Huge Military Parade Marks Independence Celebration in Israel

Haifa was the center of Israel’s celebration of its Fifth Independence Day as thousands of men and women and hundreds of armored vehicles marched and rolled down the city’s main streets in a five-mile long parade.

Premier David Ben Gurion, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mordechai Makleff and the commander of the local army units reviewed the huge parade. President Ben Zvi, who is recovering from an attack of influence, was not present.

Tens of thousands of Israelis lined the slope of Mt. Carmel to witness the latest Israeli fighting equipment, including heavy Sherman tanks which brought up the rear of the parade. The paratroopers, always favorites of the crowd, drew applause as they put on a performance of precision marching. Overhead the Air Force put on a show of its own that kept the viewers craning their necks much of the time. As representative units of the Navy marched past the reviewing stand naval units in the harbor fired 17 salvoes.

Several thousand tourists watched the show from specially prepared places. Members of the diplomatic corps, Israeli Ministers, Parliamentary deputies and high government officials also received places of honor.

ISRAEL AIR FORCE OFFERS THRILLING AERIAL SHOW

The Israeli Navy presented the main display off Tel Aviv’s shore, which was lined with thousands of holiday-making citizens of all ages. Here as in the skies over other cities and many settlements, the Air Force offered a thrilling aerial show.

The Army put on a night show at Ramath Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv. A number of units performed exercises under floodlights after paratroop unit’s demonstrated hand to band fighting in the storming of a dummy town.

Among the highlights of the day were a regatta race on the Sea of Galilee, a relay race between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and special services on Mt. Zion. A new postage stamp was issued to mark the day.

Informal celebrating began last night immediately after the nation wound up a day of memorial services to the men and women who fell in the war of liberation. Following two minutes’ silence at the end of the day, the streets of all cities and towns became the scene of folk dancing and merry-making. Public balls, sponsored by soldiers’ welfare groups, were held in many towns and cities, and Israel’s most famous performing artists participated.

In a special broadcast in Jerusalem, Joseph Sprinzak, Speaker of the Knesset, called on Jews throughout the world to increase their assistance to the Jewish State. Although Jews outside Israel have helped her and are continuing to do so today, he said, this aid has not been enough.