Army Lifts Blackout from Landsberg Camp; AMG Officer Hostile to Jewish DP’s

After a three-day blackout, during which correspondents were prevented from entering the Landsberg camp for displaced Jews, the residents of which were involved in a riot with German civilians on Sunday, the Army today allowed reporters to discuss the incident with the camp’s UNRRA officials and with some of the DP’s.

Earlier, the military authorities called together a press conference at which they released a report by Army intelligence, which revealed that the previous accounts of Sunday’s disturbances were highly exaggerated. The report stated that only 18 Germans were injured and the only "lasting" consisted of the stealing of four bicycles and the destruction of some furniture and clothing in one German’s office and house. The early reports had pictured thousands of DP’s sweeping through the streets assaulting hundreds of passersby and invading German house.

The AMG officer for Landsberg, Cept. Mershall Mott of Spartanberg, South Carolina, is clearly hostile to the DP’s. He indicated to reporters that he disagreed with the intelligence report, since he knew that 150 Germans had been injured. He told a questioner that his source of information was the German police and the provost marshal.

Mott, who has been here since the city’s liberation about a year ago, kept insisting that he "was not afraid of the DP’s." He expressed regret that he could not try the 20 arrested following Sunday’s incident, who are to go on trial tomorrow at Kausbeuren, 20 miles from here, which is out of Mott’s jurisdiction.

The AMG officer criticized the Ninth Division occupation troops for not "tearing down" a large banner demanding the release of the imprisoned Jews, which was arrested several days ago by the DP’s. He accused UNRRA officials here of having "sympathy with the DP’s and not with the problem of the Army and the Military Government." Mott admitted that the DP’s and others feel that he is anti-Semitic, but denied the accusation.

Confirmation of Mott’s unfriendly attitude was given by A.C. Glassgold, of New York, the UNRRA camp director, who said that at 1 p.m. Saturday, after things had quieted down, Mott rushed up to Clair Thurston, Ninth Division provost marshal, and demanded a 7 p.m. curfew and a strong display of force. He also urged the arrest without warning of people who congregate in groups of more than five and that in case of an outbreak, troops be ordered to shoot to kill. Thurston who had been handling the situation calmly, and without an excessive display of troops, acceded to Mott’s wishes, Glassgold said.

MISSING CAMP GUARDS STILL UNLOCATED, UNRRA DIRECTOR REVEALS

The UNRRA director, who is on leave from the faculty of the New York School of Social Work, disclosed that the two Jewish camp guards, whose disappearance helped to set off the riot, have not yet been located. He attributed the outbreak to the tension engendered by the DP’s uncertainty concerning their future, the recent clashes at Stuttgart and Regensburg between DP’s and troops and some anti-Semitism among local troops here. Military officials admitted later that there has been no attempt to educate the troops here concerning the DP’s, as has been done elsewhere in Germany.

It was learned that military officials are keeping a close watch on Dr. Samuel Grinzaus, the camp leader, and Dr. Zalman Grinberg, chairman of the Central Jewish Committee, because they believe that Sunday’s disturbances were pre-arranged and incited.

The twenty jailed DP’s are confined in small but clean calls. Most are young men who are convinced of their innocence. After hunger striking for 48 hours, they have agreed, following a talk with camp leaders, to resume eating.

Today, the large Landsberg camp is quiet, and no troops were to be seen. But the Jews are still vehemently demanding the unconditional release of the 20.