Cease-Fire For Gaza Border Zone The Governments of Israel and Egypt have both accepted the latest appeal by General Bums, chief of staff of the United Nations truce supervisory organization, for a cease-fire in the Gaza area. The appeal was made after General Bums had consulted the Secretary-General of the United Nations. In her reply, Israel reserves her "full rights of self-defence, ff attacked." TENSION STILL HIGH WAR MOVES BY BOTH SIDES From Our Correspondent JERUSALEM (ISRAEL SIDE), SEPT. 4 Israel has accepted the latest appeal for a cease-fire in the Gaza area made by the chief of staff of the United Nations truce supervisory organization, Major- General Burns. Information that the Egyptian Government had accepted the proposal for a cease-fire was received at the headquarters of the organization in Jerusalem, shortly before 3 p.m. to-day, the time set by General Burns as the latest by which he expected to receive the replies of the two Governments to his appeal. It is presumed that the cease-fire will be effective at once. The Israel reply refers to the appeal of General Burns that both sides should not only observe strictly a cease-fire but should also " issue and enforce most positive orders to prevent any persons crossing the demar- cation line and attacking persons in the other's territory, laying mines, or committing other acts of sabotage." It comments: " No implication is accepted, or presumably in- tended, that Israel, like Egypt, has been guilty of the acts enumerated." FULL RESPONSIBILITY The letter states, however, that the Government takes full responsibility for the execution of strict orders that no Israel initiative shall be taken in opening fire, or carrying out an) of the otber acts referred to in General Burns's appeal. Israel, while accepting the proposal for a cease-fire, reserves " its ful rights of self-defence, if attacked." General Burns's renewed appeal for a cease-fire was communicated to the Israel and Egyptian Governments yesterday. It was made in view of the very serious events of the past few days on both sides of the demarcation line bordering the Gaza strip, and following consultations with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. It called on both parties to inform General Burns whether they were prepared to agree to a cease-fire. CONDITIONS DROPPED Last night, an Israel Foreign Ministry spokesman declared that his Government had in effect agreed to a cease-fire in the letter addressed to General Burns last Thurs- day. I his followed the night attack by Israel forces on the Egyptian position at Khan Yunis, which was made after General Burns's first appeal for a cease-fire. Israel's willingness next day to accept a cease-fire was made conditional on the stoppage by the Egyptians of all hostile acts, including sabotage and other raiding activities by bands crossing into Israel. To-day's reply to the latest appeal by General Burns makes no reference to conditions, except the one indicating that Israel reserves the right to defend herself if attacked. The Army has announced that a water pipeline at Nizinim, north of Ashkelon and about 12 miles from the border, was blown up this morning by saboteurs from the Gaza strip. This appears to have been the only incident of its kind in the past 36 hours. Yesterday morning, however, there was a prolonged exchange of gunfire along the northern sector of the Gaza strip. It stopped about noon, and since then no serious shooting across the demarcation line has been reported. One Egyptian soldier is s.ated to have crossed to the Israel lines on Friday and to have given himself up. MOVEMENT OF TROOPS Tension remains high in the Gaza area. The movement of Egyptian troops and arms into the strip has been noticed, and there is much evidence of preparedness on this side. Members of an American operations mis- sion which provides technical aid to Israel were withdrawn from the district south of Rehovoth last Thursday. There is no sign of alarm, however, among the numerous Israel settlements in this part of the western Ncgev. Settlers, in pairs and with loaded arms beside them, were out in the fields this morning, and farm traffic to and from the main market town of Beer- sheba was only slightly less than usual. Beersheba, the inhabitants of which can plainly hear such gttnfire as there may be on the border, is one of the busiest and most rapidly developing towns of Israel. It was crowded early this morning with farmers delivering fruit and vegetables, Beduin test- ing saddle leather, women with shopping bags, children on their way to schools just reopened after the summer holidays, and technicians and workmen setting out for the quarries and phosphate mines to the south. There has been no closing of roads or other restrictions on traffic in the area, and, except for the unusual numbers of uniformed men and military vehicles, the scene is not markedly different from normal. Beersheba is an important crossroads, with excellent communication westwards to the settlements near the Gaza demarcation line, northwards to Tel-Aviv, north-westwards to Jerusalem, and south to Eilat, on the Gulf of Aqaba. The Israelis remain steadfastly confident in their Army's capacity to defend them, should the need arise. The effectiveness of the Army, by modern military standards, is difficult to assess, but trained observers can- not but be impressed by the evidence of high efficiency and intelligent discipline, which the security regulations do not attempt to conceal. It is a hardy force, with a sense of mission, and is thoroughly trained in the use and maintenance of arms which, though not always of the most modem type, appear by Middle East standards to be more than adequate. Security considerations prevent the pub- lication here of any estimate of the numbers now under arms, but the military authorities say that orders for general mobilization would raise the strength to 250,000 well trained soldiers. It is claimed that this force could be made ready within 48 hours of mobilization being ordered and could be put into the line almost immediately afterwards. The male reservists have had two and a half years of continuous training as conscripts; thereafter they are kept familiar with their weapons by a month's training a year and one day's duty a month, until they reach the age of 39; at that age, the period of annual service for the next, and final, 10 years is halved. Women conscripts serve for two years; married women with children. are exempt. DOUBTS REMOVED However prepared and confident Israel may be, it is improbable' that she desires war at this stage. Mobilization would seriously hamper industry and agriculture, and would delay important development work throughout the country. On the other hand, the nature of the raids into Israel carried out by Egyptian bands during the past two weeks has had the effect of removing any doubts there may have been in official quarters about the justification for sharp reprisal action. It now seems that the political authorities have decided to stand aside and leave the question of border security to the military. If this is so, it is doubtless unfortunate. It is difficult, how- ever, to brush away the argument that Israel is too small a country to allow, year after year, a wide (and ever-widening) border margin to become insecure through hostile operations by neighbouring countries. In to-day's issue of the Army's weekly magazine, Bawnalhaneh, Major-General Moshe Dayan, Chief of the General Staff, is reported to have told a meeting of officers that it was necessary to impress on the country's neighbours that sabotage and murderous forays into Israel could not be made to pay. WARNING SHOTS NEAR U.S. AIRCRAFT LYDDA. Sept. 4.-Israel fighters fired warning shots in front of a United States Air Force Dakota after intercepting it over Haifa port to-day. The fighter crews claimed that the Americans had violated "Israel air space " by flying outside the recognized air corridor, and had ignored three signals to land. The Dakota, flying from Cairo to Beirut, was forced to land at Lydda airport. Later the aircraft, carrying a crew of seven, with three officers and two civilians from the American military mission in Ankara, was allowed to leave for Beirut.-Reuter. CEASE-FIRE FOR GAZA BORDER ZONE BOTH SIDES ACCEDE TO U.N. APPEAL