At least 23 Jews and 19 Arabs were killed today Palestine in fierce battles, some of which are still continuing.
The major tattle of the day book place six miles north of Jerusalem where a force of 800 Arabs attacked the Jewish settlement Neve Jacob. Anticipating such an attack, the Haganah evacuated all women and children from the colony several weeks go and prepared strong defenses. Early reports indicate that at least 11 Jews were tilled there when two armored cars hit land mines during the battle.
Another major battle developed when several hundred Arabs isolated a 12-vehicle Jewish convoy near Rab-el-Wad, on the road between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The Arab opened fire on the trucks and blew up several of them, killing at least 12 Jews and astounding 30. British troops wore rushed to the scene of the fighting which was reported still raging at nightfall.
Fourteen Arabs were killed and six wounded in two heavy engagement a with Haganah units between Magdiel and Kfar Saba this morning. There were no Jewish casualties. Five Arabs were killed this morning and two injured when they allegedly fired on a Jewish convoy near Majdal, while nine other Arabs were seriously wounded in Jerusalem when a hand grenade exploded in the Old City.
Three British police deserters who participated in an Arab attack last week on Neve Jacob were today sentenced to 17-year prison terms by a British military court that conducted the trial aboard a British ship off Haifa for fear of Jewish reprisals. The three Britons were found not guilty of being members of a body that fired on the Jewish colony, but were convicted on charges of carrying firearms and possessing a police armored car without authorization.
A government communique said that Jaffa had come under Jewish mortar fire last night. The announcement said that the fire was directed from Tel Aviv and resulted in damage to the Hassan Bey Mosque.
A terse dispatch late tonight said that a heavy attack on Jaffa had been launched by Jewish forces in Tel Aviv. There were no other details immediately available.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
