Evening star., 1947-09-07
BY fhe Asseciofed Press

cially trained for their assign
ment, stood ready in the. dock
area tonight as the first of three
deportation ships returning 4,400
Jews of the Exodus 1947 to Ger
many sailed slowly up the Elbe
toward Hamburg.
The troops were prepared for
action If the Jews, thwarted in
their desire to reach Palestine,
offer resistance when disembarka-
ton begins early tomorrow.
During the day the three British
transports, with their naval es-
cort, anchored at a rendezvous
in the Elbe Estuary. There the
British we're reported to have re-
moved some of the leaders among
the refugees, possibly to disorganize
resistance when the time for land
ing came.
Appeal for Discipline.
The anchorage was reached on
the 57th day after the Jews had
embarked secretly from France for
Palestine aboard the. Exodus 1947,
formerly the S. S. President War
field, a Chesapeake Bay steamer
The voyage OF the Jews, who were
without visas, ended when the
British intercepted their ship al
most within sight of the Holy Land.
AS the troops here prepared to
man their stations the Elbe River
light ship reported that the first
of the transports to unload. the
Ocean Vigor, had left her anchor
age in the Estuary and was heading
for the docks.
In Hamburg the Jewish Central
Committee for the British zone de-
plored what it described as "the
dark day and the brutal opera
ton which would see the first Of
the refugees landed. The ccmmit-
tee also pleaded with Jews in the
British zone to observe discipline
"of on this day our misery"
Correspondent Held Back.
British troops were ready to board
trains which will carry the refugees
to displaced persons camps and In
the cainpA there were more soldiers
To stand guard over enclosures sur
rounded BY triple rings Of barbed
wire.
All physical communication with
the Exodus Jews has been cut on by
British naval orders.
Five newspaper correspondents,
who had been selected to write ac-
counts on q pooled" basis for the
nearly 200 reporters and photo
raphers gathered here, and several
British intelligence officers, were
turned back at CuxhAyen three
minutes before they were to sail to
board the vessels.
.22 Reported Removed.
Although the naval officer IN
charge at Cuzhaven denied that
some Jews were removed from the
three ships, reliable private sources
insisted such steps were taken sec
reilly As soon as the ships anchored
Norbert Wilhelm, vice chairman
of the central committee for liber-
ated Jews In the British zone, said
the committee had heard that some
Jews were taken off on the ground
they were communists and "ag-
iators." ..-.-. .....
Of1cial circles said they had been
anticipating such q step as means
of disorganizing any resistance. .
American and British news cor
respondents vigorously protested to
British control commission authori-
ties against what they called "in-
tolerable restraints" on their cover
in gof the arrival. ..
Writers Demand Explanation.
News photographers were hardest
hit by the restrictions. They were
informed that no photographers
would be allowed In the dock area
The correspondents were told by
public relations officers they would
not be allowed on the quay until
two hours after the first OF the
ships arrives. II the Decentralization
proved peaceful, they were told. the
press would be given "a fair chance
to see the proceedings" but If force
had to be used "you will not have
a very good view"
The correspondents were to be
corraled into a quayside pen. They
demanded an explanation from All
Marshall Sir Sholto Douglas, British
commander of the zone.
Ohhcials explained that "if an!
people on board wanted to max,
trouble nothing would encourage
-