the Government is instituting a search for arms. DEEP CONCERN FEELING OF AUCKLAND JEWS TELEGRAM TO PRIME MINISTER Tile following telegram lias been forwarded to the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, by Mr. N. Alfred Nathan, president of the Auckland Jewish community: “On behalf of the Auckland Jewish community I would ask you to cable the British Government the deep concern felt in New Zealand regarding the position in Palestine and expressing confidence that adequate measures will be taken to deal with the situation/’