ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26531, 5 August 1947, Page 5

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

SENT BACK FROM PALESTINE MANY LEAVE BRITISH SHIPS Rec. 10 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 4. A message from Paris states that eight more illegal Jewish immigrants of the 4500 on board the three British ships off Port Debouc came ashore yesterday, bringing the total who have come ashore to 90. Three International Red Cross doctors have boarded the ships and will stay there until the ships sail. Jews who refused to land after being shipped back to France from Palestine said they were getting better rations than the British troops guajding them, reports Reuter’s correspondent at Port Debouc. Henry Auerback, one of the refugees, denied rumours that the food and fruit being sent on board the Ocean Vigour were being intercepted. He added that the refugees in the ship voted unanimously to send one large basket of French fruit and vegetables from their special daily ration to the British troops. Six other refugees said the conduct of the British guards was above reproach. The correspondent adds that one hold looked hot and crowded. A woman said that she did not go on deck because it was cooler by the hatch. A large number of adults would not use the baths because of an unfounded rumour that salt water was causing skin disease. A British spokesman said conditions on board the other two refugee ships, the Empire Rival and the. Runnymede Park, were almost identical with those of the Ocean Vigour. The Associated Press correspondent says that conditions were unpleasant and uncomfortable, but supportable. The correspondent’s inspection followed a report in the French Left Wing newspaper Franctireur of “ much suffering, intense heat, and crowded unsanitary conditions ” on board the Empire Rival.