Evening star., 1942-11-06
Near-hurricane Hits
Al Cuba, Bahamas
After &irfpg Florida
Miumi and PoIm Beach
Believed Safe, but Tip Of
Stute Is Threatened
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
MIAMI, Fla, Nov. Ga storm,
brewed in the tempestuous Carib-
bean. skirted along the north coast
of Cuba today, but its main force
apparently was headed through the
straits and into the Gulf of Mexico,
aimed away from Florida and Its re-
sort area.
A wide area of storm winds, reach
ing hurricane force of IS miles or
more near the center, threatened
the Central and Southern Bahama
Islands of the Florida coast and
Cuba.
The Weather Bureau at Miami
said the main force of the tropical
disturbance might pass inland over
Cuba before proceeding westward
toward the Gulf of Mexico.
Peril Great South Of Miami.
However the heavily populated
areas of Florida southwark from
Melbourne and including Palm
Beach we're threatened with heavy
gale winds, although Forecaster Err
nest F. Carson expected these sec
tions to miss the worst of it.
South of Miami and in the Key
West area at the tip of the State the
threat was great and civilian and
naval forces took all precautions to
protect themselves against property
or personal loss.
The worst of the storm apparently
missed the Bahama Islands where
the Duke and Duchess of Windsor
maintain their official residence at
Nassau.
The Weather Bureaus official 10:45
am IS w. IT, bulletin follows:
Tropical storm central at $50
am. Eastern war time about IS
miles north-northeast Of Nuevitas,
Cuba, or latitude % degrees 40 min
utes west or west southwestward IA
to 18 miles per hour.
This storm is attended by a wide
area of gale winds to the northwest
of center and hurricane or near
hurricane winds near center.
Course Is Indicated.
Center of storm will move west
ward along north Cuba coast and
will move inland over Cuba this
afternoon or through Florida Straits
just north of Cuba. Strong north to
northeast winds will continue along
southeast Florida coast.
Strong north winds reaching gale
force along Florida keys.
Caution: Advise all interests
North Cuba to Florida Straits and
southeast coast. Storm warnings re-
main displayed from Melbourne to
Key West"
Along lower Florida's Atlantic
Coast line and down the archipelago
to Key West, vessels hurried into
port Storm shutters were fastened
to windows facing seaward.
Miami Schools Closed.
Miamis public schools were ordered
closed for the day and high school
football game was cancelled. Ihe
Weather Bureau went on an emer-
gency basis to keep the area In
formed, and wartime censorship OF
storm news was lifted to permit not1-
fication Of all who might be threat
ened.
Navy officials in the area an
nounced that hotels housing Navy
and Coast Guard personnel along
the water front in Miami were being
shuttered and that the service was
taking the same precautions that
civilians in the area are schooled to
observe.
The storm apparently gathered
more rapidly than usual and the
customary two or three days ad-
vance notice was missing. Before
daylight, however, the Weather Bu-
reau began broadcasting its warn
Ings and stormwise Miamians began
protecting their property before 6
an
Barometers Remain Steady.
Barometers at Miami, northward
At Palm Beach and southwark in
the Key West area, which usually
herald an approaching tropical dis
t,lrbance by dropping at a slow,
regular pace, remained steady dur
Ing the early forenoon.
The 10 a m. reading at Miami was
1895, which showed no change for
many, hours past This situation
existed from Melbourne to Key West
In all the threatened area.
Reports of the storm came just
nine days before the normal end OF
the hurricane season" which usual
ly Is considered to run from June
IS through November Is.
However, the area was not caught
unprepared. Always ready for such
emergencies, public agencies, the
military and civilians swung into
action to protect unsheltered areas.
Army Flyers on Alert.
At West Palm Beach, the Army's
Air Transport Command, Carib-
bean Wing, announced it was ready
for any eventuality and would stand
by to function according to ad,
vance plans. No other details were
given.
In midmorning, Palm Beach, Fort
Lauderdale and other schools in the
area followed Miami's lead in can
ceiling classes for the day, although
there was little outward evidence
of the approaching blow. except for
strong winds and occasional show
ers. These had continued intermit-
tently since early morning, when
the Weather Bureau made Its first
broadcast of a dawn warning.