Formation of More Jewish Units in Palestine Urged by British Commander

The achievements of the Palestine Military Transport Company, manned by Jews, were lauded today by the commanding officer of the unit who stated that the best answer to Gen. Erwin Rommel’s new offensive in Libya would be the formation of an additional number of such companies in Palestine.

The C.O.’s statement was made at ceremonies “somewhere in Palestine” marking the first anniversary of the Company. Moshe Shertok, chief of the political department of the Jewish Agency, and senior officers of the British forces attended.

A statement taking issue with the editorial published recently in the New York Times opposing the establishment of a Jewish Army and a Jewish State in Palestine, was made public here last night by Shertok. Declaring that the editorial “has created a painful impression among Jews in Palestine,” Shertok says in his statement that it was difficult to believe after the experience of this generation that the hopes of the Jews could be achieved, as suggested in the editorial, by the assurance of full civic rights.

“The reasons that demand the establishment of a Jewish Army are twofold,” Shertok declared. “First, the Jews were the first people attacked by Hitler and suffered more than any others at his hands. They have been called upon and are entitled to make their contribution to the allied war effort as a people. Every allied nation, however small, from the Free Danes to the Druses of Syria and the Senusis of Libya, is fighting under its own flag and there is no reason why just Jews should be required to fight anonymously and subjected to the indignity of obliteration of their identity.

“Secondly, only by the formation of a Jewish Army can the maximum Jewish enthusiasm and contribution to the allied war effort be elicited. The demand for the creation of a Jewish Army is not inspired by aggressive design against any one but is merely a plea for fair play, equality and the greatest effort.”