U.S. naval force through strait

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33740, 13 January 1975, Page 1

U.S. naval force through strait

(New Zealand Press Association—Copyright)

SINGAPORE, January’ 12.

A United States naval task force headed by the nuclear-powered aircraft - carrier Enterprise steamed through Malacca Strait yesterday apparently headed for the Indian Ocean, United Press International reported.

The force of six ships, which includes the nuclearpowered guided-missile cruiser, Long Beach, moved into the strait, at the southern end of the South China Sea, at mid-morning. The sighting of the task force by private pilots ended speculation that the giant carrier, loaded with Fl 4 fighter-bombers, might be headed for duty off the Vietnamese coast.

The departure of the task force from Subic Bay in the Philippines on Tuesday coincided with a Communist takeover of Phuoc Binh, capital

of South Vietnam’s Phuoc Long province.

The task force’s course to the strait was not disclosed but the Viet Cong asserted that the Enterprise passed within 300 miles of the Vietnamese coast and said that her passage near Vietnam was a cease-fire violation by the United States. American military sources said earlier that the task force, composed of ’he Enterprise. the Long Beach, two destroyers, and two supply ships, was heading for the Indian Ocean on a "show the flag’’