THE HOLY CITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1938, Page 8

THE HOLY CITY

JERUSALEM OCCUPIED BY TROOPS REBELS SUCCESSFULLY ROUNDED UP WELL-PLANNED OPERATIONS 3y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) JERUSALEM,- October 19. As the Coldstream Guards, wearing steel helmets and with fixed bayonets, marched towards the old walled city for the purpose of combing out the rebels, aeroplanes flew over scattering leaflets in the Arab, Hebrew and English languages, warning the inhabitants ihat serious operations were about to oegin. The Coldstream Guards forced ine Damascus Gate and the St Stephen Gate, both having been barricaded by the rebels. Meanwhile the Northumberland Fusiliers entered by the Zion Gate, and other troops by a new gate and the Jaffa Gate, making, with the police, a force of about two thousand. L'he troops advanced slowly through me maze of narrow streets, fearing iand-mines, which are a favourite form of Arab warfare. Within two hours troops had secured control of practically the whole of the old city, There was a sharp affair at the Damascus Gate, but thereafter only oomb-tnrowing and sniping. The troops, after cordoning the city, began the city, began a house to house search. Many houses were found deserted, but occasionally the soldiers discovered abandoned and crying children. Only the harem area was not entered, where planes sighted many armed man. It is expected that the Arabs will be starved out, as the area is too honeycombed with subterranean passages to permit of exploration. When satisfied, with the situation, the nilitary authorities re-opened the Damascus Gate, allowing communica.ion with outer Jerusalem. The whole city is now filled with soldiers and armoured cars. The total British casualties were two constables and one soldier wounded. Nine Arabs, including a woman, were killed, eighteen wounded and forty arrested. It is believed that the Arabs planned an attack after taking possession of the old city. The police frustrated this plan by closing the gates. Thus the rebels were trapped.