FIGHTING RENEWED AT FULL PITCH.

Chronicle (Levin), 12 July 1948, Page 5

FIGHTING RENEWED AT FULL PITCH.

Reeeived Bunday, 9 p,m. • LONDON, July II. The Arab and Jewish wai- reached full piteh yesterday for the lirst time since the truce emled at dawn on Friday. The Arabs and Jews both announced a victory in a big battle sontli of J.ake Huia in North-EasterU Palestine. The Jews claimed- a second major -success with the "capture of Lvdda airport. Arab sources in Damascus said 500 Jews were killed wlien tlie Ilagannali attempted to retake Mishmar Hayarden in Northern Palestine. A "thumb" agency report states that the battle in which the Jews capttired Lydda airport, lasted onlv one hour and the Jews elaim they did not suffer a single casualtv. Iraqi Arai) Legion troops, supported by one tank aiul six annoured . cars, eounter-at-tacked at Lydda but the Jews disal)led all seven vehicles. The Arabs re ( treated and the Jews said the aerodrome and hangars were found relatively undamaged. Tlie Arabs oecupied the airfield after Ihe British f'orces withdrew oli May 15. Byrian sources reported that about 250 Jews were killed When they tried unsUeeessfully to cut - communications between Nazareth and the Lebanese frontier. The battle raged for 36 hoUi-s), An Israel spokesman said lighting continued on the southern front vvhere 300 Egyptian and Budanese troops troops were killed and 200 captured since the morning of July 8 — the day before the truce ended. In Jerusalem the Jews are reported to have rained down more than 100 moi'tar sltells on the Old City, hitting Ohristian convents and a hospital on tlie Way of Borrows. Bhells killed an Armenian wonian and wounded anotlier in the Armenian convent near the Zion Gate. , Th Transjordan Legion had still delayed beginning reprisal slielling but Ihe commander said Iieavy guns would soon open full blast on the Jews unless the .mortar flring ceased. A JevVish mOr'tar bomb struck the B'ri: tisll Gonsulate in Jerusalem yesterday, shattering the windows but there Were no casualties*. * Tlie Arab Leagiie has announced the formation of a eivil administration Bor Arab oecupied parts of Palestine. The administration will consist of a Couneil of nine members with Ahmed Hilmi Pasha as chairman. • Tel Avivi corresjpohdents report that three Jews — a man and two children — were killed and at least 10 other people Injured when a refugee hostel teceived a direct .hit during an air-raid today. Another building was hit, but there were'no casu'alties. At lCa.st six bombs were dropped , when an Arab plane raided the northern part.of Tel Aviv. An Israeli military spokesman said '

'30 Arhb troops were killed and many Wounded hi iighting for villages in NegeV, in Southern PaJestine> Israeli troops captured a number of Sudanese lighting with. the Egyptian forces on this front. . — An official statement issued in Haifa claimed that JeWish forces, inciuding warplalies, had-. begun operations against' several thousand Arabs in Western Galilee. | Reuter's Jerusalem correspondent says the truce ended with spasffiodk bursts of machine-gun and riiie lire and some scattered explosioiis of mortar bOMbs and six-pounder shells. There is a general feeling ift Jerustt-' lem that botli sides are at present pre- . pared to take only def ensive aetion. i