Jews Perish in Arab Attack on Medical Convoy; Dp. Yasski, Hadassah Head, Killed

At least 34 Jews were officially reported ?illed today in one of the fiercest Arab attacks Palestine has seen since the outbreak ## hostilities. An 11-vehicle convoy en route to the Hadassah Hospital on Mt. Scopus as forced to halt outside the Arab Sheik Jarrach quarter of Jerusalem when the leading trucks — carrying food and medical supplies to the hospital and to the Hebrew University — were blown up by Arab-planted mines.

As soon as the convoy was stopped, Arabs perched on adjacent rooftops ##ened up with a blazing barrage that resulted in immediate casualties, most of whom more medical personnel. Among those killed was Dr. Chaim Yasski, head of the Hadassah medical Organization in Palestine since 1928, who was well-known in the United States. Dr. Edward Joseph, chief surgeon at the hospital, was slightly injured.

Haganah members trying to reach the attack area had to battle their way for hours through mined roads. Arab reinforcements, however, succeeded in reaching the actor with comparative ease. Police officials, who said that in addition to the 36 News Killed, 21 were seriously injured and three slightly, reported that British troops using heavy machineguns and Email mortars beat off the Arabs after six hours of fighting. The British were also reported to have brought many of the wounded to the Hadassah Hospital before they, succeeded in establishing a truce.

At late reports, several of the convey vehicles were reported ablaze, while many charred bodies lined the road. A high British police official, said to have been lighting alongside the Arabs, was killed shortly before the end of the battle in which the Arabs, many of them behind sandbags and stone walls, sent two armored cars soaked with gasoline in a “fire bomb” attack against the stationary Jewish trucks.

Earlier, the biggest Jewish convoy ever to get through to the 100,000 besieged Jews in Jerusalem — consisting of 210 food trucks raced into the city amid ?ild cheering and rejoicing. Responsible Jewish circles believe that the Arab siege of the Holy City is definitely broken and predict normal communications with Tel Aviv will be established shortly. The convoy was said to have brought in 600 tons of ##ood provisions.

MISHMAR HAEMEK FIGHTERS ROUT ARABS; FURMANSKY DIES IN BATTLE

In the Mishmar Haemek engagement, where Jewish fighters have been virtually Isolated by stubborn Arab attacks for the past week, Haganah radio announced today that Arab forces under the command of Fazwi Kawaukji had been driven from the area immediately surrounding the colony and “are now in full retreat.” Later reports said {SPAN}##{/SPAN} Jewish force pursuing the Arabs in the direction of Jenin, Arab stronghold in central Palestine, was repulsed when the retreating Arabs opened fire on their pursuers.

A force of 30 armored cars from Nahalal, summoned by the Mishmar Haemek fighters to aid in routing the guerrillas, succeeded in reaching the battle area in time to hit the enemy’s flank with concentrated fire, resulting in the Arabs beating an even hastier retreat than previously. Moshe Furmansky, Hashomer Hatzair leader who represented the organization in the United States for several years, was among the Jewish casualties in the Mishmar Hasmek engagement. Jewish sources claimed 38 Arabs were killed in today’s battle.

The U.S. consulate here revealed today it would evacuate by air all American citizens wishing to leave Palestine because of present-day hostilities. The consulate is urging all other Americans who choose to remain in the Middle East to leave Palestine before all vehicular traffic is cut off. The consulate office here is operating on a skeleton staff, with many staff members assigned to Haifa.