AMERICAN FLEET
FEINT AT PANAMA CANAL RUSE TO TEST SABOTEURS WASHINGTON, Dec. 13. A directive introduced in evidence at the Pearl Harbour inquiry revealed that Admiral Stark ordered the United States Fleet units to move towards the Panama Canal in June, 1940, to test the activities of Japanese saboteurs. The vessels left Pearl Harbour about June 24, after the navy deliberately let the news of the move and the destination leak out. The units sailed two days in the direction of the canal, returning secretly to Hawaii. Admiral Stark ordered this feint because intelligence reports indicated that extensive sabotage would be attempted at the canal if the United States tried to move major fleet units from the Pacific to the Atlantic. The New York correspondent says the directive did not reveal whether .the feint resulted in the apprehension of any saboteurs, but points out that portion of the fleet was safely shifted to the Atlantic later in 1940.
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Otago Daily Times, Issue 26027, 15 December 1945, Page 8
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158AMERICAN FLEET Otago Daily Times, Issue 26027, 15 December 1945, Page 8
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