SIEGE OF JERUSALEM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1938, Page 7

SIEGE OF JERUSALEM

OLD CITY CORDONED REBELS TO BE CLEARED OUT MEASURES TO RE-ESTABLISH CONTROL By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, October 19. While the British are besieging the old city of Jerusalem, which has not known such an experience since its capture by Saladin in the twelfth century, 20.000 troops are preparing for the virtual reconquest of the entire country. Troops intend to storm the old city later today in order to clear out the rebels.. The replacement of district, commissioners by military governors, placing the police force under military control, is tantamount to the establishment of martial law throughout Palestine. Major-General O’Connor has been appointed military governor of salemTwo thousand troops, including ar-mcured-car detachments and patrols, completely surround the old city, which is now in a complete stage of siege. Large areas have been cordoned off, and aeroplanes are constantly flying over it. Two R.A.F men were wounded by gunfire. The majority of the 27,000 residents of the old city have been prisoners in their houses for 36 hours and many are without food and water. Sfeveral children of non-partisans were wounded in crossfire near a mosque. . .. The rebels in the old city are estimated at 400. A military court sentenced to death an Arab who for the eighth week in succession was charged with being in possession of firearms. The Beirut correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that German agents are closely in touch with the Grand Mufti, and are providing him with arms and ammunitions, consignments of which are reported to have been recently landed at Latakia, Saida, and Athlit. ~ The Jerusalem correspondent ot tne “Daily Mail” states that two of the Grand Mufti’s envoys have gone to the United States to raise funds from Arab emigres. UNIFIED STATE MR MACDONALD’S PROPOSALS TO CABINET. LONDON, October 19. The “Daily Telegraph” says that the Secretary for the Colonies, Mr Malcolm MacDonald, is today submitting new Palestine proposals to Cabinet involving the abandonment of the partition plan and the establishment of a unified State under British guidance. The Government is unlikely to agree to the cessation of Jewish immigration but its suspension might be considered expedient. GUARDS MARCH IN DETAILED TO CLEAR UP OLD CITY FOOD PROBLEM BECOMING ACUTE JERUSALEM, October 19. The third battalion of the Coldstream Guards, the vanguard of the British troops, has been detailed to clean up the old city. They marched in at 3 a.m. Other troops are stationed at vantage points outside the walls. Desultory firing from rebel snipers has been going on for four days., A continuous curfew has immobilised the population. The food problem is getting acute. NINE ARABS KILLED SOLDIER AND POLICEMAN INJURED (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) JERUSALEM, October el 9. Nine Arabs were killed in the clean-ing-up process. A Coldstream Guardsman and a British policeman were injured. Arabs killed two Jews, one of whom was Inspector Abraham Cohen, of the Jewish Defence Corps, during a raid on Rishon, in the Lezion Colony. Four Arabs were wounded. A transport convoy of the Dead Sea Potash Company was ambushed on the Jericho road, with several Jewish casualties. Two bandits were killed, and a quantity of arms captured, when a gang was surprised in the act of puncturing the Iraq oil pipe line. ACTION BY FRANCE PREVENTING ENTRY OF ARMS INTO PALESTINE BIERUT, October 19. The French Commissioner has instructed the Governments of Syria and Lebanon to prevent the entry of arms, into Palestine.