Evening star., 1947-12-02
a Dead, 80 Hurt;
Riots Break Out
In Other.Ci
EGYPTIANS PROMISED ARMS by
Arab League for Palestine fight.
Page A
BY the Assoeioted Press


JERUSALEM, Dec. "A test
of blood and fire began today for
the Palestine partition plan when
thousands of angry Arabs swept
through Jerusalem. wrecking,
burning and looting Jewish
buildings.
Jews counterattacked in bloody
fighting.
Rioting broke out at other points
In the Holy Land, and the casualty
toll in midafternoon by unofficial
count reached Jews dead, 20 Jews
wounded and Arabs injured.
Mobs put the torch to so buildings
In Jerusalem, both Jewish and Arab.
Jewish sources estimated the prop
erty damage at more than 81 900 900.
Many Buildings Burning.
Many of Jerusalem's buildings still
we're burning this afternoon when
police and troops restored SEM
blance of order The Arabs began
their attacks at dawn, with the
opening of a three-day Arab strike
called by the Arab Higher Executive
to protest the United Nations par
tition decision. Jews in trucks and
afoot counterattacked swiftly.
Firing broke out at two places
tonight on the border of all-Arah
Jaffa and all-Jewish Tel Aviv.
The supreme commander of Ha-
CANA, the Jewish underground de-
fense militia, charged that large
number of Arabs in the Neget
Desert area have been ordered. tc
attack settlements there" His COM
munique, issued at Tel Aviv head
quarters of Hagana, said the militia
had taken necessary defense meas
ures,"
Jews Well-Disciplined.
A pail of smoke over Jerusalem
din1med bright sun. Hagana fire
fighting brigades, armed with clubs
and buckets. deployed about all jew
ish residential sections. Many young
girls were among them. The Jewish
forces appeared well-disciplined.
Six Jews were arrested in the
wreckage of st. Julians Way after
a chase across housetops. Police said
the six, who carried revolvers and
grenades, we're sniping at Arabs.
They were identified as members
Of q 10-man commission sent to
Assess damage to Jewish shops.
As darkness approached, sullen
mobs faced each other on Princess
Marys way which was streWn with
splintered glass and rubble. The
Arabs were armed with knives
stones and slaves, with which they
had swooped out of the old way city
in their drawn attack. Police feared
the fury of the attacks would mount
rather than abate.
Curfew Is Imposed.
With most of three-day Arat
protest strike left to go, police i'm
posed 8 dusk-to-daWn curteW or
Arab quarters of Jerusalem, includ'
ing most of the old walled city, i
was ofhcially announced.
Hagans, the Jewish defense mill
tia, sent truck-borne loudspeaker!
through the city urging Jews to dis.
perse and return to your work.
Hagana members were ordered tt
return to your posts.
Thousands of khaki-clad young
Jews-apparently Hagana member
aided British authorities. The vol
unteers, distinguished by blue arm
bands, directed traffic in congestet
areas as the British called armorec
cars and Bren guns into play to dis
perse rioters.
Jerusalem appeared to be In tn
grip of mass hysteria. Arabs
whipped to fury, stormed bushes
quarters of the Jews. The Jew
stormed business quarters of tn
Arabs. They brandished sticks AM
hurled stones. Arabs began the riot
ing by putting the torch to JeWlsl
stores and beating Jews with sticks
The Jews stood it for a while an
then stormed into the counterattack
Police openly feared the rioting,
it got out of control, might turl
into a massacre.
Fire in Movie Theater.
. New fires broke out constantly
: One area in the Julians Way vicin
ity was completely cut off by tn
fires.
There was fire in the Rex movi
theater. It may have been set OF
by Jews. AS the news spread 7
the Arab quarter that their onl
large movie house was in flames
Arabs swarmed back toward tn
heart of Jerusalem, shouting threats
Jewish forces. by this time NOR
1See PALESTINE. Page A-5o