The Ocean Vigor, first of the three British prihips returning 4,400 Jews to Germany to arrive here, was eased alongside her at 3 p.m. today, after lying anchored in the Elbe estuary since early morning fog made it impossible for the vessel to proceed.
Disembarkation of her deportee passengers, which was scheduled to begin at was postponed until tomorrow morning, since British officials want to transport ## Jews to internment camps the same day they are landed. Just before the Ocean (##) docked, the refugees were told that they will be given an hour’s grace after an official disembarkation hour is set to decide whether they will leave peacefully.
No sound could be heard from the Ocean Vigor as it entered the heavily bar(##)ded dock area in a steady drizzle which kept most of the refugees in the crowded (##)s below deck. Using field glasses, a JTA correspondent could see a few heads (##)ge from the portholes. Several men were apparently singing but nothing could be heard.
BRITISH ASSIGN THREE SOLDIERS TO EVERY DEPORTEE
According to the latest British plan, about 4,200 soldiers will be used in operation, if the refugees refuse to land voluntarily. The plan calls for the {SPAN}##{/SPAN} of one soldier per passenger, then two, and finally, three, if they need to quell {SPAN}(##){/SPAN} resistance. All troops have been issued 15-inch wooden truncheons, gas masks and {SPAN}(##){/SPAN} sections of rubber tires for use as arm shields to ward off blows. Several {SPAN}(##){/SPAN}diers to whom the correspondent spoke, made no effort to hide their anti-Semitism, {SPAN}(##){/SPAN}daring that the Jews were causing them a lot of trouble. Others, however, said {SPAN}(##){/SPAN}nkly that they did not like the job.
The dock area is so heavily guarded that it is impossible to get anywhere (##)r the pier where the Ocean Vigor is docked. Wire fences have been erected, completely penning in the area through which the refugees will pass after leaving the (##)ps. When the correspondent attempted to enter this morning, before the ships had (##)rived, he was warned to stay out on pain of cancellation of his dock pass privileges (##) tomorrow and subsequent days.
The nearly 200 correspondents and photographers here were still bitter today concerning the sudden British decision to refuse to allow them to witness the begining of the landings, on the grounds that their presence would encourage the deportees (##) resist. According to present plans, the newsmen will be allowed to enter the dock (##)ea after the disembarkation has begun, peacefully or otherwise.
The many occupation officials here in connection with the arrival of the transports spent a very pleasant week-end, which was highlighted by a special horse (##)cing program. Local hotels are jammed.
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.
