JEWS ATTACK HAIFA RAIL WORKSHOPS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24905, 19 June 1946, Page 7

JEWS ATTACK HAIFA RAIL WORKSHOPS

Fires And Explosions Cause Heavy Damage

nine killed, fifteen injured DURING CLASH (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, June 18. It is officially stated in Jerusalem that nine Jews were killed and 15, including two women, were injured, in last night’s clash at the central railway workshops at Haifa. Fifteen arrests have been made. The damage done in the attack on the workshops is estimated at £lOO,OOO, though the full details are not ypt known. “Jewish attackers in a lorry rushed past sentries and blew up the central railway workshops at Haifa Bay,” reports Reuter’s correspondent in Jerusalem. “Two of the attackers are reported to have been killed. Fifteen explosions occurred within an hour during the attack. Fires which broke, out were extinguished. Pursuit of the attackers was difficult because all the .roads leading to the workshops were heavily mined.” Fire engines summoned from outlying districts fought the fires by the light of military searchlights. The railway workers are believed to have been warned before the explosions occurred.

This followed Sunday night’s attacks on road and rail bridges across the Jordan, near Gaza and Haifa, and on the frontier between Palestine and Lebanon. The attacks were believed to be intended as a reply to Mr Bevin’s statement at the Labour Party conference that the admission of 100,000 Jews to Palestine would compel Britain to station another division of troops there, which he was not prepared to do. The attacks were also seen as a demonstration connected with the escape of the Grand Mufti. King Abdullah of Transjordan has protested to the British High Commissioner (General Sir Alan Cunningham) against the actions of “Palestine citizens” on the frontier.