Firing Again Across Jordan River

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31863, 16 December 1968, Page 17

Firing Again Across Jordan River

N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright >

AMMAN, December 14. Jordanian and Israeli forces exchanged fire across the River Jordan for the second time yesterday, a Jordanian military spokesman reported.

The spokesman said Israeli forces fired on a Jordanian post at the Umm Al-Shurat area in the south Jordan Valley. The Jordanians returned the fire and the exchange lasted 50 minutes. One Jordanian soldier was wounded and the Israelis were seen removing some casualties from the scene of the clash, the spokesman said. Earlier, the spokesman announced a 15-minute exchange yesterday morning in the King-Hussein Bridge area. King Hussein of Jordan said that war in the Middle East was inevitable if the situation remained as it was now. Speaking on a nation-wide television news programme, the King said, “Israel might very well win a few more

battles. Eventually Israel will lose.” King Hussein, in an interview filmed in the Royal Palace at Amman, said, “The human sacrifices in the process on both sides are going to be tremendous. . . . “Someone might win at one point and someone might lose—but eventually all will lose,” he said. I On the presence of Soviet ships in the Mediterranean, King Hussein said that if the situation were different, the Soviet ships would pose no danger. “But the fact is that the situation is rather turbulent and uncertain, and the presence of the Soviet fleet is just another factor in the

situation. It does not affect it, but if the basic problems were dealt with then I don’t think it would cause any danger at all in this area.” In answer to a question. King Hussein said that the United States was too much on the side of Israel. “The United States has a tremendous position and tremendous responsibility and in regard to this area and its problems I hope that he (President-elect Richard Nixon) would be able to take a good look and understand that it is not in our own interest alone, but in that of all concerned, that the United States position be more evenhanded and help all concerned. . .