Jews Evacuate Terrorized Quarter of Haifa; British Officer Wounded

Many Jews began today hurried evacuation of the mixed Ardil Yahud quarter in Haifa, where in the past few days they have been made the target of Arab terrorism in the form of arson and assaults. While many Jewish families were moving from their homes, hostile Arab crowds stoned them. In some cases shots were fired. Several Jews were wounded before a fire brigade turned hoses on the Arabs and dispersed them.

The refugees are fleeing to Hardar Hacarmel, neighboring Jewish quarter creating a refugee problem resembling that of 1929 following the Arab massacres. The overcrowded Hadassah Hospital has established an emergency annex in a nearby Jewish school, where 20 patients are already housed.

Arieh Shustakovsky, who was wounded Sunday in the Haifa bombing of a Jewish bus, died at the hospital. Two Jewish watchmen of the Kfar Hess colony were wounded when five Arabs opened fire at them from ambush. One of them, Zvi Marder, is in a serious condition. A British officer was seriously wounded last night during a clash between troops and an Arab band attempting to puncture the oil pipeline at Faukab el Hawa.

A Jew arrested in Haifa yesterday when accused by Arabs of setting fire to the Imperial Chemicals plant in the Ardil Yahud quarter was released today when British constables testified that the fire had started accidentally. Another instance of false accusations by Arabs against Jews was exposed in connection with yesterday’s second bomb explosion on Kings way in Haifa, in which there were no casualties. Arabs pointed out Post Office employes aboard a passing truck, believing them to be Jews, to Arab policemen at the scene. The truck’s passengers were taken to the police station, where they were released on discovery that some were Arabs.