The Times

Thursday, June 17th, 1947

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Two British Soldiers Held Hostage by Extremist Hebrews — Irgun demands release of prisoners

Yesterday night, two British Army sergeants, Clifford Martin and Mervyn Paice, were kidnapped outside the town of Netanya. The two were reportedly off duty and had been ambushed by Irgun terrorists while returning to their camp from a cafe.

The kidnappings are likely in response to the death sentences recently delivered to three Irgun prisoners responsible for the Acre Prison Break and a variety of terrorist acts. The sentences were handed down on the 11th of June, and since that date numerous kidnapping attempts against British personnel throughout Palestine took place. Despite increased security measures, it appears that Irgun has finally succeeded in obtaining hostages to trade for the lives of their operatives.

The Palestine Police Force has set out to find and rescue the hostages, with help from the local Hebrew community — the mayor of Netanya, a Hebrew, has called for the residents to assist the search and “leave no stone unturned.”