Evening star., 1939-04-23
BY ELMER w. PETERSON,

A<~AvAOAS W. - 4 A|ASoOANS
Associated Press Foreisn Correspondent.
HAIFA, Palestine.-Quietly, q num-
Der of young men and women slip
into the cold water from the ships
ladder and start swimming toward
the shore, their arms flashing white
against the darkness.
At the same time small boats, low
cred of carefully creased davits,
start shoreward with older people
and children and bundles Of personal
belongings.
Surreptitiously, Palestine is re-
ceiving q new batch Of illegal immi-
grants.
On the lonely beach, the swimmers
dress hurriedly and join with the
Jewish refugees from the small boats.
Together they watch as the dark
ened ship gathers speed to the
sound of mufned bells and heads
out to sea again.
Destroy Identification.
There is now no turning back for
these refugees. Destiny has brought
them, from half a dozen different
countries, to stand huddled on this
beach. In more cases than not
they have destroyed all identiflca-
ton, including throwing away their
passports. They have arrived, not
as accredited citizens OF country,
but with only a name.
A child whimpers and is quickly
hushed. AS group the refugees
move away in search of the near
est Jewish settlement. A false move
may mean arrest, imprisonment,
deportation.
Success in their venture means
that they shortly will be merged
safely with the tens of thousands
of Jews already residing illegally
in the Holy Land.
All this comes under the general
heading of illegal immigration,
which sounds matter-of-fact enough
but back of this phrase In Palestine
runs widening circle OF pathos,
tragedy and hardship.
Smuggling Develops.
1t is now concerned in the main
with these ships that appear on the
coast of Palestine without lights;
with immigrants stepping ashore on
a deserted coast, clutching at few
belongings. It is concerned with
their ultimate arrival in Jewish set
Elements where no questions are
asked.
It has to do with fear, and dismay
and hope-a new chapter in the old
story of the wandering Jew, 1t
has to do, also. with direct evasion
of the law and with the steady de-
velopment of new and profitable
smuggling activity.
Most Of these illegal refugee ships
come from points In the Greek
islands. and underground channels
of communication are used in as
sembling the refugees. The fare is
from $50 to SIS.
Sometimes the ships carry cargo
as well and land these refugees as
an extra money proposition. But
more and more refugees at $75 per
head constitutes excellent money
for a short haul If the venture is
successful.
Slow, decrepit old steamers were
used at first. but Of late there have
been indications of increasing EN-
cheney in this smuggling game.
Landings Sometimes Fail.
There are many individual stories
about this illegal immigration
There is the story of the small
steamer with 18 refugees aboard
that wandered up and down the
coast for several days seeking op-
portunity to land. The ships water
ran out. Food became scarce. And
then the landing proved disastrous.
The refugees were arrested and i'm
prisoned, subject to deportation.
Not long ago a steamer with 269
refugees-plus Is stoWaways-was
apprehended by the coast guard
patrol near Haifa. where a landing
was being attempted. 1t was de-
tained for time and then, after
a supply of food and water had been
put aboard, was sent out to sea
again Did it return to its port of
origin? Or did the attempt to land
its passengers secretly prove sue
cessful?
Estimates as to the number of