New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-20
Passengers in
Rage at Havre
Examinations
Arrivals OH Rochambeau
Bitterly Protest Arbitra-
ry Rule Forcing Them to
Submit to Vaccination
Several Ill for Days
United States Health Au-
tl1orities at French Port
Accused of Violations

American passengers on board tht
Rochambeae, % the French Line. or.
rived here yesterday protesting against
the regulations that caused them tt
submit to physical examination and
vaccination before they were allowed
to embark at Havre. Besides making
claims that the present immigration
law prescribing those measures is dis.
criminstory, the passengers pretasted
most strenuousiv against the "out.
rageous" manner IN which the exami-
nations were conducted by French
physicians under direction from the
United States nealtn authorities.
There were 228 Americans among the
cabin passengers booked for the YES
sci, which is "one-class" ship. When
called upon TO undergo vaccination
they objected almost without exception
on the grounds that they we're cabin
passengers and we're entitled to priv
leges the same as frst-cabin pas
sengers on other ships.
Officials maintained that they were
carrying out the orders of the United
States government and explained that
the immigration laws regarded pas
sengers on a "one-class" vessel in the
light of second-class travellers, and
therefore subject to examination. This
was new to most Of them, who sub
mitted to the order under protest
rather than miss their sailing.
Protest at Examination
Passengers referred to the examina-
ton and treatment at Havre variously
as "unsanitary," "disgusting" and
COURAGEOUS" Many went to officers
of the ship with the protest eve arc
officers, however, were able only to
lend as much comfort as possible once
the ship got under way.
Among those who commended that the
procedure was far from properly car
ried out was DR.. B. S. Pollak, medical
director Of the Hudson County Tuber-
culosis Hospital and Sanitarium at Sc
caucus, N. j.; Norman Norman, a
Wall Street broker, living at the Stand
ish Arms, Brooklyn; Miss Gcrmaine
Marion, of Montreal; DR.. Herbert Mar
tin, of Drake University; Scott NJ.
Bradford, Of Goodrich, Colo, and Mrs.
Sydney S. King, wife of the president
of the Dayton Lumber Company, Day
ton, Ohio.
DR.. Pollak refused to be vaccinated
and was told that he would have to
have release signed by the American
Consul, so that in case pestilence broke
out the French Line would be absolved
Of blame. Miss Marion stood on her
rights as a British subject and escaped.
Mr.. Merriman said he intended to take
up the matter with Senator Calder,
especially with regard to the manner
of making examinations. One woman
declared that she had watched the
handling of immigrants at Ellis Island
and that they were treated with con-
sideration by comparison with the
methods employed at Havre.
Many Confined to Cabins
Objections were voiced also by mem
bers of the Harvard Glee Club, seven
teen of whose members returned from
their European tour. They were ac
companied by DR.. Archibald 7. Dawson.
the director. One of the members. Paul
S. Smith, of Brooklyn, said he would
join the other members in their pro-
test. Many others, it was said, had
kept their cabins for days as a result
of the vaccine
The particular cause of complaint
was in the manner that the passengers
were examined, which was careless,
without necessary precautions and un-
cleanly, according to many
Among the 407 who constituted the
cabin booking there were Wilfrid
Pelletier, Metropolitan Opera House
pianist; Sherwood Anderson, author;
Gilbert White, an American painter,
and Chester Beach, sculptor