British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 603

CHAPTER XV.

46. Early in 1943 when the initiative in the world war was passing into Allied hands the Irgun resumed its offensive against the White Paper. Its organization again began to supplement its funds by robbery and extortion .. Its clandestine press and newly established illegal radio transmitter became more and more virulent and called for open revolt.

47. The spring of 1944 saw a recrudescence of bombing outrages by the Irgun. Large scale attacks with explosives on the buildings of the Department of Migration, Department of Income Tax and the C.I.D. offices in Jerusalem, Jaffa and Haifa, in which extensive damage was caused and casualties inflicted on public servants, marked the opening of the new offensive. Throughout the year similar attacks were made on Government buildings, transport and police stations with consequential loss of life and serious damage to property. During this period large scale thefts were engineered and exertion within the Jewish community became rife. The Irgun propaganda increased in quantity and violence and proclaimed a war to the bitter end against the "White Paper Government". The Irgun has continued its terrorist activities up to the most recent outrages, taking part in the attack on police headquarters in Jerusalem on the 27th December, 1945, when a wing of the building was seriously damaged and four police officers and four soldiers killed.

48. As with the Hagana it is impossible to give accurate details of the strength and armament of the Irgun, but in March, 1945 it was claimed that the membership of the organization consisted of two categories :-

(a) a secret force of approximately 1,000 strong employed to carry out acts of sabotage, wrecking of Government property, robbery, etc., and

(b) a reserve of 4,000 strong who have received military training and specialized education in various parts of Palestine and who lead a normal existence but are subject to mobilization at short notice. In addition, it was estimated that between 500 and 600 members were serving with the British armed forces who would undoubtedly be used when demobilized.

49. Whilst the quantity of arms at the disposal of the Irgun is believed to be adequate for its purposes, numerous seizures indicate that the quality of these arms is inferior to those of the Hagana. Documents seized have revealed that large caches exist in certain towns but their locations are a closely guarded secret even within the organization. The mode of attack used by the Irgun: has naturally demanded a constant supply of explosives, many thefts of which can be attributed to the organization.

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