Arab nations ringing the Holy Land launched their invasion of Palestine in simultaneous pincers thrusts today, Arab and Jewish sources reported, even though the British mandate has 15 days to run.

Tel Aviv headquarters of Haganah, the Jewish militia, said Syrian and Lebanese forces invaded at dawn from the north in heavy attacks.

Haganah reported Jewish outposts at three settlements within Palestine were engaged in fierce fighting against invaders using tanks and armored cars. The announcement said the attackers “are using guns, mortars and machine-guns.”

Unofficial sources in Cairo said the Egyptian Army crossed into southern Palestine at midnight and that King Ibn Saud ordered his Saudi Arabian Army to join Egyptian troops on the southern front.

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Arab dispatches to Damascus, Syria, asserted King Abdullah of Trans-Jordan ordered simultaneous invasion of the Holy Land by six Arab states’ Armies. The reports said Iraqi planes flew above invading troops from Iraq, showering the soldiers with leaflets “welcoming” them into Palestine.

In Amman, Trans-Jordan, Abdullah’s palace aids denied a Damascus report that the invasion got under way yesterday. A courier from Amman to Jerusalem said he saw no unusual military activity on the Holy Land’s eastern frontier. Abdullah’s British-trained Arab Legion controls the highway from Allenby Bridge, across the Jordan, to the outskirts of Jerusalem, but these troops still are under the British Palestine command.

Five Arab Nations Hold Council of War

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Some Trans-Jordan troops already were in Palestine, holding Jericho, 20 miles northeast of Jerusalem.

Five Arab states held a council of war in Trans-Jordan. They were planning operations which, King Abdullah said, “will tighten the ring around the Jewish enemy,” AP correspondent Daniel de Luce reported from Amman.

Army chiefs of staff of Trans-Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon were joined by Col. Hafiz Bey Baggy, representing the Egyptian general staff.

“The time when the Arabs will be masters in Palestine is near,” Abdullah said. “In the past there always have been disagreements and mistrust between the various Arab countries, but these have been settled by the Palestine issue.”

No Arab D-Day specified

Abdullah did not specify a D-Day for Arab invasion nor did it identify any one Arab figure as commander-in-chief. It repeated a previous offer of peace to the Jews if they would accept an Arab majority state and abandon the idea of a Jewish nation. An Arab news agency dispatch said Abdullah had appointed Gen. Sayeeb Pasha, Iraq Army chief of staff, as overall invasion commander.

“The attackers are using guns, mortars, machine guns and armored cars,” Haganah said. “At Ramat Naftali six Lebanese tanks have reached the settlement defenses. There is heavy fighting. First reports of casualties have begun to come in.”

The British announcement on the fighting in Jaffa said:

According to military sources, Irgun Zvai Leumi, using runners, occupied a house within 50 yards of the flank of British forces in the border area.

“Mortar shells fell within the area held by British troops. An armored car and men of the Argyll Highlanders went into action and drove Irgun Zvai Leumi back.”

Other Irgun Zvai Leumi forces advancing toward Jaffa’s Magistrates’ Court were shelled by the Army with mortars and two-pounders.

Jews struggling for Jerusalem were warned by the British to stop fighting under threat of armed force.

A Jewish Agency spokesman said the British district commissioner here sent word last night that if the Haganah redoubles the battle for Jerusalem, Britain would “use all its arms, including air power,” against Jewish sections of Jerusalem.

Fighting in South Jerusalem— halting for a time when Arabs sought a truce—resumed last night as two explosions rocked the Katamon quarter. Arab commanders rushed reinforcements from Jericho, Bethlehem and Hebron. Jewish shock troops encircled Arab strong points in the Holy City.

Thirty Arabs and 15 Jews were known to have been killed. The Jews claimed a number of Arabs have been evacuating the quarter.

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The British had demanded that by noon the Jews straighten out their newly won defense line, withdraw from seized portions of the port city, vacate the police station, and open the Musan-Beq road to military traffic.

Original Source

May 1, 1948 | © The Boston Globe

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