WAR
OFFICE
AT NAZI
REPLIES TO ORGANISATIONS "UNFRIENDLY TO
BRITAIN❞
THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 10, 1939.
HITS BACK PROPAGANDA
London, To-day.
In a statement issued last night the War Office says it considers that in view of the absolutely base- less allegations being broadcast by persons and organizations unfriendly to Britain of atro- cities by British troops in Palestine, it is desir- able to make public a description of the real situation in that country together with details of actual measures being taken to deal with it. The statement continues: "The character of the British soldier is too well known to require vin- dication, but the fact remains that categorical accusations have been levelled against him and are being assiduously disseminated in foreign countries.
"This authentic description of what is actually hap- pening in Palestine to-day provides a categori- cal answer to these accusations."
Although there is at the present him el Haj Mahomed, titular comman- time an armed rebellion in progress der-in-chief who operates in Samaria. in Palestine, the. War Office strongly bel bands numerically almost as great and Aref Razzik, who commands re- emphasizes that there is no organised rebel army in the accepted sense against which troops can act to the exclusion of the remaining peace- ful citizens.
in the same area. These two leaders are on such hud terms that on more than one occasion open hostiliites have almost broken out between them.
A SKETCHING LESSON FOR GENTLEMEN CADETS.-Gen- tlemen Cadets from the Royal Military 'Academy, Woolwich, are tak- en to Greenwich Park for the purpose of field sketching as part of their training. The old R.N. College is in the background.
-BORDER-
INCIDENT SETTLED
Prague, To-day. Czecho-Slovakia and Hungary have agreed to settle last week's border incident by creating neutral zone in the Munkacevo sector-Reuter.
a
.
CURFEW IN JERUSALEM NEW CITY
Jerusalem, To-day. The military commander of Jerusalem has imposed a 24-hour curfew on the entire residential quarter of the New City, following Their relations with the Mufti are
a shooting outrage yesterday morn- worth describing as they typify not
ing when a Jew was wounded. Throughout the country, active re-only the complicated situation in Pales-
An engagement between police, bels and peaceful citizens are inextri- tine but also the two different faces venge on those who have supported the assisted by aircraft, and an Arab cably mixed. The total number of displayed by the present rebellion on
whole one hand to the outside world and on ready active near Jenin.
rebel terror. permanent active rebels in the
One such gang is al-band, occurred on the coastal plain country does not exceed 1,000 to 1,500 the other to the unfortunate Arab po-
where Arabs sniped Jewish work- "BUMPING OFF" FEAR men, split up in bodies under the com- pulation.. mand of various leaders. These men Abdul Rahim is a man of good fam-cipal rebel elements-the more educat-
In urban areas there, are two prin-ers, seriously wounding one.
It is believed the Arabs suffered are all under arms, often operate in ly and some education, and is a more ed effendi lass who are engaged uniform and form the permanent nu-honest and genuine patriot than
in several casualties.-Reuter. cleus of the gangs. These small par- majority of the rebels.
the organizing supplies, finances and gen- He has so far eral maintenance and administration ties are reinforced as required by tem- as possible within his rights endeav-of the gangs, running rebel courts and porary detachments of armed fellahin oured to conduct the campaign on de- similar activities--and the lower class from neighbouring villages.
cent lines and dislikes intensely
as terrorist thugs who by assassination,
PRESS GANGS
¦
sassination and intimidation waged abduction and intimidation of all sortsTO
BRITISH AGENT TO SEE VICE-CONSUL
London, To-day.
The British Agent at Burgos has been instructed to proceed to Burgos from St. Jean de Luz to press the Nationalist authorities for imme- diate access to the Vice-Consul, Mr. Ernest Golding, who is being held on espionage charges.
Mr.
The methods by which such rein- against all moderate-Arabs who might maintain a grip of terror on the town forcements are obtained vary. In parts oppose the Mufti's policy. He main population as effective as that of the of the country where rebel sympathies tains an attitude of considerable inde-armed gangs on the villages. are strong and organisation is best, pendence to orders from the Mufti, definite village detachments with lead- frequently refusing to carry them out main supplied the administrative ca- Although the effendis have in the ers and arms are in existence. Else- when they offend his principles. For pacity they have not gained any real where, villagers are pressed into ser- this reason, and because he formerly control of the fighting leaders, and in vice by permanent gangs for a fixed had moderate political connections, he fact they continue to be terrorised by period and are provided with arms. is regarded with suspicion by the Muf-fear of being "bumped off." They may Elsewhere again, no regular gangs ti, and is retained in his position part-give advice but they cannot give or- exist but small parties of rebel sympa-ly for his considerable organising abil-ders, which come direct to the gangs thisers combine by night for such acity but still more because his known from the Mufti and his associates and tivities as sniping and sabotage which good character and high have become a recognised and remun- make him an admirable figurehead for rebel ban on
principles in such matters as relaxation of the crative racket.
acceptance of identity external propaganda which seeks At the present time the rebels' aim represent the rebellion as a pure and of the citrus traffic, the effendis have to cards and travel passes for the benefit as far as possible is to avoid being patriotic movement. brought to action by troops.
