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Tegart Organizes “flying Squad” to Fight Arab Terrorists

December 12, 1937
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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A MECHANIZED “FLYING SQUAD” ON THE FAMOUS SCOTLAND YARD MODEL WAS ORGANIZED BY SIR CHARLES TEGART, NEW POLICE ADVISER TO THE PALESTINE ADMINISTRATION, AS HE TOOK CHARGE TODAY OF THE DRIVE TO STAMP OUT ARAB TERRORISM.

THE SQUAD COMPRISES 150 POLICEMEN WHO WILL BE RUSHED WITHIN A MAXIMUM OF FIFTEEN MINUTES TO ASSIST PLACES EITHER THREATENED OR ATTACKED BY ARAB TERRORISTS. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TAKEN BY SIR CHARLES, FORMER HEAD OF THE INDIAN POLICE, WHO ARRIVED YESTERDAY FROM CAIRO WITH EDWARD KEITH-ROACH, NEWLY-APPOINTED JERUSALEM DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, WHO WAS IN EGYPT ON LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

THE HAVAS NEWS AGENCY SAID BRITISH POLICE WERE REPORTED TO HAVE SEIZED THREE ARABS SUSPECTED OF HAVING MURDERED LEWIS YELLAND ANDREWS, GALILEE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER. ONE OF THE SUSPECTS WAS UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE MADE A COMPLETE CONFESSION OF HIS GUILT. ALL THREE WERE MEMBERS OF THE TERRORIST LEAGUE HEADED BY SHEIK IZZED DINEKASSAM.

A GROUP OF JEWISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH LAST NIGHT WHEN A BOMB HURLED AT THEM ON THEIR WAY TO WORK EXPLODED HARMLESSLY NEAR THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING. THE ATTACK CAME AS JEWISH EX-SOLDIERS, MARKING THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF JERUSALEM’S CAPTURE BY THE BRITISH UNDER LORD ALLENBY, WERE GIVING A DINNER TO MAJOR-GENERAL A.P. WAVELL, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF BRITISH MILITARY FORCES IN PALESTINE. HIGH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, INCLUDING CHIEF SECRETARY W.D. BATTERSHILL, MEMBERS OF THE JEWISH AGENCY FOR PALESTINE AND CITY OFFICIALS ATTENDED.

STRONG MILITARY DETACHMENTS CLOSED THE PALESTINE-SYRIA BORDER AND SURROUNDED HILLS IN THE SAFED AREA WHILE SEARCHING FOR A KHAKI-UNIFORMED ARAB BAND. A BOMB EXPLODED EARLIER NEAR THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE IN SAFED. THE GOVERNMENT DENIED A REPORT IN THE CHRISTIAN ARAB PAPER FALASTIN THAT IT WAS SENDING AN OFFICIAL TO SYRIA TO NEGOTIATE WITH EXILED ARAB LEADERS ON A SOLUTION OF THE PALESTINE PROBLEM ON THE BASIS OF VISCOUNT SAMUEL’S PLAN TO FIX JEWS AS A MINORITY IN AN ARAB STATE.

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