'Military Lessons of the Arab Rebellion in Palestine 1936' [‎18v] (41/294)

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demolitions of the Chief Justice and the Senior Puisne British Judge,
declared the imposition of a collective fine on the town of Gaza to le
illegal. Similar types of action by the Judiciary were now causing the
gravest apprehension and offered to the rebels weapons which they were
quick to use; the results did much to counteraco many of the measures
taken by troops and police to restore order.
1st - 6 th August
The 1st August saw the release from gaol of 18 Arabs who had been
sentenced to death for murders committed during the 1929 riots, but
whose sentences had been remitted by the High Commissioner. It was an
untimely moment to set loose in the country criminals of this type, and
three murders — including that of a police inspector - and two more
attempts on the day following the release served as an ugly reminder.
Nevertheless the first five days of August witnessed a noticeable fallin
off in the daily acts of violence. This coincided with an attempt by
the Amir of Trans-Jordan to mediate between the Higher Committee and the
Palestine Government. The Mufti of Jerusalem however, always jealous
of the Amir’s influence among the Moslems of Palestine, adopted a ho stilt
attitude from the start, and negotiations ended in failure. Pith their
end came a great revival of hostile activity of all forms, which increas;
steadily until it reached its peak about the end of the month.
7th - 10th August
On the 8 th a new and dangerous situation suddenly arose which took
everyone by surprise. Almost every employee in the docks, railways,
and oil depots of Haifa suddenly went on strike. It was soon found
that this was the immediate result of intimidation following upon a
flood of missives signed by the ’’Black Hand”, and for a day or two it
looked as though it was about to spread to the remaining loyal v/orkers
all over the country. It was a highly critical situation, and instant
efforts to break the strike and protect the loyal elements were impera
tive. All available reserves were rushed to Haifa, landing parties
were put ashore from the Third Cruiser Squadron, and trains were run by
H.N. and R.E* crews. Fortunately these energetic measures proved
successful, and in about a week Haifa had gone back to work and the
danger had passed.
Actions with armed bands were now renewed on an increased scale,
and it was clear that the leaders had not been idle during the few days
lull. On the 7th, following an attack on a convoy near Nablus, aircraft
and troops inflicted 23 casualties with one officer being slightly
wounded only. On the 10th picquets of the Lincolns were attacked near
Tulkarm, and later in the day further action developed in the Nablus
area. 11 Arabs were killed and 4 captured, but the Seaforth lost an
officer killed and 3 men wounded when a car was blown up by a road mine
on the outskirts of Nablus. This resulted in the imposition of a
io5,000 collective fine on the town. The same afternoon two unarmed
Airmen were lired upon in Jerusalem. One was killed and the other
v/ounded. It was the first time the town terrorists had turned their
attention to troops, though prominent Arabs of moderate opinion had
recently been added to their victims as well as Jews and police.
The 10th closed with an action on the Posh Pinna-Tiberias road between
a band about 40 strong and a York and Lancaster convoy escort: three
soldiers were wounded and some twenty casualties inflicted upon the
enemy, while the T.J.F.F. reinforcements which followed them up later
scored further successes, though nightfall enabled the Arabs to
remove all but one of their dead.