Truckload of Explosives Blasts Arab Street in Haifa; at Least 17 Killed, 50 Wounded

The explosion of a truckload of dynamite today ##evelled at least eight houses in one block in the Arab section of Haifa. At least ## persons are known to be dead and 50 wounded, and the casualty figures are expected to go much higher. Buildings were damaged for several blocks in all directions and several fires raged in the area tonight.The blast is believed to be the work of Sternists in retaliation for yesterday’s bombing of the Solel Boneh building in Haifa. Eye-witnesses said that two ?en driving a, three-ton military type truck abandoned the vehicle in crowded. Iraq street end sped, off in a Jeep which preceded it into the Arab neighborhood. All our men involved were dressed in British uniforms.

After the bombing, Arab mortars opened fire on the Jewish section, but the only known casualties were a British policeman killed and a second wounded when a shell well into the courtyard of the central police station. Armored care raced into the area to prevent possible riots or attacks on Jews or Britons. A number of Arabs made attempts to steal weapons from the British soldiers in the cars.

REPEL MAJOR ATTACKS ON TWO JEWISH COLONIES BY 1,700 ARABS

Haganah forces today drove off an Arab band of 1,000 men which had entrenched itself around Hartuv, in the Judaean hills between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, after an all-night attack. At least 40 Arabs were reported slain.

The British commander of a 700-man Arab band and 20 Arabs were killed in another fierce, night-long battle which took place around the settlement of Nizanim, in the Negev, Haganah reported this morning. The band, led by a Briton allegedly of high military rank, approached the colony for an all-out attack, but was spotted in time by Haganah guards. The raiders attacked the colony in several continuous waves, but fell back and fled before the intense Jewish fire.

A large band of Arabs attacked a Jewish convoy near the Arab town of Ishdud, built on the site of the ancient Philistine city, Ashdod, and according to an official communique, 13 Jews were killed and 16 are missing. Haganah headquarters denied the report, declaring instead that Hagnah men beat off an Arab attack on the convoy, killing six and wounding three attackers.

Haganah added that later a British police unit attacked the Arab band, killing three of the marauders and wounding four. Another guerrilla band, rushed in to relieve the first group of attackers, met with heavy Haganah resistance and was driven off after suffering several casualties.

Jewish convoys travelling from Ataroth to Jerusalem and from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea were also attacked, but there were no reports of casualties. Mekor Hairn and Rehavia came under Arab sniper attack early this morning. Sporadic fighting in Jerusalem resulted in slight damage to the Belgian Consulate here, but no casualties.

Arab snipers opened fire in the center of Jerusalem, killing one Jew outside a movie and losing two men when Haganah members returned the fire. Smaller engagements between Haganah and Arab units flared up on the outskirts of the city, the biggest of which occurred near Neve Jacob, where Jewish armored cars blocked the road leading to the settlement to prevent Arab reinforcements from reaching an Arab band attacking the colony. Two Arabs and one Greek were killed by the Jews.

The Parent of approximately 300 Jews detained in Kenya began a hunger strike today protesting the continued detention of their sons. At the same time, a letter from the deported Jews to the Jewish National Council declaring they will begin a hanger strike today was made public. The detainees urged the United Nations to insatiate the situation in the camp.