The Marine Flasher, first vessel to sail from Europe to the United States under President Truman’s directive on DP immigration, left here over the week-end with 873 wildly excited passengers, including more than 600 Jewish refugees.
An hour before sailing time the immigrants jammed the flag-draped deck and heard Robert Murphy, United States political advisor to Army headquarters, greet them as prospective American citizens. From an improvised platform Murphy bade them forget the sorrow of their past lives and wished them success and happiness in their new home. The ship’s captain, Robert Eastman, told the refugees that they were “now on board American soil, where liberty and justice for all” prevailed.
Miss Helen Zelka, UNREA official, read a letter of gratitude to America, which was composed by a special committee of the immigrants. The letter, which was also signed by representatives of HIAS, J.D.C., and other voluntary relief organizations, read: “May God bless America, its President, and all these good people who have made it possible for us to be free human beings again. It is our sacred and solemn promise that we shall do everything in our power to be worthy of the great trust placed upon us.”
Religious services were held before the ship sailed, by U.S. Army Chaplain Joseph Shubow of Boston who is accompanying the immigrants on their trip to America. The passengers sang “God Bless America” and “Hatikvah” as the boat cast off. Before embarkation over 1,000 Jewish refugees attended a mass meeting in the immigration station’s large auditorium and heard Joseph Rosenzaft, president of the Central Committee of Jews of Belsen, wish them good luck and urged them not to forget those who remained behind and to continue the struggle for the realization of Jewish national aspirations in Palestine.
Among the Jewish immigrants were 343 from Poland, 218 from Germany and 45 from Latvia, including 69 children ranging from four months to 18 years. More than 440 of the Jews received their visas under corporate affidavits filed by the Joint Distribution Committee. In order to expedite the Marine Flasher’s sailing, the J.D.C. also advanced funds for nearly 100 Catholic and Protestant immigrants, which will be repaid by American Christian organization. The next group of immigrants is expected to sail Tuesday on the Marine Perch.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
