Israel in Joyous Mood, Jerusalem Army Parade Passes Without Incident

The proud and happy people of Israel paid homage to their army today as the entire nation exultantly celebrated the tenth anniversary of the re-establishment of the Jewish State, The main celebrations were held in Jerusalem, the capital, but other ceremonies took place in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Tiberias, Safad and elsewhere throughout the country.

Here in the capital, the elite of Israel’s Army gathered almost under the sullen guns of the Jordan Army ringing the Israel-held sectors of the ancient city. Despite Arab threats and despite the warnings of some United Nations officials and Western diplomats that peace might be jeopardized by Israel’s technical violation of the armistice agreements by bringing troops and equipment to Jerusalem, the day passed off without incident. Major General Carl Carlsson von Horn, chief of staff of the UN truce organization, cabled headquarters in New York that the Israel anniversary parade had been completed without any incidents reported.

The celebration in Jerusalem was officially snubbed by the diplomatic corps because its attendance might have been regarded as official recognition of Jerusalem as the country’s capital, but many heads of foreign missions attended in their private capacity. An official French military delegation headed by Air Force General Marcel Valin arrived at Lydda Airport a few hours before the parade was to start and was taken directly to the stadium. Included in the delegation were Major General Robert des Essarts and Major General Hubert Cournal.

250, 000 SPECTATORS WITNESS MARCH; TANKS AND GUNS DISPLAYED

Prime Minister David Ben Gurion set the theme for the day’s observances when he addressed the 5, 000 soldiers who had marched in the parade and some 20,000 spectators who filled every inch of Jerusalem’s new stadium near the Hebrew University. The great hill overlooking the stadium was covered by Israelis and tourists as the ceremonies unfolded under bright sun, in summery warmth which prevailed in contrast to the raw wintry weather of the last few days.

The Prime Minister’s speech was an eulogy of Israel’s fighting forces and their role in the making and preserving of the State. Hebrew economy, he said, Hebrew culture and the Hebrew defense forces had brought about the Jewish State, but it was the Israeli Army that had maintained the State’s independence and had preserved it from its enemies.

The parade, an impressive demonstration of Israel’s military strength, included a column of 30 French tanks armed with 75 millimeter guns; French guns, 38 Sherman tanks, huge British-made anti-aircraft guns, mine-destroyer tanks, service tanks and other equipment, followed by paratroops units and infantry.

The spectacle, which unfolded with clockwork precision, was witnessed by a quarter of a million spectators who lined the route of march.

Today’s celebrations got under way with a special ceremony, the consecration of 200 unit flags by President Itzhak Ben Zvi. Escorted by a platoon of paratroopers, the 200 flag bearers approached the reviewing stand. President Ben Zvi descended from the platform and consecrated the banners, declaring: I greet Israel’s Army standing or the outskirts of Jerusalem. May you increase in strength and honor and glory to Israel as you have done and may the Almighty be your aid. I hereby declare that your flags should be unfurled.”

As the bugles sounded, the massed pennant were broken out in the breeze–red and black for the artillery units, green and black for the armor, light blue for the Air Force, and blue for the Navy. The crowd broke into a roaring cheer. The President, Prime Minister Ben Gurion, Major General Chaim Laskov, the Chief of Staff, and Brigadier Meir Amit, commander of the Centra Command, took the salute of the 5, 000 men and women soldiers, who paraded past.

In Safad, in northern Israel, today’s celebration was twofold for, in addition to marking the country’s independence anniversary, the day was the tenth anniversary of the liberation of this holy city from the Arabs. A special thanksgiving service was held in the Haari synagogue there, after which the populace danced and sang in the streets.