BRITISH TROOPSHIP SABOTAGED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 267, 23 August 1946, Page 3

BRITISH TROOPSHIP SABOTAGED

EXPLOSIONS BELOW WATERLINE

ATTACK OFF HAIFA BAY (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright.) (Pec. 9.30.) JERUSALEM, Aug. 22. Saboteurs caused two minor explosions below the waterline of the troopship Empire Rival, lying off Haifa harbour, reports the correspondent of the Associated Press. Divers found a hole eight feet by three feet.

Reuter's correspondent says the explosions occurred after a guard had fired on three swimmers seen near the ship shortly before midnight. Limpet mines detonated half an hour later, The after-hold of the ship began to fill, but the bulkheads were closed and the ship moved to shallow water. <4 The saboteurs were successful in spite of precautions, including the frequent dropping of small depth charges from warships in Haifa Bay and the imposition of a water curfew. The Empire Heywood, in which an explosion occurred on Sunday, is still lying off Haifa. There is no indication when she will sail for Cyprus. The British have closed all roads leading to Haifa for hours to 9 a.m. Haganah radio, “Voice of Israel,” announced that members of the Jewish resistance sabotaged the Empire Rival, and they were als.o responsible for the bomb in the Empire Heywood on August 18. ' The radio added that members of the resistance would continue activity so long as deportations of Jews continued.