Evening star., 1948-05-21
Fears Of Jews
Rise in Battle
For Jerusalem
Prayers Are Ordered
As Arabs HurI Armor
Against Defenders
BY the Assoeioied Press

TEL AVN. Israel, May 21.-
Fears for the fate of Arab
beleaguered Jerusalem height
ened by the hour in this all
Jewish city today. Rabbis or
dered prayers for the Holy City,
shrine of three of the worlds
greatest religions.
The battle for Jerusalem appar-
emily reached the crisis stage as
Arab Legionnaires hurled their ar
mored strength against Jewish posi-
tions Arab artillery rocked the en-
tire city.
The outcome still was in doubt. as
the latest situation is not known
here. News dispatches must be
pieced together from sparse details
of a Jewish headquarters communi-
que which said Jewish sectors of the
city had been under heavy Arab
fire.
Major Buildings Hit.
The communique, issued here at 9
pm. local time yesterday, said many
major buildings had been hit, in
cluding Hadassah Hospital on Mount
Scopus. 1t said one wing of the
hospital. which is supported largely
by American funds, had been de-
stroyed.
An earlier announcement said
the Jewish air force had gone into
action, with a night bombing attack
on Arab positions at Samakh, at
the southern tip of the Sea of
Galilee. No details were given of
the raid, which was carried out late
Wednesday.
(The Syrian Army said in
Damascus today that it has de-
stroyed five Jewish settlements
In the Samakh area at the
southern end Of the Sea of Cali
lee.
"a communique said combat
patrols destroyed the settlements
of Dakana A and Dakana B by
fire and returned to their base at
Samakh. Artillery and air units
destroyed Kfar Kenna. Akhim
and Asbot Yaacov, the bulletin
added
An announcement today said
Jewish planes attacked the GAIA
area, on the south coast, and Shu-
fat. north of Jerusalem.
Tel Aviv was bombed four times
yesterday in its sixth straight day
of air assault. All ships have been
evacuated from the port.
A Jewish communique said one
Egyptian plane was shot down
yesterday at Rehovot, between Tel
Aviv and GAIA.
British Planes Declared Seen.
Jewish military headquarters
here said four Spitfire fighter
planes of the British Royal Air
Force few over Tel Aviv yesterday
during one of the air raids.
The announcement said one of
the planes "buzzed" the city, flying
within 100 feet of the rooftops, and
added that the flight caused great
resentment among the populace.'
The Jewish communique on the
battle for Jerusalem spoke grimly OF
shell-Shattered buildings and bitter
fighting.
The communique said Arab Legion
attempts to advance beyond the
Sheikh Jarrah sections were re-
pulsed. Legionnaires had not ad-
vanced beyond Damascus Gate, it
said.
In Haifa, the British Army said
last night 1t had received reports
that the Arabs fired heavy salvos"
Of artillery into the Jewish areas
of Jerusalem yesterday.
Elsewhere in the Holy Land bitter
fighting continued.
Jews Claim Arab Town.
A Jewish announcement said Jew
ish forces have occupied the Arab
village of Safari, between Belt Dajan
and Sarafand military camp, south
east of Tel Aviv.
The announcement said Arab
planes attacked with cannon fire the
settlements OF Ramot Naftali, Nabi
Yusha and Mishmar Hayarden in
the northeastern tip of Palestine.
The communique added that Arab
forces fired ''at least 1000 artillery
shells" Wednesday night at the
Mekoroth water installation in the
Negeb, southern desert.
Hagana officials in Haifa said
1raqi and Syrian troops are heavily
(See ISRAEL, Page A-4.)