U.N. Cease-fire in Effect on Palestine’s Northern Front, Kaukaji’s Forces Smashed

The United Nations cease-fire order went into effect today at 11 AM Israeli time on the northern Galilee front, it was officially announced here.

The cease-fire, however, went into effect after the Jews had beaten Fawzi el Kaukaji’s forces decisively. Despite a U.N. demand that all firing end yesterday, the Israeli forces hammered away at the Arab irregulars in the vicinity of the towns of Tarshiha, Saasa and Jish throughout the day and last night.

While only ten Jews were killed during the latter stages of the nine-day campaign waged by Kaukaji, the Arabs lost hundreds of killed, wounded and prisoners. Remnants of the original force, estimated at about 5,000 men, escaped into the mountains of northern Palestine and Lebanon. Large quantities of small arms, artillery and Bren gun carriers were abandoned by the Arabs.

The situation of the Arab forces in the south is reported to be growing worse hourly. U.N. observers returning from the Egyptian areas say that Arab troops desert whole areas upon the receipt of the news that the Jews are approaching. Egyptians caught in the Faluja pocket are in increasing difficulty. Yesterday they sent a request for penicilin and other supplies through the Red Cross which received a promise by the Israelis to drop such supplies to the Arabs. However, when the Jews observed Arab planes dropping supplies to the men in the pocket, they refused to supply them by plane, but agreed to send medical supplies to them by truck and ambulance.