lating the experiences of that ex-
odus, was I to come to know what
I had witnessed there in Austria.
I saw the people walking, I
performed that unpleasant duty
of counting those refugees in the
camps, I read, in Stars & Stripes,
our military newspaper, what
was happening in other parts of
the world, and I came to an im-
perfect understanding of the
tragedy of what I was observing.
But it was with great admiration
that I viewed the concerted effort
those people were making to ad-
vance their cause, that of immi-
grating to Palestine, not yet a
Jewish state.
No effort was too small. For
instance, Austrian authorities
discovered a cow stabled in an
abandoned bomb shelter. The
Jewish refugees had put her
there, pulling grass from road-
side ditches to provide her with
feed. They sold the milk and but-
ter she produced on the black
market for the few coins they
could then contribute toward
buying another boat or ship on
which people could embark for
Palestine.
I was sure then that if these
people ever reached their cher-
ished homeland, no power on
earth would be able to dislodge
them. Today I am not so sure.
It troubles me now, 45 years
later, when a TV newscaster,
during a newscast on current
happenings in Israel, stated that
the Arab-Israeli War of 1948 re-
sulted in Israel independence. I
don't think history ought to be re-
written at this late date. The
United Nations, in spite of Arab
protests and threats of war
against a Jewish state, had des-
ignated an area of Palestine to
be the independent State of Is-
rael, the longed for homeland of
those European Jews who had
survived Hitler's atrocities.
On the very day Israel became
a reality, the same refugees I had
seen in the winter of 1947, mak-
ing their way across Germany's
frozen fields, were attacked by
five Arab armies intent on hurl-
ing them back into the sea. The
Jewish defenders were able to
defeat their attackers, but at the
conclusion of that war, they re-
mained under the guns of Egyp-
tians in control of Gaza, and the
Jordanians in the West Bank.
Bombs, rockets, artillery shells,
and terrorist attacks from both
areas became almost a daily oc-
currence for the beleaguered
Jewish state.
Finally, in 1967, after a six-
day war launched against them
by the Arab states still sworn to
destroy Israel, the Israeli forces
devastated their enemies and
captured both the West Bank
and Gaza, which they have since
administered.
The Israelis remember, and
learn, from history. They use that
knowledge to help them perceive
what to expect of the future. Is it
any wonder they fear any weak-
ening of our resolve to support
them any kindness, or charity?
Has it given them anything oth-
er than a certainty that they had
best look to their own interests
always, that the world at large
cannot be relied upon in their
time of need, no matter the
promises of those professing to
be their friends? Better to take
their enemies' word to heart and
prepare for the worst.
They cannot, must not, and
will not rely on the "wobbly"
promises of the likes of George
Bush or James Baker. "Tomor-
row Jerusalem" sustained the
refugees making their way to
Palestine 45 years ago. Staying
there, as a free and independent
nation, will require of them ev-
ery bit as much dedication, effort
and sacrifice today.
While I may never see that
land that drew them across the
snows of Europe, I witnessed a
small part of that exodus. The
respect I gained then for those
people has not diminished with
the passing of the years. I wish
them well. I wish them well.