Evening star., 1948-04-29
Rv the ASsocioted pr.Ss

JERUSALEM, April 29.-The
British struck with artillery
and diving planes today at the
battered ManShieh quarter of
Jaffa, which Irgun Zvai Leumi
captured yesterday after four
days fighting with Arabs.
Plans with Raj markings circled
and dived repeatedly shortly after
midday over Manshieh. There was
no indication they had dropped
bombs or fired. Just before dusk
yesterday, flight of Spitfires ma
chine-eunned positions in Bat Yam,
village Just south of Jaffa.
The promised British counter
attack developed as officials of
Egypt and Iraq said large parts of
their armies were moving on Pales-
tine.
Sharp skirmishing occurred in the
Jordan River Valley opposite Trans
Jordan.
The Jews claimed capture of
Beisan, Is miles south of the Sea
of Galilee. Beisan is way sta
tion for Arabs fltering in from
the east for the battle over parti-
ton.
The Arab Legion informed King
Abdullah in Amman it had occu-
pied Gesher, a Jewish collective
settlement in the Jordan Valley.
and killed hundreds of Jews. The
Jewish agency denied the claim.
The legion said the fight started
Tuesday night when Jews killed a
legion sentry inside Trans-Jordan
territory.
Iraq Army Begins Moving.
Egyptian Communications Min
lister Dessouki Abaza Pasha said in
Cairo that large Egyptian Army
forces had been sent to the southern
border Of Palestine. Regent Abdul
Ilah Of Iraq in Amman his country's
army had started moving toward
Palestine and would pass through
TranS-Jordan.
The British rushed in a battalion
OF Irish Fusiliers 70 support their
pledge not to permit the Jews to
occupy Jaffa, the Arab port adioin-
ing all-Jewish Tel Aviv. The rein
forcements brought the British
force available to about 5000 men
AS far as was known. Irgun ap-
peared determined to try and hold
the Arab quarter. Throughout the
night. Irgun forces dug into defense
positions and brought up fresh
troops.
British shells fell In the Manshieh
quarter. Early damage and casual
ties were reported small.
News of Cease fire Hailed.
The news of a ceaSe-fire for the
old walled city of Jerusalem was re-
ceived here with optimism. Neither
the Jews nor the Arabs, however,
had received instructions by early
afternoon to cease fighting, as their
spokeSmen agreed before the United
Nations
An Arab National Committee
spokesman said he had no word
from his leaders about the truce. A
Jewish Agency spokesman said the
same, but added:
IF there is a truce, 1t must mean
the Jews and Arabs can walk about
freely in each others quarters and
the Jews would have access to enter
and leave the old walled city. At
present, all areas around it are held
by Arabs. A truce inside the walled
area will have to mean access to 1t
through the Arab controlled Sec
tiOnS."
Haeana Refuses to Advance.
In the battle for Jaffa. the Jewish
militia Hagana rejected Irgun sug-
gestionS that. since the Arab quar-
ter was captured, Hagana should
advance from its former gunpost
line and take up new positions.
The invitation is ridiculous,
Hagana said in an official state
ment.
Al noon. the Hsgana news bulle-
tin said:
British forces attacked the Arab
Manshieh quarter with guns and
heavy machinegun fire from about
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