MYSTERY SHIPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 89, 16 April 1938, Page 9

MYSTERY SHIPS

PHILIPPINES VISITOW

AMERICAN INVESTIGATION

ALARMIST REPORT DISCOUNTED

[By Telegraph- Prese Association —Copyright} Received April 15, 5.5 p.m. MANILA, April 13. Two United States destroyers, bombers and three Philippine® Army ’planes have been ordered to leave Davao to investigate the mystery ships. United States, fleet headquarters, however, ridiculed the idea that they would be Japanese warcraft. The general opinion is that the vessels are fishing craft which have run into the Gulf of Davao to escape stormy weather.

The latest radio reports state that the 20 ships have moved to anchorage to a point 60 nautical miles from Davao City in the mouth of the Gulf.

Mr P. McNutt, who is receiving lull reports, states that no nation has requested diplomatic permission to visit the Philippines waters. Unofficial speculation mentioned the possibility of a gesture in answer to the recently reported visit of an American cruiser to one of the Japanese mandated islands in mid-Pacific during manoeuvres. A Washington message says that the United Press correspondent makes the suggestion that the mystery ships may be Americans 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 the mystery fleet, even if it is American, emphasises the complete indefensibility of the islands against surprise attack. Whether they are American or foreign they have operated so secretly that they have slipped inside Admiral Yarnell’s sphere of defence without detection.

It is suggested that this might be strategem devised by the War Boaid to dramatise the islands’ vulnerability.

A speedy investigation is hampered by the fact that the Filipino Government has no customs cutters in Lua area.