Mystery Fleet Off Philippine Islands,?

Northern Advocate, 16 April 1938, Page 5

Mystery Fleet Off Philippine Islands,?

i Received 10 a.m.) MANILA. April 14. ►TWO United States destroyers, a num- * ber ol bombers, and three Philippine Army aeroplanes have been ordered to Davao to investigate the report that a number of mysterious, dhips. like Japanese destroyers, appeared off Davao, at the south of the Philippine Group. Headquarters of the United States Fleet, however, ridicule the idea that they may be Japanese warships. The general opinion is that the vessels are fishing craft, which have run into the Gulf of Davao to escape the stormy weather.

The latest reports by radio state that 20 ships moved their anchorage to a point 16 nautical miles from Davao City, in the mouth of the gulf. Mr Paul V. McNutt. High Commissioner to the Philippines, who is receiving full reports of the matter, states that no nation has requested diplomatic permission to visit Philippine waters. Unofficial speculation mentions the possibility that the appearance of the

ships is a gesture in answer to the recently reported visit of an American cruiser to one of the Japanese mandated islands in the mid-Pacific during manoeuvres.

The United Press correspondent at Washington says it is suggested unofficially that the ships may be American, manoeuvring secretly to test the vulnerability of the islands.

Members of the War Board are reported to be perturbed,' inasmuch as the mere presence of a mystery fleet, even if it is American, emphasises (he complete indefensibility of the islands against a surprise attack. Whether American or foreign, the ships operated secretly and slipped Admiral YarnclFs spear of defence without detection. It is suggested that this might be a stralegism devised by the War Board to dramatise the vulnerability cf the islands. Speedy investigation, is hampered by the fact that the Philippine Government has no Customs cutters in the area.