THE ARAB LEGION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26776, 20 May 1948, Page 5

THE ARAB LEGION

BRITAIN’S OBLIGATION

Rec. 11 p.m. LONDON, May 19. Britain will continue to carry out her treaty obligations to Transjordan unless and until the United Nations finds that the Arab Legion is acting illegally, says the diplomatic correspondent of The Times. There are about 40 British officers serving in the legion, of whom 30 were seconded from the British Army to help in training Transjordan forces. The remainder are volunteers. Glubb Pasha, the legion’s commander, and two other officers were seconded from the Palestine Government for service in Transjordan and appointed to their present posts by King Abdullah. It cannot yet be assumed, the correspondent says, that the Arab armies have invaded a properly-constituted State and pending a United Nations ruling Britain is likely to continue paying the subsidy called for in her treaty with Transjordan and the supplying of /arms to Arab States. Israel Seeks Aid The British United Press correspondent in Tel-Aviv says that the Foreign Minister. Moshe Shertok, said Israel was negotiating with United States bankers for financial aid. Poland, Uruguay, and Czechoslovakia have recognised the Jewish State of Israel. During discussion in the Security Council to-day of a series of questions which the United States suggested should be put to the Jews and Arabs on steps to halt the war, speakers strongly attacked the legality of the Jewish State. Faris el Khoury (Syria) claimed that the United States had blundered in recognising the Israel Government. Mr Warren Austin (United States) retorted that no nation could question the rfght of the United Sta'tes to recognise Israel. The Canadian attitude towards the new State of Israel is the subject of a cablegram from Ottawa received today £y the Canadian High Commissioner in New Zealand, Mr Alfred Rive says a Press Association message from Wellington. In reply to a question in the House of Commons concerning the attitude of the Government towards the proclamation of the new State of Israel, the Minister of External Affairs, Mr L. S. St. Laurent, said recognition of a new State was a matter of very serious consequence and that he would prefer to make no statement at present. The message from Ottawa concluded: “The Minister, also said the Government was appraising the situation of possible consequences and implication of recognition and as soon as possible would come to a conclusion. He would then inform the House of the Government’s attitude.” Protests to Security Council At Lake Success to-day the Security Council received a cablegram from Israel’s Foreign Minister, Mr Moshe Shertok, claiming that the Arabs had violated the cease-fire agreement by entering the old walled sector of Jerusalem on Sunday. Mr Shertok also stated that the Armenian patriarch had informed the Jewish Agency liaison officer that armed Arabs had forced a way into the patriarchate building, which is within the city walls, against protests. The place was holy, and the Arabs were using the premises as a base for an attack on the Jewish quarter. The acting municipal commissioner, Pablo Azarate, was informed and protested vigorously to the Arabs, who. nevertheless. continued the attack. King Abdullah cabled the Security Council to-day protesting against a Jewish mortar shell falling within the mosque compound in front ot the dome above the Sacred Rock. King Abdullah added: “Thanks to the Almighty, the shell caused no damage.”

his troops’ positions in Palestine. He toured forward gunposts on the Judean and Samarian hills. Jewish forces in Jerusalem have captured Mount Zion and also other important objectives near the Old City, according to a Jewish communique. Reuter’s correspondent with the Arab Legion says the legion artillery laid down a barrage before the legion infantry entered the Old City and forced Haganah to abandon forward positions. The Arab shelling lasted two and ahalf hours, and the legion’s artillery is in a position for shelling many Jewish areas. An Egyptian communique issued in Cairo says Egyptian forces yesterday carried out several reconnaissance patrols and deeply penetrated enemyheld areas. Their planes raided new military targets south-east of TelAviv, including the main oil storage area which was left ablaze. Egyptian artillery attacked Mira, south-east of Gaza, causing explosions and fires. .The communique describes Mira as an important Jewish supply centre and repair depot. The Associated Press correspondent within the Old City of Jerusalem says t'hat the Jewish grip on Jerusalem is being broken. Arabs in the Old City, who until mid-day to-day suffered under Jewish mortar fire, are almost tearfully joyful that the Legion has turned the tables. Forty-one were killed and 60 were wounded from a direct hit on a crowded civilian bus station in the centre of Tel-Aviv during a dive-bomb-ing attack late this afternoon. A dive bomber made five dives over the centre of the city, each time releasing fragmentation bombs at a low altitude. The bus station building was smashed and an open area in front of it was strewn with dead, including women and children. Civilians said the plane bore green Egyptian markings. Another plane attacked a district just outside Tel-Aviv. The Old City is shell-marked, but shrines such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are undamaged. A communique issued in Bagdad states that Iraqi planes bombed the villages, Ashdot, Yaakov, Amkin, Kaukad and Beit Yosef in the Beisan area, “inflicting heavy losses.” Iraqi forces continued their advance and occupied Kaukab and the surrounding hills after heavy shelling.