BATTLE ,FOR HAIFA GOES ON

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14653, 23 April 1948, Page 3

BATTLE ,FOR HAIFA GOES ON

BIG VICTORY FOR JEWS: ARABS SUFFER SERIOUS CASUALTIES

EFFORTS TO STOP HEAVIEST FIGHTING YET SEEN IN PALESTINE

HAGANAH OFFERS TRUCE, BUT ON OWN SEVERE TERMS

London, April 22. It is now confirmed from Palestine that truce talks took place this morning- in an effort to stop the big battle between Jews and Arabs in Haifa. A special correspondent says the Jews seem to have won a big victory in what may have been the heaviest fighting yet. The truce terms demanded by Haganah are believed to be the surrender to them of Arab arms, and the deportation from Haifa of all southern fighting elements. Another truce meeting was arranged for later today, but as far as is known, the battle for Haifa goes on. The Jewish attack wiped out several positions and took the telephone exchange by storm. The head offices of the Palestine railways were burnt out, and British Army headquarters came under fire. When the fighting reached a densely populated market area the Arabs began to evacuate their women and children by sea. Arab casualties are believed to be heavy. At least 100 have been taken to hospital. The battle began while British forces were still in Haifa but these forces have since withdrawn to positions covering the port. The political committee of the United Nations Assembly today resumed its debate on Palestine. Australia, which has already spoken strongly in favour of insisting on the partition plan, introduced a formal resolution which suggested that the Assembly should ask the Palestine Commission to start immediately setting up provisional councils and local militias to take over when the British'mandate ends.