The Key West citizen., 1940-11-13
MARTINIQUE AND THE CITIZEN

world, we presume, guessing concerns the
modern day modus operandi of any news
paper, with particular reference to The
Citizens part in the whole affair.
We refer TO the story concerning the
departure OF the Key West-West Gull
Patrol, destroyers and planes, from Key
West on October 29th, for parts unknown.
Confidential and restricted orders sealed
the lips of all naval officers. Nobody knew
where the units were going. Everybody
assumed, however, that the orders were
urgent in that full provisions and amuni-
ticn were taken on board all vessels and
planes.
In the first place, it was The Citizens
business to find cut that the vessels
were leaving. That came about in the or
dinary pursuit of the reporters daily beat.
The grapevine, as it were, had the story.
From Their on, it was simply a routine mat
ter Of checking with officials Yes, the
ships were leaving-but under sealed or
ders! That was the only confirmation
given.
Now that the ships have returned to
this port, the story can be told as to just
how news reporting cOnjecturing
came into that scene to perform who
knows what valuable task in the interests
OF peace in this hemisphere
We say conjecture advisedly. For
hat what prompted the reporter to
assume that our ships were leavil for
waters surrounding the French pc session
of Martinique. Understand, no navy Of
fetal admitted that assumption was true.
lost of them honestly did not know them
selves.
The assumption, however, was rea-
sonable one in the light of events that i'm
mediately preceded the sealed orders
trip.
President Roosevelt had sent a warn
ing note to France just three days prior to
October 29th, demanding that no posses
siCns on this side of the ocean be turned
over to Hitler-regardlesS of whether or
not the French decided to join forces with
the Germans. Why, then, wouldn't it be
reasonable for naval units of the United
States to conduct notwithstanding tactics
in the vicinity of the territory in ques-
ton?
That query was put to certain navy
men. They admitted that it sounded rea-
sOrable" Not at all beyond the realm of
possibilities, they stated, the while refus-
ing, of course, to be even quoted personally
about the guess.
The Citizen included the above sup
position concerning Martinique in its news
release of October %, about the sealed
order trip for our patrol. Miami papers
picked it up the day following and imme-
diately news services nationwide followed
through. ard with the aid of the radio
newscasters, all of the nation knew of the
movement of our ships and their supposed
destination
There you have the background of
just how news stories sometime start-at
least how they are uncovered and treated
by news Staffs. The climax, still supposed,
of the story is that concerning its effect on
certain foreign nations. Question arises,
did The Citizen play its part in forcing
showdown on the question of foreign pos
sessions in this hemisphere changing
hands? AS soon as it was known, at least
conjectured, that United States naval units
were proceeding to the vicinity of Mar
Unique, did certain powers abroad change
their plans?
Only history will answer that ques-
ton. In the meantime, the newspapers Of
the nation carry on in their important task
of reporting and interpreting the news of
the day. The Citize1 proudly assumes its
task. t, too, carries on.