Lawrence of Arabia, Zionism and Palestine - The World War I ...

ZIONISM AND PALESTINE 81
have them stopped both at the Station and on the
road at Kolonia. I therefore cut short an engagement
of long standing at Ramallah, got into touch with
O.C. Troops, who provided 30 men with lorries, Lewis
guns, rations, etc., for two days, and sent them with
all possible dispatch to Kolonia. I further arranged
with the Police for a representative of the Governorate,
with an interpreter, to be present both at the Station
and Kolonia. Both trains from Ludd were duly met;
the troops remained at Kolonia all night, and a picket
was posted on the Nablus Road in case the horsemen
should advance by way of Nebi Samwîl. Not a
single Arab of Abu Kish arrived by either of the trains
or on horseback. It would be interesting to know (a)
why, if the rumour was correct, the Arabs could not
have been dealt with at Ludd 1 and Ramleh 1 respectively,
and (b) if the rumour was false, what steps were taken
to verify or confirm it before inflicting upon the Governorate,
local Police, and O.C. Troops, Jerusalem, this
apparently unnecessary expenditure of valuable time.
On the other hand, there was a high level of zeal,
goodwill, ability and interest in the task to hand; the
word "overtime" was unknown, and work ceased only
when it was finished. We tried by these efforts to atone
for admitted deficiencies, and I believe that the first
High Commissioner, with eleven years* experience of
Whitehall, found that we had not been altogether
unsuccessful.
The main charge against O.E.T.A., more serious
because it implied deliberate bad faith, was that of
anti-Zionism, It cannot be denied that there were
amongst us two or three officers in high positions overtly
against the declared policy of His Majesty's Government.
In due course these were eliminated (for one
only saw fit to resign). One or two who would gladly
1 Neither at that time in my district.