Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-23
20 Red Ships Head for Cuba;
KremIin Sees Threat Of War
Offensive Arms
Are Believed on
Some Vessels
By EARL H. VOSS
Star Staff Writer

More than 20 Soviet ships today were reported
steaning toward Cuba and possible clash with
American warships depoyed to block delivery of "of
fensive military equipment" to the island
There were no clear signs indicating whether the
Russian ships would change or try to challenge
the quarantine or blockade ordered by President
Kennedy to stop the buildup of Soviet nucear missiles
in Cuba Some of the ships reported due off Cuba
tonight
1t was not known sure whether all any of the
Russian ships were carrying longrange rockets like the
1OOO2 missiles that have sprung suddenly
Cuban launching pads United States officials suspected
that the ships carried forbidden cargoes.
American warships patroled the Caribbean and Atlantic
the partial blockade the President
in grim teevisionrado report to the Nation astnght
Announces initial Steps"
Mr. Kennedy disclosing the Russian missile activity in
Cuba ordered all American armed forces to
"prepare any evenuaties He also announced other
initial steps" to counter the new Soviet threat
Declaring that these actions may be only the begin
ming the President limited at the possibility of invading
Cuba to stop offensive military preparations
there that could rain nucear destruction on all the Americas
The quarantine ordered by the President will apply
nitially only to deliveries Of offensive weapons
Quarantine squadrons stand ready to "ha halt search
and necessary sink" ships which try to the United
States blockade.
So far clash has been reported to the State Depart
ent None expected until President Kennedy his
formal proclamation of the quarantine.
Officials explained that all the Soviet ships
high their destinations not definitely known
But past experience has shown that all Soviet
Cuba's general vicinity have called at Cuban ports
| Summit Prospects Dimmng
Kennedy Khrushchev summit meeting which last
week seemed good bet by Thanksgiving, today only
dimy visible at the end of long, dark tunnel.
Everything could go black Premier Khrushchev chose
to compensate for what looked like loss in Garth
bean with some attempt at power grab in Europe
The President did point this way for Mr. Khrushchev to
conformation
First withdraw the mediumrange rockets sent Cuba
second refrain from actions to widen deepen the pres
ent crisis" third join in search for peaceful per-
manent solutions"
The third STEP State Department officials said was in
intended to build the bridge back summit conference
to tensions still building around the world the
old Soviet American conformation mercural
phenomenon than it was in September.
The past weeks events appeared to have thrown the cold
into and dangerous phase officials pointed
out
Appear Within "a Hours
The swiftness of the Cuban missile buldup astounded
American intelligence Appearance within hours of pos
sbly operational and probably rockets in
completes at points in Cuba only ad
parties had appeared before totally unexpected
If it could happen could happen elsewhere where
previous Soviet access had been possible
Soviet leaders deceit scale more brazen than the
japanese before Pearl Harbor the Kremn in recent
See SHIPS, Page AS