EGYPTIANS NEAR TEL AVIV: JEWS’ LOSS AT JENIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22657, 7 June 1948, Page 5

EGYPTIANS NEAR TEL AVIV: JEWS’ LOSS AT JENIN

(N.Z.P.A. —Reuter—Copyright.) (10 a.m.) LONDON, June 5. The Jewish High Command at Tel Aviv announced that its forces had captured the village of Yibna. This means that advance Egyptian units in the coastal thrust had reached within 14 miles of Te! Aviv. Yibna is six miles north of Esdud, where the Jews said they still have the Egyptian spearhead cut off and encircled. The Jews said the Arabs, in the battle for Jenin, continued to rush up reinforcements, some from as far as Nablus, but the Jews claim they repulsed Arab counter-attacks and held all the positions they had captured. The Associated Press correspondent outside Jenin says that Iraqi troops have beaten off two fierce Jewish attacks since June 3 and forced the withdrawal of the Jewish force of between 3000 and 4000 five miles northward on the Plain of Armageddon. Heaviest Blow suffered by Jews

The Iraqi commander estimated the Jewish losses at GOO dead and many more wounded. He said: “It is the heaviest blow the Jews have suffered. We threw planes, artillery and armour into the fight 1 c.m convinced we broke the enemy morale We don't expect a new attack from this direction." Buildings of the Palestine Potash Company's plant, south of the Dead Sea. are blazing alter a heavy Arab Legion artillery bombardment, 'says Reuter’s correspondent in Amman. It is reported that several hundred armed Jews occupy the building. The British United Press says that Jewish forces launched an attack on old Jerusalem before dawn today. Arab Legion officers "aid that Legion troops repulsed the attack with heavy losses to the Jews.

A communique issued in Damascus claimed that Syrian forces which crossed the River Jordan destroyed the Jewish settlement of Mishmat Hay Yarden, norU; of Lake Tiberias, and blew up the wa‘er supply. ~ , . In Tel Aviv Mr. Ben Gurion said the Jewish offensive would not be limited to the frontiers of Israel or even Palestine. Jews Claim Sea Attack Repelled A Jewish communique says that Israeli warships, and planes and Tel Aviv shore batteries beat oft an attack by four Egyptian ships on the coast near Tel Aviv early this afternoon. The Egyptian vessels comprised one corvette, two British-type landing craft and the 2500-ton Emir Fawzia. They retired after a three-hour engagement. A Jewish bomber scored at least one direct hit One Jewish plane failed to return A Syrian communique -says that Syrian aircraft attacked Afuleb and destroyed installations and also destroyed a number of enemy vehicles in a con voy Syrian artillery shelled Einkev.

An Egyptian communique says that Egyptian warships continued attacks on the port of New Caesarea begun yesterday. The communique says that three Messerschmitt fighters attacked Egyptian troops. Egyptian fighters shot one down.