Mines Explode in Haifa Harbor; New British Military Commander Arrives in Palestine

Mine explosions today sank one government vessal in Naifa harbor and damaged a second as General Gordon MacMillan, new British troop commander arrived in Palestine.

A small launch was sunk by the first blast, while a landing craft used in patrolling the water front was hit by the second mine, a short time afterwards. A hole was blasted in the side of the landing craft. No casualties were reported.

MacMillan landed at an airfield near the Jewish colony of Ataroth, on the cutskirts of Jerusalem. He was met by high military and government officials and escorted to Jerusalem under a heavy guard. It was reported that MacMillan conferred in Cairo last night with Sir Evolyn Barker, his prodecessor, and Sir Miles Dempsey, commander-in-chief of British forces in the Middle East.

JEWS SAY MARTIAL LAW IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION

Jewish national institutions were today called upon to take political action to oppose “martial law which is being implemented without the issuance of an official proclamation” in a resolution adopted by the Histadruth central committee. The resolution also protested the deportation of the 600-add visaless immigrants who arrived on the blockade runner La Negev.

A military court this afternoon acquitted Eliahu Barashi, a truck driver, who was charged with having transported the explosives which blasted the King David Hotel here last June. Barashi claimed that he was not guilty because he had been hired by an unidentified man to transport the milk cans in which the explosives were hidden without being aware of their contents. Immediately after his acquittal, he was rearrested and sent to the Latrun detention camp for an unspecified period.

Mrs. Helen Friedman, sister of Dov Gruner, condemned Irgunist, landed at the Lydda airport this evening following a two-day flight from the United States. She will see High Commissioner Sir Alan G. Cunningham tomorrow in an effort to persuade him to commute the death sentence.

SIX JEWS WOUNDED. ONE “TAKEN PRISONER” IN CLASH WITH ARABS

Six Jews were injured and one “taken prisoner” for several hours during a clash between Jewish settlers and a tribe of Bedouine at Bnei Geulim, between Nathanya and Hadera. The battle was precipitated when the Arabs drove their herds of sheep and cattle into the fields of the Jewish settlement. When the Jews attempted to clear the animals off their fields, 100 Arabs, armed with clubs and knives, attacked the 36 Jewish families at work in the fields.

Itzhak Kiri, 35, was wounded seriously and was captured by the Arabs when he could not flee with the other Jews. Police arrived on the scene some hours later and returned Kiri to the settlement.

The central committee of the Hashomer Hatzair today issued a statement denying that the party had any connection with the kidnapping of an alleged Irgunist yesterday, which is believed to have led to the later abduction of two Hashomer Hatzair members. The statement repudiated the use of such methods in a political struggle. In a statement to the press the Irgun denied clashing with the Hashomer Hatzair or kidnapping any of its members.

It was announced here today that a total of 790 Palestinian Jews are now under police detention. Two hundred and sixty-eight of them are in Eritrean camps, 486 at the Latrum camp and 36 in the Bethlehem Women’s prison.