Tel Aviv Strengthens Defenses After Nazi Raid on Haifa; 2 Alarms in Jerusalem

Precautionary measures were intensified today in Tel Aviv while Air Raid Precautions squads cleaned up the debris of Monday night’s bombing of Haifa–the first German air-raid on Palestine.

Jerusalem had two air-raid alarms during the day.

In Tel Aviv, which had two alarms the same night Haifa was raided, construction of 100 more public shelters was started. Mayor Israel Rokach announced at a Municipal Council meeting that the Government had approved expenditure of another £10,000 for concrete underground shelters. He added that 900 hospital beds and 22 operating theaters would be prepared as a reserve for Tel Aviv and the hinterland, while 11 first-aid stations and 90 auxiliary stations had already been equipped, as well as 900 fire-extinguishing units and Diesel pumps.

Regarding food storage, Mayor Rokach proposed a £26,000 allocation for purchase of food to supply 25,000 persons. At present 10,000 can be accommodated.

Palestine joined in paying tribute to Haifa’s Arab, Jewish and British A.R.P. workers, whose strenuous all-night efforts averted much damage during the Nazi raid. As it was, damage to civilian property was officially stated to be “slight,” with few casualties, none of them serious.

(The German news agency claimed bomb hits on a mole and a large oil-tank depot in Haifa.)

British counter-measures were prompt. One of the attacking bombers was brought down by anti-aircraft fire and others were damaged. “Before the last enemy raider had returned from Haifa to the German-controlled base at Aleppo (Syria),” a communique stated, “British aircraft were over the airdrome, bombing aircraft on the ground and a flare path along which the raiders were landing. Fires were observed and much damage was caused.”

With the Allied advance into Syria proceeding, it was learned today that before the entry on Sunday morning, women and children were evacuated from Kfar Giladi, Metulla, Dafneh and other Palestine frontier settlements, but the men were left to continue their normal work.

Meanwhile, a large meeting in Haifa under the auspices of the Histadruth called for increased army enlistment and urged those unable to enlist to join the Home Defense.

Four hundred refugees, including several Jewish families, have arrived in Palestine on a Greek steamer after fleeing from the Nazis. At the same time the remaining 70 illegal immigrants of those who arrived on the S.S. Libertad ten months ago were released from the Athlit internment camp. Approximately 180 are still interned.