British Laud Heroism of Palestine Troops in Eritrean Campaign

Palestine units under a British colonel played a vitally important part in the British campaign in Eritrea, according to Cairo dispatches today quoting British officers.

The Palestinians operated in the most difficult terrain and in constant danger of being outflanked in their posts and machine-gun nests and taken prisoner. (Authoritative military circles in Cairo said earlier this week that so far as was known no Palestinians had been captured during recent fighting.)

Living conditions were extremely hard and more difficult than those of the main troops. Water was most scarce and each movement was dictated by the situation of water holes. Sometimes units would advance from one hole to a second five miles away. Casualties had to be taken on camels’ backs to clearing stations ten miles back. However, most of the casualties were light.

Reaching the Mogarrah valley, the Palestinians covered the left flank of the advance to Keren, cutting off the Italians on a ridge to the main attacking force and thus helping to take some 2,000 prisoners by successfully concluding this most difficult and courageous action.

The commanding officer of the troops advancing in Eritrea highly praised the units and expressed admiration at their bravery and fighting spirit.

The Palestine press reports the death of Joseph Breilmen, 24-year-old, member of the Pioneer Corps, who was wounded on the Libyan front. The Pioneer Corpsis the unit which precedes the army and removes mines, cuts enemy barbed-wire and digs trenches. While dying Breitmen was informed he had been promoted to the rank of sergeant. He asked, as his last wish, that he be buried with a blue-white banner, a Bible and a copy of Dr. Herzl’s “Judensteat, ” and he died singing the “Hatikvah.” His last wish was carried out.