TENSION AMONG JEWS

Chronicle (Levin), 27 August 1947, Page 5

TENSION AMONG JEWS

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

Precaiiiioiis WSien Ships Dock At Gibraltar

Copyright)

Received Wednesday, 10.45 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 26. Machine-guns covered the three ships conveying Ihe 4500 Jewish illegal immigrants when they docked for ccaling at Gibraltar today, says Reuter's correspondent. The Jews wei'e restricted t c the stuffy and crowded holds and cages on the foredeck. The dock area was I - cordoned off with barbed-wire. Dense clouds of black coal dust blanketed the decks of the ships., There have been signs on the Runlymede Park that the tension is beginning to fray the Jews' nerves. Escorting guards this aiternoon closed a hatch and accidentally crushed one Jew's flngers. Another Jew had to resirain about a dozen of the younger and more hotheaded refugees from making a violent demonstration. The Jews' leader, in a parley with the ship's officors, asked that the soldiers responsible for the accident be punished. The officers refused, saying that the soldiers had not seen the Jew's fingers in the hatch. The Jewish leader then said: "I am doing my best to keep the people quiet, but I am not backed by military discipline. The people are willing to fight if I give the word, but we are conserving our strength for the fiilal struggle at Hamburg." A correspondent says that most of the refugees have no complaints about the British soldiers. They regard the iinger erushing as an isolated incident. Another sign of nerves was a violent struggle between two young Jews, one of whom was nearly strangled. The chief complaint of the refugees, who are now on hard rations, is against the army biscuits, which they claim are so hara that they are uneatable. The authorities have ordered extra blankets and new tarpaulins for the holds, and have asked for a more palatable substitute for the biscuits. The ships are expected to stay in Gibraltar for 43 hours to allow the crews and military guards shore leave. Troops from the Gibraltar Garrison will relieve the troops on the ships. The local Jews ignored the arrival of the ships.