LIES REFUTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 January 1939, Page 5

LIES REFUTED

♦ FACTS OF SITUATION IN PALESTINE BRITISH WAR OFFICE STATEMENT PROTECTION OF THE TROOPS FROM CALUMNY. REPLY TO BASELESS ALLEGATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 9. A statement issued by the War Office says that it considers, in view of the absolutely baseless allegations being broadcast by persons and organisations unfriendly to Britain of atrocities by British troops in Palestine, it is desirable to make public a description of the real situation in that country, together with the truth of the actual measures being taken to deal with it. The character of the British soldier, continues the statement, is too well known to require vindication, but the fact remains that categorical accusations have been levelled -against him and are being assiduously disseminated in foreign countries.

The following authentic description of what is actually happening in Palestine today provides a categorical answer to these accusations. Though there is at the present timean armed rebellion in progress in Palestine, the War Office strongly emphasises that there is no organised rebel army in the accepted sense against which troops can act to the exclusion of the remaining peaceful citizens. Throughout the country rebel and peaceful citizens are inextricably mixed.

The total number of permanent active rebels in the whole country does not exceed 1000 or 1500 men split up in small bodies under the command of various leaders. These men are rebels under arms, often operate in uniform and form the permanent nuclei of rebel gangs. These small parties are reinforced as required by temporary detachments of armed fellahin from neighbouring villages. THE ARAB TERRORISTS. Methods by which such reinforcements are obtained vary. In parts of the country where rebel sympathisers and organisations are strong, definite village detachments- with leaders and arms are in existence. Elsewhere villagers are pressed into service by permanent gangs for fixed periods and provided with arms. Elsewhere, again, no regular gangs exist, but small parties of rebel sympathisers combine by night for such activities as sniping and sabotage which has become a recognised and remunerative racket. At present the rebels aim as far as possible to avoid being brought to action by troops. Except when a gang is surprised under arms there is no organised fighting. Otherwise by day both permanent and temporary rebels concealed their arms and uniforms and mingled indistinguishably with peaceful citizens. Practically every village m the country has at one time or another harboured or supported rebels and assisted in concealing their identity from the Government forces. While in many cases this was done from sympathy, in the remainder of cases the same result has been achieved by terrorists. For months now a relentless campaign of assassination has been waged against all Arabs suspected of favouring the Government or of giving information against the rebels. Consequently villages where a majority of informants would be willing to assist the Government had been terrorised by the rebel minority into aiding them. leaders at odds. There is no central co-operation or organisation of rebel bands. General policy is more or less directed bj the Grand Mufti and the Higher Arab Committee, but within Palestine the fighting leaders are practically independent in their own areas. Two of the principal leaders are Abdul Rahim el Haj Mahtmed, titular commander-in-chief who operates in Samara, and Aref Abdul Razzik, who commands rebel bands numerically almost as great in the same area. These two leaders are on such bad terms that on more than one occasion open hostilities have almost broken out between them. Their relations with the Grand Mufti are worth describing as they typify not only the complicated situation in Palestine, but also the two different races displayed by the present rebellion on the one hand to the outside .world and to the unfortunate Arab population on the other. Abdul Rahim is a man of good family and'some education, and is a more honest and genuine patriot than the majority of the rebels. He has so far as possible within his rights endeavoured to conduct the campaign on decent lines, and he dislikes intensely assassination and intimidation waged against all moderate Arabs who might oppose the Grand Mufti's policy. He maintains an attitude of considerable independence to orders from the Grand Mufti, frequently refusing to carry them out when they oilend his pi in-

ciples. For this reason, and because he formerly had moderate political connections, he is regarded with suspicion by the Grand Mufti, but is retained in his position, partly for his not inconsiderable organising ability, but still more because his known good character and high principles make him an admirable figurehead for external propaganda which seeks to represent the rebellion as a purely patriotic movement. A RUTHLESS GANGSTER. Arcf Abdul Razzik is a man of much lower integrity and less education than Rahim and entirely unprincipled. Starting as a very minor leader a year ago, he achieved his present position by a career of utter ruthlessness and implicit obedience to the Grand Mufti s orders. In consequence he enjoys the complete confidence of the rebel leaders outside Palestine and is their principal agent in the maintenance of

the terrorist, grip on the Arab population. Incidentally, he undoubtedly pockets a large "rake-off” from forced contributions to rebel funds, which Rahim does not do.

