ATTACK ON U.S. SHIP

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30094, 30 March 1963, Page 11

ATTACK ON U.S. SHIP

Unknown Jets Off Cuba Open Fire

(N.Z Press Association —Conyngtit) WASHINGTON, March 29. State Department officials waited today to question the crew of an American freighter which was fired on by two unidentified jet aircraft, when off Cuba last night, the Associated Press reported.

The ship, the 4600-ton Floridian, which was not hit in the attack, is due to reach Miami under United States air escort at 7 a.m. Navy and Marine jet fighters were sent from Key West, Florida, to the scene, off the north coast of Cuba, immediately the ship radioed the United States Coast Guard that aircraft had fired bursts across its bow and stern. The United States fighters did not see the attackers.

Informed sources said that if the United States fighters had found the attackers over international waters they were authorised to take whatever action necessary—including firing at them—to drive them off. The State Department said the Floridian was attacked | about 6.05 p.m while on the way from San Juan. Puerto Rico, to Miami. The 361-foot ship, owned by Container Ships Inc., of Wilmington, Delaware, was in international waters at the time, the State Department said A United States shrimp boat, the Ala. was fired on by two Cuban MiG jets on February 20. Officials were unable to identify las* night’s attackers After the Ala incident. President Kennedy ordered :he Defence Department “to insure that action will be taken against any vessel or aircraft which executes an attack against a vessel or aircraft of the United Statci over international waters in the Caribbean ” A P said that judging from the brief message from the ship. Washington officials presumed the aircraft had

flown too fast past the ship for identification. A State Department spokesman had no comment on whether the attacking planes were sent by the Cuban Government in retaliation for refugee attacks on Russian ships in Cuban harbours, United Press International said In Miami. Mr Joe Teitelbaum, of Eagle Stevedores Inc., agents for the Floridian, said the motorship was bringing 35 refrigerated trailers full of food from San Juan It would have spent 12 months on the San JuanMiami run on April 1. “We never had any trouble with the Cuban Government before and the ship passes through the same area every week at she same time.” he said. The ship carried a crew of 24. Her master was Captain Curtis Olsen In Miami, the Coast Guard revealed that the Floridian flashed S.O.S. signals before reporting the attack, U.PI. said today The Coast Guard then released a “summary” of the incident as reported by the ship “She did not say she was hit.” the Coast Guard reported. The jets had circled the vessel six times The planes had fired “one short burst across the stern and one long burst across the bow.” a Coast Guard spokesman said, “One aircraft came in low to fire, while the

other stayed at a higher altitude." On the final pass, the lower of the planes swooped across the bow of the ship, about 200 yards off the water, its machine-guns blazing. The bullets tore into the ocean “about 100 yards ahead.” the Coast Guard said. Then the plane disappeared into low, hanging clouds towards the west. The ship reported to the Coast Guard it was steaming at 17 knots at the time of the incident and was flying the American flag.