REFUGEE SHIP

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 February 1947, Page 5

REFUGEE SHIP

INTERCEPTED ON WAY TO PALESTINE TROOPS MOVE TO HAIFA (Rec. 3 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 9. A Jewish refugee ship , named the Negev, carrying more than 600 passengers, was captured outside territorial waters to-day and will be brought to Haifa to-night. It is officially stated that an R.A.F. reconnaissance plane spotted the ship yesterday. A British destroyer later took it into custody. Government officials said the ( boarding party met with “some opposition,” . Reuter’s correspondent says that illegal immigrants threw bottles and iron bars at the British naval boarding party, which tried to board the Negev, a twomasted schooner. One Jew was wounded in the leg by a ricochetting bullet fired in the air as a warning. Sailors from the British destroyer threw teargas cannisters aboard the schooner, but the refugees threw them into the sea. Several Jews were , slightly injured during scuffles before resistance was overcome. The authorities sighted three small boats off the coast near Caesarea and arrested nine Jews. The police believe the boats may have been assigned. to assist the landing ot the Negev’s passengers. . Troops of the Sixth Air-Borne Division are now moving into Haifa preparing for the arrival of the Negev. The whole port has been cordoned off and heavily guarded by tanks, and armoured cars in case of possible trouble from the terrorists, I The Jewish community at Haifa 1 has declared a two-hour general strike following the British announce--1 ment that the Negev would be sent to Cyprus. It is .believed that the ship came ’ from France. It was flying the Cuban fl9g. ■