The Agent has also been instruct- Except
to seek the permission of the gang UTTER RUTHLESSNESS
leaders,
ed to secure Mr. Golding's presence when a gang is surprised under arms Aref Abdul Razzik is a man of much there is no organised fighting. Other-lower origin and less education
Reason for the course is that the at the enquiry being held by the wise by day both permanent and tem- Abdul Rahim, and is entirely unprinci- of its supporters from Government ac- tails of the charges against
than power of the rebellion and the safety British authorities and to obtain de- porary rebels conceal their arms and pled. Starting as a very minor lead-tion depend on terrorism imposed on uniforms and mingle indistinguishably er 12 months ago he achieved his pre- the population by the man with' with peaceful citizens.
the Golding.--Reuter. sent position by a career of utter RELENTLESS CAMPAIGN
who ruthlessness and implicit obedience to control the armed forces, including to stances in which
gun, and it is the gang leaders Practically every village in the the Mufti's orders whatever they in-a great degree the town terrorists.
the action of the country has at one time or other har-volve. He consequently enjoys
armed forces to suppress the rebellion boured and supported rebels and assist-complete confidence of the rebel lend- little sign that the educated
Even in the large towns there is has had to be taken, the War Office ed in concealing their identity
classes statement explains from ers outside, Palestine, and is
the character of the Government forces. While in many principle agent in maintaining a ter- gangs. It seems rather that the prin-headings as searches, demolitions and their combine to give general support to the military measures adopted under such cases this was done from sympathy, in rorist grip on the Arab population. In-cipal gang leaders have each. their lit- collective punishments. the remainder the same result has cidently he undoubtedly pockets been achieved by terrorism.
"rakeoff" from forced subscrip-for them collection of money, purchase much use is being made in propaganda
atle group of supporters who undertake large
Regarding demolitions it says that For months now a relentless cam- tions to the rebel funds which. Abdul of clothing, abduction of offenders for of the demolitions of houses by troops, paign of assassination has been waged Rahim does not do. against any Arab suspected of favour- Elsewhere there are practically no own squad of terrorists working for wholesale demolition of houses of in- trial etc. Each of these groups has its and the impression is being given that ing the Government or giving inform-major leaders controlling a number of it. ation against the rebels. Consequent- gangs, and the various minor leaders Razzim and the local leader, Hassam adde emphatically that this is not the Thus in Jaffa, Abdul Rahim Aref nocent Arabs is being carried out and ly villages where a majority of the are almost completely independent and Salameh, all have their own inhabitants would be willing to assist often at open enmity with each other. working for them and extorting money
agents case. the Governmet have been terrorized by Thus, in addition to there being no from the town, with the result that individual selected houses only are de- In the great majority of instances, the rebel minority into aiding them, standing armed rebel force
There is no central command or or-which troops can act, there is no cen-lotment of victims for fleecing are con- When they are the property of a known against quarrels over division of spoil and al- molished for the following reasons: ganisation of rebel bands. The gen-tral organization whose destruction tinuous. eral policy is more or less directed would cause the rebellion to collapse.
active rebel leader who is absent from by the Mufti and the Higher Arab There are,
The bigger gang leaders spread his village with gangs, or houses from moreover, definite Committee, but within Palestine the that as the grip of the rebels on the of Arefor Azzim, who is known
signs their agens fa afield, as "In the case which fire or, other resistance has been fighting leaders are practically inde-countryside is weakened by military command support as far away
to directed; 'or houses in which arms am- pendent in their own areas,
as munition and equipment has been con- action the situation will be further com- Gaza,
cealed or which are proved to have been plicated by the emergence of Arab The principal leaders are Abdul Ra-lanti-rebel gangs who wish to take re
MILITARY MEASURES used for rebel purposes as court Having thus described the circum-houses, billets etc.-British Wireless.
TWO PRINCIPAL CHIEFS
+
the