Seven-hour Battle Rages in Jerusalem; Eleven Jews Killed in Attacks on Convoys

A seven-hour battle between Jews and Arabs in ### City here and the killing of eleven Jews and the wounding of nine others in two ambuscades of motor convoys marked the twelfth day of continued violence ### the United Nations voted to partition Palestine.

According to Arab sources, the battle in the Old City followed an in-###ation of Jewish positions and the occupation of a synagogue. The Arabs ##ted that they had succeeded in raising an Arab flag over the synagogue. The ## sources also admitted that one Arab was killed in the assault.The Haganah, however, insisted that the Arabs had been hold off and had ##gained a “single yard.” Three Haganah members were wounded in the exchange small arms and machine gun fire. In the beating back of another attack on Jewish positions in Jerusalem, the Haganah killed three Arabs. This attack was ###ched from Siluan and other Arab villages adjoining Jerusalem.Nine of the eleven Jews killed in convoy attacks fell near Bethlehem when ##eet of cars, trucks and buses en route to Kfar Etzion was brought under intense ## from three directions. The attack occurred near Solomon’s Pools.

FOUR ARABS KILLED IN BLASTING OF BUS IN HAIFA

An ammunition and arms dump exploded in Haifa at 6 A.M. this morning, ##tting off several fires. The authorities do not suspect sabotage.

An uneasy armed truce held sway in the border region between Tel Aviv and ##ffa today as British soldiers stood guard. One Jew was shot and seriously bunded by a British officer last night. A Haganah bulletin announced that the ##ight was “quiet” on the Tel Aviv front. The bodies of six Arabs apparently ###illed in Monday night’s assault on the Hatikvah quarter were discovered in an ##range grove near the scene of the battle.Reports from various parts of the Sharon district and the area south of ### Aviv state that Arabs are again visiting Jewish settlements to sell agricultural ### and patronizing Jewish-owned cafes in various towns. One report asserts ### groups of Arabs have approached officials of several Jewish settlements and ### for Arab-Jewish patrols to keep out agitators attempting to spread pro### prepagenda.

A Haganah communique today stated that a detachment of Jewish militia which left the settlement of Gevloth, near Gaza, where six Jews were murdered yesterday, were set on by several Arabs. The Jews replied, killing two Bedouins. It also revealed that Arabs punctured water lines leading to Jewish settlements in the Negev yesterday and that Jewish engineers have already made repairs.

AGENCY DENIES JEWS EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR DISTURBANCES

A Jewish Agency spokesman, commenting on High Commissioner Sir Alan Cunn{SPAN}##’s{/SPAN} warning yesterday to both the Jews and the Arabs to keep the peace, charged that Cunningham had misrepresented the situation in Palestine when he held both the Jews and Arabs equally responsible for violence. He also warned that any official moves against the Jewish defense movement would only worsen the situation.

As British police began moving out of several of the satellite towns of ### Aviv in line with the government’s announced intention of turning over police ### in Tel Aviv and its environs to the Jews, the government issued a press ##se announcing measures it was taking in cooperation with the Jewish Agency ## Tel Aviv and the Arabs in Jaffa.

Although the release said that Jews replacing British police would receive ### licenses to carry weapons, Arab replacements in Jaffa would be given arms ###ng duty hours. The first additions to the Jaffa force would number 110, the announcement said, adding that the institution of similar measures in other Arab ## was being considered.

The government also announced its estimates of casualties between December ## this morning. In all, 65 Jews, 38 Arabs, three soldiers and one policeman ## killed, and 332 persons received wounds and injuries of varying degrees.

The Irgun disclosed that it has written letters to 400 English municipalities explaining that the British Government is continuing its policy of “exterminating the Jews” despite the U.N. decision on Palestine. It asked the municipalities to influence the government to change its policy or the Irgun would “take ##venge” for injuries to Jews by attacking evacuating personnel.The Palestine Government has reimposed a ban effective January 1, 1948 ## the return of civilian relatives of British personnel serving in Palestine. ### reason given was the approaching evacuation of all government personnel.

Reports continue that many Arabs are fleeing their homes in and around ##aifa. While the poorer Arabs merely move some distance into “safer” territory, the wealthy are leaving for Lebanon. Furniture truckers are said to be charging ## much as $400 a day to move valuable possessions to Lebanon.