The Jewish Agency said today that it will shortly take measures which it hopes will reduce terrorism. The statement came on the heels of disastrous blasts which yesterday cost the lives of several British soldiers and policemen and wounded many others.
An Agency spokesman said that yesterday’s outrages were an attempt to coerce the Jewish community into adopting policies and methods which it has always shunned. He stressed, however, that apprehension of the criminals was the task of the police, and suggested that they might be more successful if they devoted themselves “more to police functions and less to semi-political matters.”
At the same time, the executive of the Jewish National Council, representative body of Palestine Jewry, appealed to the Jewish community to combat “terroristic bloodshed” and deny shelter to terrorists. On Tuesday, a meeting of the Small Zionist Actions Committee sharply condemned terrorist outbreaks.
IRGUN REJECTS APPEALS, WARNING IT WILL FIGHT ON “TWO FRONTS”
In a reply to the Actions Committee, the Irgun Zvai Leumi today warned that it would not obey the Committee’s call for an end to violence and said if necessary it will fight “on two fronts.” The warning was given in a broadcast which admitted that the Irgun was responsible for the blasting of the Jerusalem rail station yesterday.
It was learned that several members of the Actions Committee and the Agency received letters from the Irgun prior to the opening of Tuesday’s meeting warning that if the Committee came out against terrorism, the Irgun would intensify its attacks on the “outside enemy.”
Searches for the persons responsible for yesterday’s explosions were still proceeding in Jerusalem and scattered parts of the country. Chief object of the hunt is the girl who planted the explosives in the rail station. According to rumors, she is one of the top leaders of the Irgun and one of its most intrepid members. She is alleged to be about 25 years old, a native of Poland whose entire family was exterminated by the Germans.
During the day police and Criminal Investigation Division officers conducted several “line-ups” of suspects in an attempt to identify persons rounded up yesterday. The drivers of the two taxis involved in the rail station bombing were unable to identify any of those held as their passengers, stating that in both cases they had been engaged by a young girl.
The arm of one of the youths detained after an exchange of fire with police was amputated today in a government hospital where he is confined. Meanwhile, several Jewish physicians have been arrested on suspicion of having treated several of the wounded terrorists.
IMMIGRANT SHIP SPOTTED APPROACHING PALESTINE
Although an all-night identification of all males along the Tel Aviv-Nathanya shore turned up no visaless immigrants, Royal Navy patrols are searching for an immigrant ship reported to be off the coast. It is said to have 1,300 refugees on board.
A purported wireless message from a blockade runner somewhere on the high was, released here today, states that all 1,200 passengers aboard participated in an lection for delegates to the World Zionist Congress and want their votes added to the Palestine total. The message gave the total for each party.
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