British Military Court Convicts Two Jewish Youths Charged with Blowing Up Train

A British military court today found two Jewish youths guilty of charges of blowing up a Cairo-Haifa train last August 9, discharging ##pons at British troops and illegal possession of firearms. All three are capital offenses.

The youths, Mordechai Soffer and Yerucham Krubelnik, both alleged Sternists, refused to participate in the proceedings. Sentence will be passed Friday. Since offer is only 16 and Krubelnik’s age is in dispute with his parents insisting that that he is under 18, a capital sentence is not expected, because unde the Emergency Defense Regulations persons under 18 years-of-age may not be condemned to death.

Following the penetration of the Palestine land-sea-air blockade last week-end by some 200 Jewish refugees, the police and military authorities have increased the member and size of shore patrols in an effort to halt completely further blockade running.

Evidence continues to accumulate to strengthen opinions of observers who expect a rapid withdrawal of British forces from this country. Despite a scarcity of supplies, the police force has not asked for bids for shoes and other uniform items to replace equipment now in use. Simultaneously, it was announced that about one-half of the civilian employees in the military camps in the Nathanya district have been discharged. Meanwhile, troop detachments are being concentrated in the Gaza, ?ablus and Nazareth areas.

Three new Jewish settlements were established today in southern Palestine. The details of the operation have been kept a well-guarded secret in Jewish circles and it is only known that two of the colonies are in the Negev.