Mauritius  Odyssey     Refugees      Slobodarna       Voyage under the Panama flag    Defense Regulations    Holy Land    Deportation    British Prison    Fritz Haendel  

Finally, four far too small old steamers, former Danube pleasure boats, were organized for the journey down the river. Starting out from Vienna on September 4th, their first port of call was Bratislava where the Czech contingent – the largest – boarded. After sailing through Hungary, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria they reached Tulcea, a Romanian port on the Black Sea, where three ships, the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Milos, also delapidated, waited to take them to their ultimate destination – Eretz Yisrael. This dream, however was not to be realized. After dangers of the war, Captain’s treachery, malnutrition and deseases experienced by the passengers, Atlantic was intercepted by British boats. It was just then that new rules had come into effect about refugees attempting to enter Palestine.
Defense Regulations Made Under Article 3 of the Emergency Powers (Colonial Defense) Order, 1939, and the Emergency Powers (Defense) Act, 1939.
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Defense (Entry Prohibition) Regulations, 1940.
2.1. The High Commissioner or any person authorized by him by Detention Order, may, if satisfied that during the present War any person has entered or has attempted to enter Palestine without being authorized so to do, make an Order directing that such a person be detained.
2.2. Any person detained in accordance with any such Order may be detained in such place and under such conditions as the High Commissioner may from time to time determine and while so detained any such person shall be deemed to be in legal custody.
By His Excellency’s Command, J.S. Macpherson, Chief Secretary. 17th October, 1940.