LAST DESPERATE ATTEMPT.

Chronicle (Levin), 31 May 1948, Page 5

LAST DESPERATE ATTEMPT.

Received iSundav, 8 p.rn. LONDON, May 20. Pillars of black smoke rose over the ruins of Jerusalem 's Old City this iiiorriing as the last of the Jewish civilJians, estimated to number more than 1500. trekked wearily out of the rubble to the Jewish New Jerusalem, state Agency reports from Palestine. Anv Jew let't behind is dead or a prisoner. Among the 285 Jews taken imsoner tvere many Hagannah and 20 Irgun members. Jews outside the Old City made desperate attacks last night 011 the Damas••ns and Zion Gates in a last lninute attempt to rescue their c.omrades who had surrendered but the attacks failed. Tlie Arabs are reported to have booed and stoned the coiivov of buses carrying Jewish prisoners from the Old citv to the prison camp. Arab Legion Iroops helped to carry 150 Jewish Wounded to the Armenian school. The scriously wounded .Tews, according to Ihe surrender terms, will be delivered to the Jewish lines. The Arab Legion has begun searching the Old City's tunnels where they say some British deserters who fought with the Jews, are still hiding among tlie bodies of tlie dead which are not yet broug'lit out. Fires which raged throughout the night exploded Jewish mines after the surrender was concluded at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. I11 the ghettQ today roofless walls Fwtived erazily and allevs were waist higli with debris. Jewish bodies lav covered with a thin layer of rubble. Battle For Vital Road. The .Tews have thrown an entire armoiired brigade with air support into Ihe Latnm area where the fight for the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv road is rlevelopi ng into a battle which may be decisive This is the first time the Arab Legion lias met .Tewish annour in the open field. To the north of Jerusalem, aceonling to an Iraqi communique, a Syrian armoured patrol pushed on from kabhts to Deir .Tosef, Tulkarem and Qalqiliya. Tulkarem is the most important road junction between Nablus and the coast. Qalqiliya is about halfVvav to Sarona, a town just outside Tel Aviv. Iraqi troops are reported to be onlv six miles from the Palestine eoast and tlie Jewish held town of Natanya wliieli is midway between Tel Aviv and Haif'a.