IMPORTANT GAINS CLAIMED BY ARABS

Chronicle (Levin), 17 May 1948, Page 5

IMPORTANT GAINS CLAIMED BY ARABS

Received Monday, 11.10 a.m. LONDON, May 16. Fighting of increased violence is in progress all over Palestine as thc Arab forees close in on Jewish-held areas from north, south and east of Tel Aviv and other Jewish towns and a number of villages were again bombed today. The Arabs claim important gains on all fronts except in the northwest, where Jewish forees have advanced to the Arab port of Acro. Despite earlier reports that Acre had fallen to the Jews, it is still holding out, although Haganah claims that it is expected to sur - render at any moment. The Syfians claim a victory in the Yule Valley, on the Lebanese border, and that despite Jewish paratroop operations, 'they captured Malakir village. An Haganah commimique said that at least 200 Arabs were killed in the battle for Malakir yfesterday. "Arabs shelled settlements in the Hamakh area all night. Haganah engaged an Arab armoured column eust of Samakh. Fires were observed at Naharayim, the site of the electrlc power plant, which Transjordan forees occupied yesterday. Arabs this morning shelled the Western suburbs of Jerusalem. Haganah has captured Latrun on the Jerusalem Road. King Abdiillah said that with the capture of the Rutherberg power plant at Naharayim, two-thirds of Jewish industry would cease to function. Naharayim is ten miles south of Lake Tiberias.