21 OCTOBER 1938, Page 1

Revolt in Palestine With the arrival of British reinforcements, the

first steps have been taken in suppressing the Arab revolt in Palestine. A military Governor has been appointed in Jerusalem and a 24-hour curfew is in force in the Old City, which on Wed- nesday was entered by a battalion of the Coldstream Guards. The aim of the operation is to clear the Old City of the rebels, who for the last week have kept up an irregular warfare with the police. The whole of Palestine has now come under military control. Great credit is due to the regiments by whom, it is reported, a serious rising was averted in Galilee this week; but for their activity the North as well as the South of Palestine might be in full revolt. The speed with which the rebellion is suppressed will depend largely on the co-operation the British authorities receive from the Govern- ments of Syria and the Lebanon and the influence which can be exercised by the French. The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, the instigator of the revolt, still finds safe harbourage in Beirut. He is known, on trustworthy evidence, to be in touch with German agents who have supplied arms and money to the rebels. Cargoes of arms and ammunition have been landed recently at the Syrian ports of Latakia and Saida. Without such support from outside Palestine, the revolt could not have reached its present proportions.