Reorganization of Palestine Forces Completed

Reorganization of the Palestine garrison, comprising eight full battalions exclusive of air forces, armored cars, tanks, artillery, has now been completed, it was officially announced today.

With approximately 8,000 troops, equipped with the most modern weapons of war, strategically placed throughout the country, it is believed the Government feels it can now successfully cope with the disorders which have lasted eight weeks.

The new garrison is about four times the strength of that on hand at the time the disturbances broke out.

Former military zones have been replaced by new divisions. Two brigades cover northern Palestine and two southern Palestine.

High Commissioner Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope is commander-in-chief of the military forces throughout the country.

A military outpost has been established at Zikron Jacob, scene of much vandalism by Arab marauders, where are located the old colonies established by the late Baron Rothschild.

The High Commissioner today flew to the Jezreel Valley to investigate yesterday’s attack on the colony Kfar Ezekiel, during which the Jewish driver of a truck was wounded.

ATTACKS, BOMBINGS CONTINUE

Continued Arab attacks, incendiarism and bombings are reported today in an official communique.

The communique reports an attack on the colony of Ain Harod, during which an Arab was wounded. There were no casualties among the defending police and the settlers.

Parts of railroad tracks at Tulkarem were removed. A bridge was blown up near Hebron. A bomb exploded at the railway station at Khanyanis. Three bombs exploded without injuring anyone at Beit Vegan. Police and troops exchanged shots with Arabs following the explosion.

A Jewish-owned house was burned at Jericho. Troops were fired at in Hebron, Lydda and Ramleh. A post office employe was wounded by shots fired at him while he was repairing telephone wires between Tulkarem and Nablus.

Attempts to wreck a troop train between Rafia and Khanyanis were reported without confirmation.

ENGINE DERAILED NEAR HEDERA

The engine of a railway train and one car were derailed today near Hedera on the way to Haifa. The derailment was preceded by the cutting of the railway telephone wire. No casualties were reported.

The Hebrew daily, Doar Hayom, said that the last car of a train was derailed as it reached the Tel Aviv station. There were no damages.

A unit of seventy-five soldiers was stationed at the Ruttenberg Electric Station to protect it from possible sabotage.

The first case of desecration of Jewish graves since the Arab disorders began occurred today on the Mount of Olives where fifteen graves were desecrated and numerous tombstones were removed or broken.

In the all-Jewish city of Tel Aviv, Jews poured kerosene on a carload of vegetables said to have been bought from Arabs. The incident occurred on Carmel Street, which borders on Jaffa. One person was arrested.

Six dunams of fir trees were set on fire by Arabs in Mishmar ha-Emek.

A railroad bridge near Kalkulliah and Kfar Saba, in the Sharon Plain, was burned following a skirmish between police and Arabs.