Attack Over Egyptian Territory

Chronicle (Levin), 10 January 1949, Page 5

Attack Over Egyptian Territory

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter*

Caoyright )

Received Sunday, 7 p.m. ; LONDON, J'anuary 8. • Jewish fighters yesterday morning sho't do\vn four R.A.F. Spitfires which were on a recoiinaissance mission inside the Egyptian frontier, according to a British. Air Mihisti'y eommuniqufe. When the Spitfires J'ailed to retnrn to. their base, a reeonnaissance force of a single M osquito and i'our Tempests, was despatched to . oblain inforniation of their fate. -Jewish- aireraft attaeked and oiie Tempest is missing. The conimunique said the Spitfires had strict orders not to c.ross the tVontier into Palestine and added that during the last few days R.A.F. aireraft froni the Canal Zone had been carrying oiit reeonnaissanees to aseertain the depth and seale of Jewish inchrsion into Fgyptian territory. The.se reeonnaissanees had been strictly confined to the Egyptian side of the frontier. The leader of the Spitfires reported that Jewish fighters attaeked hira 15 miles inside Egyptian territory. Iie baled out wounded and a iVedouin pieked him up near Birgarbamir, apptoximately 15 miles west of Rafah. The Air Ministry said it had instructed "R.A.F. aireraft to regard as hostile any Jewish aireraft met -over Egyptian territoiy.

A Britisli spokesman sairi four or thn R.A.F. planes were sliot down bv Jewish fighters. The fiftli was brought down |,v .Jewish anti-iurcraft tiro east of Ifafali, an Egyptian town ;just over the Riilesline hoi'der. oue Hritish flving oflicor who haled uiil was laken ])risoner. The eharred leniiiiiis oi" another was found in the niius oi' iiis Kpitfire. Jewish Allegations An Israeli official spokesman said the K.A.F. planes were on "armed reeoimnissance raids. " The name of a capi ured Hritish ainnan was Thnothv ,!o)iu .McEUmw and the Israeli spokes inan cluimed that his Hpitlire had loaded "iius. The spokosman said McElhaw Mated he and three. other pilots were ord.-red to photograph the area and investigate the (igiiting near llafah. MeKlhaw clainied that his guns were not lired. The Israeli spokesman fnrlher alleged tliat. 12 planes engaged yesterday afternoon had bombs under their wings and had loaded guns. Reuter's Tel Aviv eorrespondent savs the Israeli authorities annonneed that they are holding prisouer two R.A.F. men shot down in Southern Palestine, oue slightlv wounded. British Reinforcements Reuter's Nicosia eorresponilent says reports i'rom Aninian say Britain is reinforeing her air force strength in Transjordan and st.oe.ks of petrol and . ammunition are lieing built up. Hritish marino foinmandos and air units aie standing hy at Fainagusla and a nuinher of Lincoln bombers arrived at Nii-osia for extensivo comhined bombing everi'ises. The Sunday Times" Nicosia eorrespondent says the large scale precautionary measures which the R.A.F. and Army had undertaken throughont the Middle East, brought an early clash hetween British and Israeli forces withm the bounds of immediate possibilities. The fact that at east five squadrons oi R.A.F. fighters and transport planes have been "operational" with guns loaded, for the last five days, speaks for itself. R.A.F. airfields which have been deserted for niany months, are now back in full operation and antiaircraft defences liave heen streiigthened. The largest R.A.F. formatiohs seen since the end of the war now regularly fly over Arab countries. The Associated Press Cyrenia eorrespondent says that for the last four days R.A.F. fighters have been patrolling over Transjordan witlun view of the Houtliern Palestine battle area. At the same timo eargo-earrving Dakotas slarted a daily air lift of military supplies froni Ihe (Tinui Zone to Mafralc and Akaba. This operation is due to eontinue for two weeks. The R.A.F. 's petrol stocks at Ainman are also being cxpanded bv overland movemonts from buses in Iraq. The British TJnited Press Cairo eorrespondent says more British troops and arms are being sent into the Transjordan port oi' Akaba, following the first units which went there more than three weeks ago. The iirst troops and materials were landed by a British sloop, cruiser and two destroyers, and are reported to include tanks and arin-

oured cars.