A large-scale attack has teen launched on the southern front by Egyptian infantry supported by tanks, it was officially announced here today. The attack is taking place in the vicinity of Sir Aslouj, which is on the main supply route from Egypt.
For the second time in two days United Nations observers at the Latrun pumping station, through which water must be routed in order to reach Jerusalem, have been beaten up and chased off by Arab Legion personnel stationed at that point, it was reliably learned here today. Yesterday, both the U.N. personnel and Jewish technicians whom they brought with them to repair pumping equipment were beaten and driven off. Theoretically, the Arabs have agreed to permit Jewish technicians to repair the machinery and to place the entire pumping station under the administration of the U.N. observers.
A government spokesman, commenting on U.N. mediator Count Folke Bernadotte’s failure to arrange a satisfactory flow of water for Jewish Jerusalem, pointed out that the Arabs have “flagrantly flouted” his authority and that of the U.N. in refusing to accede to his requests for over a month. Meanwhile, Bernadotte’s chief of staff, Swedish General Aage Lundstrom, arrived here this morning and immediately took off again for Amman, from where he is expected to return today with Bernadotte.
The Israeli Government today officially denied that two ammunition ships were in the Mediterranean Sea en route to Israel. A spokesman said the government had no knowledge of any such vessels. The denial was issued following a report by the Reuter news agency from Amman to the effect that U.N. naval and air patrols along the Palestine coast had been alerted to watch for two landing craft loaded with arms for the Jews.
The appointment of Dr. Bernard Joseph as first military governor of Jerusalem was announced here last night. Dr. Joseph is former legal advisor to the Jewish Agency and more recently the Israeli Government’s representative in Jerusalem.
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