The first naval engagement between Israel and Egypt ended here today in a victory for the Jews. Involved in the tattle, which lasted three hours, were an Egyptian convoy consisting of a corvette, two British-type landing craft and the 2,600 ton vessel El Emira Fawzia and one Jewish corvette assisted by two light bombers overhead.
A Jewish armored unit today fought its way into Jenin, northern stronghold of the Jenin-Nablus-Tulkarm triangle. Jewish air and land forces are also pounding Tulkarm and Nablus. An Israeli communique stated that “Operation Triangle” was proceeding according to schedule in the Jenin and Tulkarm areas.
A second communique analyzed the precarious predicament off an Egyptian column cut off and surrounded between Ishdud, 25 miles north off Gaza, and Rehcvoth.Military experts here have expressed the opinion that the column, reputed to be 3,500 strong, must surrender soon or face total annihilation.
In the Jordan Valley the Arab town, of Samakh, which the Jews captured shout two weeks ago, and the Jewish villages of Dagania, Shaar Eagolan and Ein Geb were shelled by Syrian artillery. An attempt by Arab tanks and armored cars to penetrate Jewish defenses in the area was thrown back.
THRONGS OF TEL AVIV JEWS WITNESS THE SEA BATTLE FROM ROOFS
The sea battle was witnessed by throngs of Jews along the city’s waterfront promenade and from hotel balconies and roof tops, despite the fact that an air alert had sounded. Observers noted that during the artillery and air bombardment a great column of water was hurled into the air near the one vessel, which may have been sunk. The Jewish naval personnel are mostly seamen trained by the British during the last war.
Dr. Liakim Ostashinsky, mayor of Rishon L’Zion, today called on the Israeli Government to protest yesterday’s air bombing of his town by Egyptian planes to U.N. mediator Count Folks Bernadette. Mayor Ostashinsky pointed out that the town has no military targets of any sort and that the Arab planes, consisting of two Dakota bombers and some Spitfires, dropped numerous bombs on the town.
One hit a bus station in which many school children were waiting to return home for lunch. Many were killed some of the bodies are unidentifiable because they were blown to bits. Ostashinsky pointed out that the planes came down as low as 1,000 feet in their bombing and strafing runs and the pilots must have known that their targets were non-military.
Israel’s new women’s army auxiliary made its formal debut here today. The women’s auxiliary force is known as Chen which, in Hebrew, means Women’s Army and also means “charm.” The formation, which Tel Aviv reviewed today as it paraded though the capital, has just completed its first ten days of training in preparation for special duties to be entrusted to it in defense of the now Jewish state.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
