Sperate Battle Develops for Old City of Jerusalem; Situation Considered Critical

The tattle for the Old City of Jerusalem, where 500 Jews are besieged by Arab units, flared up again today with Jewish fighters continuously attacking the Jaffa Gate in a desperate attempt to reach the beleagured ?ea.

The situation was considered critical after the Jewish units were forced to ?thdraw under heavy Arab fire this afternoon from the Old City into which they have ?netrated during the night. Despite severe losses, the Jewish defenders inside the ? City were still holding out late today.

A new truce effort by the United Nations Truce Commission, backed by the consuls of the western powers, ended in a stalemate. Attacks by reinforced Arab units, supported by artillery fire from the hills outside of the city, are endangering the Holy Places within the ancient’ walls of the Old City.

Using heavy artillery, the Arabs also began shelling the Jewish sections of Jerusalem outside of the Old City. The areas under fire include the Meah Shearim, ##eth Israel and Rehavia quarters. In the center of the city, Jewish forces now control the German Colony and the Musrara section.

ARABS INTENSIFY BOMBING OF TEL AVIV; JEWS OCCUPY ACRE AFTER SEVERE FIGHT

A number of Jewish civilians were killed end many were wounded in three air attack on Tel Aviv. One of the enemy planes was later shot down near Hobs Ziona and its pilot was captured by two uniformed Jewish girls, members of the Haganah.

(A Jewish plane was reported shot down by the Syrian air force over the Sea of Galilee, according to a communique issued in Damascus. The communique said that Syrian planes bombed Tiberias and destroyed parts of the Jewish settlement of Ramat Naphtali.)

The road to Western Galilee was opened today with the Arab surrender of the ancient fortress city of Acre to the Jewish forces. Arab acceptance of the Jewish military terms came after a fierce three-day battle. The Jews insisted on the surrender of all arms and the arrest of all non-Palestine Arabs.

Lt. Gen. Gordon H.A. MacMillan, British military commander in Palestine, today #### both the Arabs and the Jews in Haifa that the city would remain safe as long ### British were in control of the port city. He declared that he would not per#### city to be used as a military base for any force, nor would he permit it to ######### of either party. He added that the ‘Jews will continue to administer ############ and that part of the harbor not used by the British.