Evening star., 1948-05-02

of 'e ~SSOS'olec rFeSt
JERUSALEM, May 1.-The re-
gular armies of Arab nations of
the middle East invaded PaleS-
tine today, striking in the north
and south with troops and
armored forces.
Jewish and Arab accounts said
Syria, Lebanon and Egypt sent
powerful military formations sweep
ing across the border at dawn Is
days before the termination of the
British mandate over the Holy Land.
Saudi Arabia, TranS-Jordan and
1raq were reported ordering troops
to the battle zone or completing
final preparations for the drive
against the Jews.
Tel Aviv headquarters OF Hagana,
the Jewish militia, said tanks and
armored cars of the Syrian and
Lebanese armies crossed the border
and engaged Jewish outposts at the
settlements of Dafne, Ramot Naftali
and Dan in Palestine's northern
extremity. Jews in Haifa gave
similar account of the operations
taking place in upper Galilee.
British Troops Out of Area.
Later reports said the settlement
OF Lahovoth HabaShan also was at
tackled.
There was no indication tonight
whether the four villages had been
able to beat off the assaults. Dan.
1f ko;k
has a population of 200 while ap-
proXimately 300 Jews live in Dafne
Military authorities said all British
troops withdrew from the area four
days ago.
A Damascus dispatch said the
Syrian army apparently threw half
its entire strength into the inva-
sion. The big Syrian camp at Ka-
tana was almost completely emptied
by a lightning military movement.
A few days ago 5000 regulars and
a few hundred volunteers were
based there Residents of the area
said the troops and guns had gone
TO Palestine"
Sources in Cairo said the Egyptian
army struck across the Southern
Palestine border into the desert at
Friday midnight.
Believed Ordered by Abdullah.
While the invasion reports were
without official confirmation, the
feeling was evident in Cairo and
other cities that something was in
the air.
Arab dispatches to Damascus said
King Abdullah of Transr Jordan had
ordered the simultaneous invasion
Of the Holly Land by the armies of
the six Arab countries.
The British government has
said repeatedly it will resist any
invasion while it holds the man.
date. and thus holds responsible
ity for the Holy Land. A Foreign
Office spokesman in London said
the British were standing pat on
that poSitiono
The invasion accounts came as
thousands Of Arab refugees Streamed
out of Jerusalem and Jaffa In both
cities the Jews have scored marked
military gains.
Jaffa, an Arab port, was COM
pletely surrounded and its defense
lines pierced. The British by guns
and negotiations have prevented the
city from falling to the Jews. An
estimated 10000 of Jaffa's 10000
civilian residents have left the city
by sea and road during the last two
weeks.
Hagana Wins Key Positions.
Units of Hagana, the Jewish mi
litia. have won the first round in
the battle for Jerusalem that opened
Friday. The Jews have gained COM
manding positions in the Katamon
district in the southern part of the
city
Fighting continued in Jerusalem
where 100000 Christians of the
Greek Orthodox, CoptiC. Syrian and
Armenian churches prepared for
their observance of Easter tomorrow !
In the late afternoon Arab men, |
women and children streamed onto
roads leading to Jericho. Bethlehem
and the north. The crash of mortar
c.. nAI UCTJNIr7 49,.