Evening star., 1941-10-17
u. S. Ships Reported
Called From Waters
Of Japan and China
Situation in Pacific
Held Responsible
For Navy Action
BY the Associated Pres.

Authoritative quarters indi-
Gated today that all American
merchant ships had been ordered
out OF japanese and Chinese
waters because of what the Navy
called the situation in the Pa
cific."
Ships in the rest of the Pacific
would not be affected, 1t was indi-
Gated.
The Navy, reported by Manila
sources TO have ordered the ships
to proceed to the nearest American
or British port, took this ofhciaI
position:
In view Of the present situation
in the Pacific, the Navy Department
has no comment to make"
Reliable informants. however. in-
dicated strongly that the order had
been issued.
Ordered Back to Honolulu.
Marine circles in San Francisco
reported that all American ships
headed for Oriental waters we're
ordered by the Navy to return to
Honolulu, most strongly fortified
port in the world. There was no
indication OF how many ships were
affected.
Marine men said ships on their
way to Philippine waters we're the
ones primarily affected No Strips
have gone to Japan in recent months
and few have gone to China.
Ships on the Australian run. which
ply south and east OF Oriental
waters. were understood to be free
from the order. For some time, all
ships leaving for Australia have de-
parted without any announcement
OF the date Of sailing and have been
listed in shipping reports only as
"a vessel"
Up to today there was no secrecy
about sailings to Manila But gen.
eral commercial shipping to Philip
pine waters has fallen greatly. willis
Army and Navy sailings have in
creased.
Few Ships Reported Affected.
The number of American ships In
japanese and Chinese waters was
said to be small" with a CON
siderable number of American ships
operating in the rest of the Pacific.
The Maritime Commission, like
the Navy, declined to discuss ship
movements in the Pacific or to esti-
mate the number of ships operating
in those waters.
ANY orders that might have gone
out have been a matter for the
Navy" a commission spokesman
said.
Our only jurisdiction Is over COM
merclal movements.
Principal American steamship
lines operating in the Pacific are
the American President. American
Mail. American Pioneer, Isthmian
and Waterman.
Little Effect Seen on Trade.
In New York shippers said the
order would have little effect on
American trade in the Pacific. No
American vessels are calling st
japanese ports and only q few cal!
at Shanghai.
lhey said the order would con-
Germ Americans seeking to leave
shanghai, but that the Government
PROBABLY would make special ar
rangements TO get them out.
Inc Matson Steamship Line lare-
est operator in the Pacific. said il
was doing business as usual and that
tlcKetS were being sold for Honolulu
and Australian ports.
Grave View Taken Here.
With war talk spreading in the
Orient, Capitol Hill meanwhile TOOK
an increasingly grave view of the
japanese cabinet overturn. and fears
were expressed that a serious new
threat was in the making for Ameri-
can ana British interests in the
Pacific.
Senator Gillette. Democrat. nf
Iowa. member Of the Foreign Re-
Iatlons Committee. told nevsmsn
that the governmental change in
TOXIC makes the chances of a
peaceful settlement of our differ.
ences with Japan very meaeer in.
deed
To Senator Gillette and several OF
his colleagues all indications were
tnat japanese militarists had gained
the upper hand and new military
adventures could be expected-most
likely an attack on Siberia.
Watching Events Closely.
Altnough Shanghais interna tional
circles we're predicting that events
will move fast in the Far East"
Washington found some assurance
against an immediate crisis in the
fact that President Roosevelt left
the White House last night for
week end at his Hyde Park estate.
The State Department, however,
was watching the turn of events
closely and direct telephone hne
from Hyde Park to the White House
was available if developments war
ranted consultation with the Chief
Executive.
Mr.. Roosevelt was believed to have
explored the Japanese situation
thoroughly with top military and
foreign affairs advisers yesterday in
a special conference that lasted al
most two hours. Russia's present
plight presumably figured in the
discussion. too, but the President
enjoined strictest secrecy on all who
attended.
The feeling that the Toxic cabinet
crisis presaged trouble was not
shared by Hugh G. Grant. who was
recently recalled by the State De-
partment from his post as Minister
to Thailand. or by Senator Wheeler,