Four Jewish Dp Camps in U.S. Zone of Germany to Close During March, J.D.C. Reports

With the scheduled closing this month of four Jewish displaced persons camps in the U. S. zone of Germany, Jewish emigration from Europe and other areas is expected to hit a new monthly high of some 24,000 during march it was reported yesterday by officials of the Joint Distribution Committee, who aid they had "been advised that within the next two weeks. Jewish DP camps in Bad Salzschrif, Moencheberg and Wetzlar will begin shutting down operations. One DP camp–the Hasenecke center in the U.S. zone–closed its gates last week.

J.D.C. officials explained that when a DP camp is closed most of its residents are scheduled for immediate departure to Israel. In the first two months of the year seven Jewish DP camps in Germany–Zeilsheim, Pocking, Wilseck, Hof, Hess Lichtenau, Fritzlar and Hofgeismar–with a total population of 11,000 persons, were closed. The accelerated .pace of DP camp liquidation will be reflected in increased Jewish emigration from Europe this month. J.D.C. officials said. From Europe, Shanghai, Aden and other areas, an estimated 24,000 persons will migrate to new homes, chiefly in Israel. So far this month, 10,000 men, women and children have emigrated, the J.D.C. disclosed.

The J.D.C. is now undertaking phase two of "Operation Magic Carpet," under which it has flown out 4,500 Yemenite refugees from Aden to Israel, it was stated. The second phase of this operation began this week following the release by Sir Reginald Champion, British Governor of Aden, of 860 Jews of military age who had teen denied permission to leave Aden for Israel. With their families, the group numbers 2,00O, all of whom will be flown out of Aden in J.D.C’s airlift operation within the next few months.