Evening star., 1946-11-26
British Troops
Put Down Riot
On Haifa Ship.
Tear Cos, Fire Hoses.
Clubs QueII 1870
Jewish Immigrants
BY the Assoeioted Press

Steel-helmeted British troops
using tear gas, fire hoses and
clubs put down riot of shouting
Jewish refugees aboard the i'm
migrant ship Hameri Haivri
Lochita) today after an hour
long battle in which 10 soldiers
were injured, 4 seriously.
The battle was touched of when
troops boarded the ship, biggest yet
to attempt the dash to Palestine, to
begin the removal of the illegal i'm
migrants to three British troop ships
to await legal decision on their
future. 1t was reported that 1910
refugees were aboard. :.
"The blighters were tossing fun
tins of UNRRA food at us" a police
officer said. "It was ankle deep on
the deck"
Banner Hung Over Side.
At the height of the fight the
passengers hung huge banner over
the side of the ship. 1t was signed
Commander in chief, Jewish re-
sistance movement" and read, For
every Jew murdered or wounded
aboard this ship you will pay in
English blood. You have been
warned"
Soldiers were repulsed in their
first attempt to board the ship and
returned shortly armed with tear
gas, hose and clubs. Four Sten gun
bursts were fired in the air, but the
refugees would not be cowed.
About 50of the immigrants leaped
overheard and were picked up. Some
80 others jumped to the deck OF a
nearby tug, but were brought back.
Immigrants Taken Ashore.
Decentralization began an hour
and a half after the ship entered
Haifa harbor. The immigrants were
taken ashore in launches and trans
ferred to the troop ships.
The rioting finally was quelled by
troops in baton charges, under cover
of tear gas. But even after the dis
embarkation began under the direc-
ton Of 1t. Col. R. v. Creig, acting
commander of the 1st Divisions S
Royal Artillery, refugees attempted
to reach land by leaping into the
water and swimming. All were
picked UP.
Jewish sources said several i'll per-
sons and about 100 pregnant women
were among the passengers, and that
four babies had been born aboard,
The Jewish Agency was instructed
by the government to prepare q
sickbay at Athlit Detention Camp.
Writ to Be Heard Tomorrow.
The habeas corpus writ question:
ing the Palestine governments
right to deport or detain the refugees
will be heard tomorrow in Jerusa-
lem's Court.
Accompanied by two British de-
stroyers, the 2,o00-ton vessel had
been sighted off Haifa Harbor by
watchers on Mount Carmel, who
said she was under her own power.
A military source said trans-shlp-
ment to the Ocean Vigour, Empire
Haywood and Empire Rival wonlo
take about IL hours.
The passengers were expected TO
be kept aboard the vessels either IN
Haifa Harbor or cruising in terri
torial waters, pending settlement OF
the habeas corpus action filed yes
terday in the Palestine Supreme
Court at Jerusalem on behalf OF
the Hameri Haivri's passengers.
Jews Obtain Writ.
A writ granted Jewish attorneys
Yesterday requires the Palestine
government to show cause by to-
morrow why the refugees should
be deported to detention camps on
Cyprus in pursuance of a British
policy instituted in midsummer.
A battalion of Welsh guards took
I'D positions as strict curfew was
ciamped on the Haifa port area.
Haifa's $4,000 Jews scheduled a
protest strike from pm. to $50
pm. today to show their disap-
proval of British refusal to permit
the Hameri Haivri's passengers to
land, and a mass meeting was
scheduled on Mount Carmel at 4:3O
pm.