THE first day of the struggle for Palestine following the termination of the British Mandate ended in military successes for the Arabs and a diplomatic success for the Jews.

The new-born Jewish `State of Israel` was menaced on three fronts as Arab forces poured across the Palestine frontiers from north, east and south. Its capital, Tel Aviv, was dive-bombed by six Spitfires, one of which the Jews claim to have shot down and to have captured its Egyptian pilot. While the Jews gained a diplomatic success by the de facto recognition of the new `state` by the United States, they face a grim situation tactically, as the Arab invasion is obviously of a full-scale nature.

... [The] first news of the Tel Aviv bombing came from the white-haired, 62-year-old Mr David Ben-Gurion, Israel`s first Premier, in a broadcast from Tel Aviv.

`Tel Aviv is being bombed by hostile planes as I am speaking,` he said. Distinct bombing sounds could be heard and Mr BenGurion paused before continuing his speech.

`We expect all decent peoples throughout the world will help us in our difficult task. We know we are facing great dangers,` he said.