Reinforcements Land In Palestine

Chronicle (Levin), 3 May 1948, Page 5

Reinforcements Land In Palestine

(N.Z.P.A. — .

Reuter

Firm Move To Permit Truce Negotiations

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Received Monday, 10.10 a.m. LONDON, May 2. Ihe Palestine Government today demanded a cease fire throughout Jerusalem from 6. p.m. local time to permit truce negotiations. The Palestine Government announced that the , British would advance agaiiist any Arab or Jewish force attempting to occupy any area in Jerusalem beyond .the territory respectively held at 6 p.m. local°time yesterday.

Tlie British United Press' correspondent reports that the first of the British reinforcements being rushed from Cyprus and Malta landed at Jaffa from two destroyers. They are the Marine Commandos. It is officially announced in Jerusalem that R.A.F. Typhoons, after a reconnaissance fiight over North Palestine, reported no sign of any large invading forces The Associated Press' Haifa correspondent reports that a troopship landed 1,000 British troops at Haifa. The correspondent adds that there is no indication from any British source that the arrival of the reinforcements means an alteration of the British evacuation plan, which calls for a withdrawal by May 15, or immediately afterwards, of all British forces into the security area ringing Haifa. From this area all troops and supplies are to be moved out by August 1. The armed forces of Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Transjordan are reported to have entered Palestine. In Tel Aviv today, Haganah high headquarters announced that Syrian and Lebanese armed forces invaded Northern Palestine at dawn and heavily attacked four Jewish settlements. In Cairo the Arab News Agency stated that Iraq and Transjordan forces also entered Palestine. Haganah has stated that the Jews repulsed daylong attaeks by Syrian and Lebanese forces with armoured cars and tanks, on the Northern Palestine settlements. A spokesman said the attackers were regular units but were not wearing naiional insignia. Six thousand fully equipped regular Syrian troops left a big anny camp at Katena, near Damascus, yesterday, in a movement which commenced at midnight Friday. Units based on the Haibun artillery camp north of Damascus, also moved out in armoured cars and 'tanks. The Syrian Government has forbidden the publication of news of Arab troopj movements or of ihe Palestine situation.