MORE THAN 200 ESCAPED

Chronicle (Levin), 6 May 1947, Page 5

MORE THAN 200 ESCAPED

h Press Assn

Terrorist Attack On Prison InPalestine

By Telegrap

.-Copyright

Received Tuesday, 10.25 a.m. JERUSALEM, May fi. The latest casualty figures resulting from the raid on Acye Prison are officially stated to have added up to a total of 16 killed and 20 wounded. The dead were six Jewish terrorists who wore stolen British uniforms, four Jewish prisoners and one Arab . prisoner while escaping, and five Jews killed when the British troops returned the fire of the terrorists who . ambushed them. Eight "British were wounded in a battle at the walls of the prison . It is now officially stated that 183 Arabs and 33 Jews, ineluding Ghe four Jews killed, was .the total of the escaped prisoners from Acre Prison. There were 550 prisoners i'h the' gaol. Twentynine of the Jews who are still at j iarge were all convicted terrorists. The Arab escaped prisoners are reported to be surrendering in "large numbers." It is officially explained that the difficulty in assessing the eXact number of prisoners who escaped is due to the' fact that the prisoners did not wear prison dress. prison dress. Sixth Airborne Division troops „oday cordcned off Mishmar Hayam and Ein Manfraz, two rmall Jewish settlements north of Acre, the police screening the inhabitants. Many .of . the prisoners who escaped yesterday are believed to have reached the hills around Safed and large units .of the ITans-Jordan frontier force are hunting for them. While the terrorists were issaulting the Acre prison other Jews atracked the Sixth Airborne Division's camp North of Acre to , prevent ' reinforcements from •;eaching the gaol. The terrorists hurled five mortar^ bombs into the ■ camp. Troops of"the Sixth Air- : oome Division opened fire oh two " cruck loads "of Jews. Two ' Jews , were killed and six captured. One ' British policeman and five British ■ soldiers were injured in botn > | attacks.

the hospital eased, more doctors were sent to the. scene of the accident to relieve fhe pressure there. Cars brought people from all .parts of Brisbane to the scene. Advance parties for the pienic who had arrived at the venue early, were advised of the smash and assisted in rcscuing friends and relatives trapped in the wreckage. Oxvacetelyne torches were used to cut through ironwork imprisoning the injured. Survivors told graphic ,stories. One who was in the fourth earriage said the train seemed to swing from side to side as it started down the incline and women began to scream. Suddenly there 'was a crash and passengers were hurled from their seats. Another who had friends trapped, said the front earriage was completely wrecked and its contents reducecl to matchwood. ,. A passenger in the second earriage with his wife and cliild, had a lucky escape. As the train rocked violently they were thrown against an open window from which they climbed to safety. The man said the train appeared to be travelling" too fast to n^g-o-tiate the bend and he thonght the brakes failed. Weeping relatives and. friends "gathered near the wreckage to identify victims as t" y were dragged clear. Buses were used to trapsport those suffering only minor injuries and the uninjured passengers back to Brisbane.