British War Office Issues Statement to Refute "Lying Propaganda'
Ha view to ending the "cai propaganda," by hostile pers atrocities of British troops in Pal London, Jan. 10. paign of lying and exaggerated sons and organizations, about the les tine, the War Office has issued a detailed description of the real situation in Palestine and the actual measures to deal with the situation there. Throughout the country there are probably not more than 1,000 to 1,500 permanent active Febels, who operate in small bodies, avoid contact with the troops and mingle, indistinguishal bly, with peaceful citizens.
The principal leaders of these outlaws, the statement declares, are Abdul Rahmin Hai Mohamed, titular commander-in-chief, and Aref Abdul Razzik, both of whom operate in the region of Samaria. The two leaders are on such bad terms with each other that, on more than one occasion, open hostilities have almost broken out between them.
There are practically no major leaders controlling the number of gangs, the War Office statement continues, and minor leaders are almost completely independent and often at open enmity with each other, Thus, there is no standing armed Collective Punishments force against which the troops can The two types of collective punish-act, nor 4s there a central organization ment employed. are, firstly, the col-whose destruction would cause the eetive fine, which is not a military. Tebellion to collapse, measure bit is assessed by a civil The situation Is further complicated fauthority—although, at present, mili the emergence of an Arab antly tary commanders are responsible-rebel gang, who wish to lake revenge Jand, secondly, collective demolition on supporters of the rebel terror.
The demolitions, however, are only made after warnings have been given, Why Searches Are Necessary Jand are carried out only with the The great diMeulty with which the sanction of headquarters. They apply military authorities" are faced, the to cases where sabotage of com Satemant points out, is identification, [munications is Intense and frequent. 'Aaa result of information collected 'Village responsibility can generally andthe increasing number of Arab ive clearly established in. such cases, informants, the names of a large pro-though not against individuals, portion of' active rebels are known, conclusion, the statement ex-Dut the rear diMeulty is that presses regret at the necessity of dentiftation. For this reason, village employing military measures to researches are necessary. store order, but no. alternative 'The statement explains that the possible. "Tt adds' that "nobody. will method adopted for searches be deceived by hostile propaganda, cordon the area by troops or aircraft. who knows the facts and appreciates The Inhabllants are warned against the absolute necessity of ending a attempting to break through the leampaign of torrorism."—Reuter. cordon. As the procedure Is well-known, it is safely assumed that cor~ don-breakers have food reason for!
Wishing to avoid the troops.
Troops Patrol Rangoon Continuing, the statement explains: that a number of cordon-breakers To Keep Peace have been shot during searches, which fact, it says, probably forms the basis Rangoon, Jan. of propaganda that Arab prisoners are Troops began to patrol Ran-hot in cold blood. After the cordon goon this morning following hag been established, alt male. me sporadic activities of trouble Nabitants are assembled for identineamakers in connection with the ton and Interrogation. civil disobedience campaign of Troops Fully Disciplined the last two days. The number Domiciliary searches are made to demonstrators has been discover hidden men, arms and other swelled with the arrival from forbidden material," "but stringent outlying districts of 2,000 orders have been given to the troops: hunger' marchers who are prevent looting and wanton. agitating for better conditions. 'A fire occurred last night in
cally denies propaganda suggestions of ho, War Ofc slalement calor a Buddhist monastery which was the nerve centre of the Wholesale demolition of the houses Innocent Arabs. It says. that Indivi-Buddhist-Moslem riots in July. duet, selected houses only are Three buildings were demolished for well-defined and urgent stroyed, and one person was reasons, nnd it points out that, Killed, his charred body being whether from sympathy or terrorism, found in the ruins. After this practically every village has, at some incident, civil and military time, harboured oF sheltered' rebels. police were placed on duty at For months now, a relentless cam= paign of assassination has been waged the monastery—Reuter. gainst Arabs suspected of giving the Government information, Conse quently, the villages are terrorized by minorities.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.