Jewish Army Impossible Because Military Equipment Needed for Russia, British Say

The breakdown in the negotiations between the British Government and the Jewish Agency for the establishment of a Jewish Army was attributed today by British authoritative circles to the necessity of providing the Soviet forces with all military equipment that Britain can spare.

It was also learned here today that Lord Moyne, British Colonial Secretary, made this point clear in his letter of October 15 in which he informed the Jewish Agency that the British Government is not ready to establish a Jewish Army. Reiterating a previous argument that shortage of shipping facilities prevents the equipping of a Jewish Army, Lord Moyne in his letter stated that the Russian war has imposed tremendous strain on British transport as well as curtailing available military equipment.

AGENCY TAKES ISSUE WITH BRITISH WAR MINISTER OVER LOST JEWISH SOLDIERS

The Jewish Agency in a statement today took issue with the figures announced by British War Secretary Capt. David Margesson, who on Tuesday announced Palestine Jewish casualties in the battles of Greece and Crete. The number of Jewish soldiers missing in the Greek campaign is given in the Agency report as 1,365 “according to the lowest reliable figures.” Capt. Margesson, in his announcement this week in the Commons, said that only 1,023 Palestine Jewish soldiers are considered lost in the British campaign in Greece and Crets and of them 440 are known to have fallen into the hands of the Nazis as war prisoners.

It was officially announced here today that the German authorities have agreed to give 1,160 Palestine Jews who are held as war prisoners in a special camp in Silesia the same treatment as is given to British war prisoners. Conditions in this camp were a subject of discussion between representatives of British war prisoners, representatives of Palestine prisoners and the German camp authorities, the announcement said. The agreement reached provides for a fair share for the Palestine Jews of the parcels sent by the British Red Cross to war prisoners in Germany. Also that Palestine non-commissioned officers are to be treated like imprisoned British officers and are not to be compelled by the camp administration to do forced labor.