FIERCE FIGHTING AS ARABS NEAR TEL AVIV CITY

Grey River Argus, 7 June 1948, Page 5

FIERCE FIGHTING AS ARABS NEAR TEL AVIV CITY

Heavy Jewish Casualties Claimed 9 ; 30) . LONDON, June 5 t Jewish High Command at iC'l Aviv announced that its forces have captured the village or Yobna. This means that the advance of Egyptian units in tneir coastal thrust has reached witmn fourteen miles of Tel Aviv.

Yibna is six miles north of Esdud where the Jews said they still have the Egyptian spearhead cut off and encircled. The Jews said that the Arabs, in a battle for . Jenin, continued to rush up reinforcements, some from as far as Nablus, but the Jews claim that they have repulsed Arab counter-at-tacks, and have held all the positions captured. The Associated Press correspondent outside Jenin says Iraqi troops have beaten off two fierce Jewish attacks since June 3 and have forced the withdrawal of a Jewish force of between 3000 and 4000 miles northward on the plain of Armaceddon. The Iraqi commander estimated Jewish losses at 600 dead, and many more wounded. He said: “It was the heaviest blow the Jews have suffered. We threw planes, artillery and armour into the fight. I am convinced That we-broke the enemy morale. We don’t expect a new attack from this direction.” The buildings of the Palestine Potash Company’s plant, south of tne Dead Sea, are blazing after a heavy Arab Legion artillery bombardment, says Reuter’s Amman correspondent. It is reported that several hundred armed Jews occupy the building. The British United Press says that Jewish forces launched an attack on old Jerusalem oefore dawn to-day. Arab Legion officers said that Legion troops repulsed the attack with heavy losses to the Jews. A communique issued at Damascus claimed that Syrian forces which crossed the River Jordan, destroyed the Jewish settlement of Mishmat Hay Yarden, north of Lake Tiberias ana blew up the water supply. IRAQI CLAIMS An Iraqi communique claims that oi tne suud Jews wnu attackea Jenin 58G were killed, 1000 were wounded, and many were taken prisoner. The communique adds: “Our troops are pursuing rhe routed Jewish force.” Tile Amman correspondent of the British United Press quotes an Arab report stating that Iraqi forces repulsed Israel Army units from Jenin in one of the fiercest battles yet in the Palestine war. The Iraqi version of the attack states that Jewish armoured units even penetrated to the centre of the town, but Iraqi troops based in a fortified fortress forced the Jews to retreat. Jewish armour again broke through, but the Iraqi troops encircled the Jews and forced them to withdraw. - Jerusalem is reported quiet after both Arabs and Jews have virtually ceased fire Red Cross officials arranged for the *• Jews to send another batch of noncombatant Arab prisoners into the Arab-held Old City, but instead oi the expected 500 women and children only 38 persons walked through the wreckage of blasted churches and other buildings. The Arab Red Cross representative claimed that the Jews were releasing non-combatant prisoners “in driblets,” to gain time by numerous cease fires.

INTERNED JEWS AT CYPRUS THREATEN DISORDER

(Rec. 10.30) LONDON, May 6 Representing 240,000 Jewish refugees in Cyprus internment camps, sixty leaders told Sir Godfrey Collings the British Commissioner for the camps, that any attempt to prevent able bodied male internees between the ages of 17 and 46 from leaving the camps for Palestine will “result in the gravest consequences.” It is understood that the camp guards have been considerably strengthened. The Jews of Cairo have donated £40,000 sterling and the Jews of Alexandria £20,000 sterling as a greeting to Egypt and her army, and as an expression of loyalty to King Farouk. Prague radio quoted a Government News Agency report from Tel Aviv that the Israeli Cabinet last night discussed the question of obtaining mutual aid and aggression treaties with Poland, Czechoslovakia and Russia.

Jinnah’s Gift for Arab Relief

(Rec. 9.30) LONDON, May 6 Reuter’s Karachi correspondent says that the Governor-General of T>ai’'«tan Mr Jinnah. gave £lOOO each to King’Farouk of Egypt, and King Abdullah of'Transjordan as a “humble contribution.” for the I’ebef of the families of Arab soldiers killed m the Palestine fighting.