111WMPO REFUGEE SHIP ORDERED HOME HAVANA Cuba June 1 President Federico Laredo Bru Thursday ordered the German liner St Louis to leave immediately with her 917 German Jewish refugees and Cuban maiines were held in readiness to see that the presidential orders were carried out The president signed a decree directing Luis Closing agent of the Homburg-America line to proceed with the departure of the St Louis or the vessel would be towed from Cuban waters by a Cuban gunboat The ship which arrived last Saturday was scheduled to start the return voyage to Germany Thursday afternoon but her captain Gustav Shroeder announced postponement of the sailing in the hope that the Government would rescind its order denying the refugees permission to enter& Cuba Captain Schroeder had requested the government to reconsider its action because of his fear of a "collective suicide pact" or perhaps a "mutiny" among his passengers once they learned finally that they must return to Germany Police in :launches and aboard kept close watch on the passengers who included 500 women and 150 children Guards leaving the ship Thursday afternoon reported the situation among the refugees as desperate They said that women and children cried continuously and that calls to meals for the most part went unanswered Port police had several boats ready to escort the St Louis from the harbor to pick up any of the passengers who might jump overboard Shroeder's fears of mass suicides arose when one passenger slashed his wrists and jumped overboard Wednesday The man however was rescued
