Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-08
Raj Planes Shot Down by Jews;
British Move I roops to Port Of
Trons-Jordon on Israel Border
Army Shifts Made at
AbdulIoh's Request
Bosed on Alliance
BY the Associated Press

LONDON, Jan. S.-Brltaln said
today that five Royal Air Force
planes were shot down yesterday
by Israeli aircraft while on
reconnaissance patrols over
Egyptian territory near the Pal
eStine border.
The Air Ministry said the attacks
were "unprovoked."
The Air Ministry's announcement
came after Jewish spokesman in
Tel Aviv said two of the five aircraft
shot down by the Jews over Rata
were known to be British planes and
two Others were presumed to be.
Rata is on the border.
Britain to Lodge Protest.
The British government prepared
to lodge stiff protest with the
Israeli representative at the United
Nations. A Foreign Office statement
said:
His Majestys government have
instructed Sir Terence Shone, the
British representative at the Secur-
ity Council, to present Immediately
a memorandum to the Jewish repre-
sentative at the United Nations con-
tanning a strong protest against the
attack by Jewish aircraft over Egyp-
tan territory on aircraft" of the
Royal Air Force on reconnaissance
from the (Suez) Canal Zone, result
ing in the loss of five British aircraft.
The memorandum states that His
Majestys government reserve their
rights both as regards a claim for
compensation and as regards all
possible further action. A copy of
the memorandum is being commune
Gated to Dr.. ralph Bunche, the
acting mediator"
The Foreign Office also announced
that Britain, acting on a request of
Trans-Jcrdan, has sent troops to
guard the Red Sea port of Aqaba.
Bevin Remains in London.
Foreign Secretary Bevin decided
to remain in London over the week
end to keep in close touch with all
developments. This underlined the
gravity with which the Foreign Office
viewed Britain's present relations
with Israel.
A British communique said the
Raj fighters had strict orders not
to cross the frontier into Palestine
Since the attacks, it added British
airmen have been instructed Ito re-
gard as hostile any Jewish aircraft
encountered over Egyptian terri
tory.
two attacks. Ghe first was made
against reconnaissance patrol sent /
out ito ascertain the depth and
scale of the Jewish incursion into
Egyptian territory" the ministry
said. The second was made against
a force dispatched to determine the
fate of the missing planes in the
first group.
Four Spithres were missing from
the first attack, and Tempest was
lost in the second, the Ministry said.
Versions Are Different.
There were these differences in the
British and Jewish versions of the
clash:
The Jews said four Of the 'downed
planes were British and the fifth was
Egyptian. At least two and perhaps
three were shot down by Israeli
fighters and the others by anti
aircraft. The Jews said the action
took place over Rata.
The British described the clash as
occurring Is miles west of Rata in
Egyptian territory.
Rata is on the communications
lines up the coastal strip of South
ern Palestine to the Egyptian-held
city of GAIA. Whether it is in Egypt
or Palestine is a matter of dispute.
Jewish informants in Tel Aviv
said that under the British mandate
Rata was classed as being inside
Palestine. At the end of the man.
date last May, the British shifted
the boundary putting Rata inside
Egypt, they said.
"a National Geographic So
ciety map, issued in 1916, during
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