Elsewhere there are practically no major rebel leaders, but various minor leaders almost completely independent and 'often in open enmity with each other. In addition to there being no standing armed rebel force against which troops can act. there is no central organisation whose destruction would cause the rebellion collapse. There are, moreover, definite signs that, as the grip of rebels on the countryside is weakened by military action, tne position will be further complicated by the entrance on the scene of Arab anti-rebel gangs who wish to take revenge on those who have supported the rebel terror. One such gang is already active near Jenin.

In the urban areas there are two principal rebel elements —the more educated Effiendis class, which is engaged in organising supplies, finances and the general maintenance and administration of the gangs running the rebel courts and similar activities—and the lower class terrorist thugs who, by assassination, abduction and intimidation of all sorts, maintain a grip of terror on the town population as effective as that of the armed gangs on the villages.

Though the Effendis have in the main acted in administrative capacities, they have not gained any real control as fighting’ leaders. In Jaffa, Abdul Razzim and, the local leader, Hassam Salameh,, have their own agents working for'them and extorting money from the town with the result that quarrels over the division of the spoils and the allotment of victims for fleecing are continuous. . MILITARY MEASURES. The statement goes on to explain the character of the military measures adopted under such headings as searches, demolitions, and collective punishments. Regarding demolitions, it says that much use is being made in propaganda of the demolition of houses by troops and the impression .is being given that wholesale demolition of houses of innocent Arabs is being carried out. The statement adds emphatically that this is not the case.

In the great majority of instances individual houses only are demolished for the following reasons: When they are the property of a known active rebel leader who is absent from the village with gangs, houses from which fire or other resistance has been directed, houses in which arms, ammunition and equipment have been concealed, or houses which have been proved to have been used for rebel purposes as court houses, billets, etc.'

The statement goes on to explain that a normal military operation is now being carried out in Palestine. It consists of “a check and search ’ of a village area or a portion of a town when the inhabitants are warned that anybody attempting to break through is liable to be shot. Hundreds of villages have been searched in this way in the past six months and the procedure is well known.

Therefore it may be assumed that those who attempt to break through the cordon have good reasons for wishing to avoid troops. A number of such cordon-breakers have been shot and such cases probably form the basis of propaganda that Arab prisoners are shot in cold blood and are reported as "killed while trying to escape.” INEVITABLE HARDSHIPS. The troops, after placing a cordon round a village, enter and collect all the male inhabitants for interrogation. The process invariably involves a certain amount of hardship. The spectacle of weeping women watching their menfolk being marched off for identification offers opportunities for propaganda, but no other course is possible. While identification is proceeding and houses are being searched for hidden men, arms and documents, every precaution is taken against damage and women are not molested. They are searched occasionally, but only by a police woman searcher, as a deterrent to 'rebels disguising themselves as women, which has happened on several occasions. The statement says that the principle of collective punishment is fully recognised by the Arabs and concludes that it is a matter for regret that it has been necessary to employ military, measures for the restoration of order, but that no alternative was possible in the circumstances, and that it is only right that officers and men should be protected from calumny. "With the object of putting an end to the campaign of lying and exaggerrated propaganda, these facts are placed on record,” the statement concludes. "The use of troops inevitably provides an opportunity for hostile propaganda, but it is believed that no one will be deceived thereby who knows the true facts and appreciates the absolute necessity of ending the campaign of terrorism and gangster rule which the rebel leaders have exploited.” CAPTURED REBELS. SIX SENTENCED TO DEATH. (Received This Day. 9.40 a.m.) JERUSALEM. January 10. A Military Court has sentenced to death six Arabs captured during an engagement.