Evening star., 1948-05-04
Arab Stronghold
Near Tel Aviv
Claimed byJews
Truce Group Believed
In Truns-Jordon for
Talks With AbduIIuh
BY the Assoeioted Press

JERUSALEM, May 4.-JeWS
claimed today the capture of
an Arab village which had barred
the way to LYDIA airport.
Irgun Zvai Leumi, Jewish under
ground force now allied with Ha-
CANA, the Jewish militia, announced
in Tel Aviv the capture of the Arab
stronghold village of Yehudia after
an all-night battle with Arabs.
YehQdia lies II miles east of Tel
Aviv and about miles north of
LYDIA airdrome, where all air opera
tions virtually have ceased.
Arab fighters were reported at
tacking the Jewish settlement of
Kfar EtZion south of Jerusalem
Arabs said Jews fired on a CONVOY
OF the British -officered Arab legion
there yesterday.
Other SkirmiShers developed else
where in Palestine, where the end of
the British mandate is now but II
days away.
Truce Group in Amman.
A United Nations truce commits
sion made up of the French, British
and United States ConSulS General
Is believed to have gone to Amman.
capital of Trans-Jordan, to confer
with King Abdullah and the secre-
tary general of the Arab League,
Rahman Azzam Pasha. Consulate
sources refused to discuss their
whereabouts. Abdullah has laid he
personally will lead the regular
forces OF TranS-Jordan, Iraq, Syria
and Lebanon against Palestine Jews.
The Arab attack on Kfar Etzion
was well under way by noon, ac-
cordlng to sparse reports received
in Jerusalem.
Jews last night attacked the 18th
General Hospital on Mount Scopus.
held by Arab Legion units. An Arab
spokesman said the attackers we're
repulsed with hundreds dead" A
Jewish spokesman said the attack
vas retaliatory and only three Jews
we're killed.
Arabs Shell Two Towns,
Jewish military sources said Arab
artillery Shelled two Jewish settle
ments north of Jerusalem in the
night
The tnformants said 30 shells
landed in the area of Neve Yacov
and Atarot. Both settlements are
on the highway between Jerusalem
and Ramallah. They said there
were no casualties and little damage.
Jerusalem was quiet during the
nl9ht, although scattered firing was
heard this morning in Mekor Hahn.
IhlS Is inside the area where Brit
lsh forces are enforcing a Jewish
Arab truce.
Most of the holy city was without
Ilght or power during the night,
atter a power station breakdown,
1t was only partially repaired by
midmorning.
Eye witnesses said Arab forces
were forming in the southern hills
Tor a masSed attack on the Jewish
settlement of Kefar Etzion.
Arab States Warned.
The Arab states had a warning
today from 1t. Gen. Gordon Mac
MILAN that Britain will resist with
full force" any Arab invasion of
Palestine before the British man
date ends May Is.
The British commander made the
statement yesterday to Maj. George
Fielding Eliot. military analyst for
the New York Post, even as the
vanguard of strong British REIN
forcements began arriving in Jer-
uSalem.
Arab sources in Amman hinted
that it is unlikely the Arab states
will launch any open invasion of
Palestine before the mandate ends
This was in sharp contrast to pre-
vious statements from Amman.
Arab military experts say the
Arab armies are not well enough
equipped to risk a clash with the
British
Jerusalem had It's quietest day
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