Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-15
Jewish Militia Sees
Victory Even Without
Aid Of u. N. Forces
By the Associoted Press

JERUSALEM, Feb. 14-The COM
mander of the Jewish militia said to-
day it was prepared to win its fight
against the Arabs even without aid
from United Nations forces.
He expressed hope, however, the
United Nations Security Council will
approve creation of an international
force to assist the Jews in estab-
fishing their independent state in
partitioned Palestine.
More urgent, he indicated, it the
lifting of the United States embargo
on shipments of military equipment
to the Jews.
The military commanders name
is secret even to most Jews because
Hagana, the Jewish militia, still is
not officially recognized by the Pal
estine government under the British
mandate. His statements were made
in written answers to questions by
the Associated Press.
Easier With U. N. Aid.
eff the United Nations makes
available men and arms the job will
be easier" said the commander
I'm any case Jews of the world will
make sufficient terms and man
power available for us to survive
and establish state. This factor
will come fully into play once the
British blockade exists no longer. "
The British are scheduled to ter
inmate their mandate by May Is
and withdraw their forces by August.
Meanwhile 16 persons were killed
in the Palestine partition war to-
day, bringing the total number of
deaths since November 20 to 1,187.
A Jew was shot in Jerusalem, four
Arabs were killed in a road mine
explosion at Kastina and another
shot in Jerusalem. Three Arabs and
two other persons were killed in. a
gunfight near Tulkarm.
The Jewish militia leader said the
present Hagana policy of "aggres-
sive defense" probably would be
changed to attack some time after
May Is, and that the Jewish forces
then will launch an offensive against
Arab concentrations in Palestine.
1--WE are confident that we can
even now successfully repel all at
tacks, naturally not without losses
and even defeats, for that is war;"
he continued.
But we can hold our own in
Palestine now, and inf1ict serious
military and economic damags upon
the Arab attackers.
Strength Increasing.
"Hagana strength and manpower
are on the increase day by, day. We
still believe the United Nations will
not let itself be killed as an authori-
tative force in international affairs
by some relatively weak Arab states,
and we believe that political efforts
of Jewish Agency's representatives
in the United States will bring
about the creation of an interna-
tional force which will assist us in
establishment of a Jewish state
which has been decreed by the
United Nations.
IF this proposal does not come
off for reasons of international po-
htical or technical difficulties. we
believe the time will come when we
will be able to bring in large and
serious consignments of equipment
for Hagana."
He said the most needed for Jew
ish victory would be ian interna-
tional force Of q few thousand plus
IS 900 fully armed Jewish militia, y
but $4,000 fully armed militiamen
plus ANY additional numbers re-
naming as Hagana units would be
quite sufficient to do the Job"
He said Hagana has a certain
amount of equipment, some trained
personnel and a good many plans
if artillery and planes become in
volved in the struggle.