Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-02
Worships on Training
Trip, Hull Understands

Secretary of State Hull said today
he understood the secret naval
movements in the Caribbean area.
which have stirred considerable
speculation, involved nothing more
than usual training and patrol op-
erations.
The Secretary took cognizance at
his press conference Of what he de-
scribed as reports about Navy ships
and planes sailing from Florida
bases under mysterious sealed orders
on some mysterious mission to some
mysterious destination.
Declaring that he had no informal
ton bearing out the mystery at
tached to the naval movements, Mr..
Hull said that if there was anything
other than routine training and
patrol operations involved he was
not aware of it.
Maneuvers Scheduled.
Meanwhile, the Navy Department
said that eight destroyers and six
patrol bombing planes, which had
left Key West this week, were to
participate in regular exercises
scheduled some time ago.
The Navy disclosed that these ex-
ercises were to be held in the
Guantanamo s San Juan Culebra
area. The patrol force is COM
manded by Rear Admiral Hayne
Ellis. The boundaries outlined for
the maneuyers encircle French and
Dutch possessions.
Silent on Assignment.
The Navy refused to disclose
whether these ships and planes or
others would be assigned to a watch
on Martinique and Guadalupe.
Mr.. Hull pointed out that the Navy
usually maintains secrecy about
any movement of its planes and
ships, even in training operations,
and suggested that a misunder-
standing of this policy might have
accounted for reports attaching I'M
usual significance to the current
movements in the Caribbean.
The Secretary's comment came in
response to questions asking If
American naval forces had been
sent to Martinique as result of de-
velopments in Europe indicating
closer collaboration between France
and Germany. Any evidence of
German control of Martinique or
any other of the French possessions
In this hemisphere would bring into
operation the Act of Havana, under
which this Government is author
tied to occupy on behalf Of all the
Americas any European territory in
this hemisphere, whenever neces-
sary, to prevent a change of SOW
ereignty to another American
power.
The secret movements of Ameri-
can naval forces in the Caribbean
area had stirred speculation that
preparations might be under way to
take over the French possessions in
that area, with particular interest
centering on Martinique, where more
than 100 warplanes, bought by
France before her surrender to
Germany, are stored.
Aside from Mr.. Hulls statement
today discounting such reports,
there was no explanation in official
quarters of the apparent gathering
of warships and planes in the vicin-
ity of the French West Indian pos
sessions. Mr.. Hull referred reporters
TO the Navy Department for further
information.
Arrival Thought Likely.
Some officials here. however, while
reluctant to discuss the naval move
ment because of its military char
acter," expressed the opinion that
1t is quite likely the American pa
troll squadron which left Key West
this week should have reached Mar
Unique today.
In these quarters there was be-
lief that in the event the ships went
to take over the 100 American planes
which otherwise might fall into the
hands of the Germans, the matter
will be arranged amicably with the
French governor general of the is
land and will not necessitate any
naval action.
Admiral Robert, the commander
of the French forces in the South
Atlantic who was described last
week as intending to oppose with
all means at his disposal any inter-
ference of an outside power with the
Islands, is reported to have changed
his mind and to be willing to dis
russ and compromise.