The Latrun detention camp was thrown into a flurry today when a quantity of explosives and over $100 in cash were found in an empty box which had contained kosher meat brought to the camp from Jerusalem. (An unconfirmed report said that a Jewish prisoner had hidden in the box in an attempt to escape.) Alarmed guards tightened security precautions in fear that an attack on the camp might be imminent.
The Irgun radio tonight defended its attack on the Acre Prison, declaring that it had “succeeded in tearing down the enemy’s prestige and also proved that it was unable to rule the country.” The broadcast replied to a Jewish Agency statement that the assault had been “suicidal” by asserting that while it regretted the heavy casualty toll, such things occur “in time of war despite the most careful preparations.” It added: “If ‘leaders’ ask was the operation worth so many casualties, we reply: did we ask the Haganah whether it was worthwhile losing 17 in blowing up bridges (last year), or whether it was worthwhile to blow up the Patria (in Nov., 1940) and lose the lives of 220 refugees?”
Meanwhile, it is learned that ex-Sgt. Bernard Cohen, who led the raid and was killed in the retreat, arrived in Palestine in 1938 on an illegal immigrant ship. He joined the British Army a month after the war broke out and participated in the French campaign. He returned to Palestine later and volunteered for a Commando unit which served in the Eritrean campaign, where he was in the same company with Dov Gruner. After the war he was appointed commander of the Irgun in Jerusalem and remained in that post until he was captured and deported to Eritrea, from where he escaped and rejoined the Irgun.
Brigadier J. G. Bedford, commander of the Jerusalem area, last night informed the chairman of the Jewish Community Council that the alleged mistreatment of Jews by drunken and disorderly soldiers was being investigated. He urged Jews to report the incidents to the military authorities.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
