Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-27
BLOCKADE.
Continued From Page All

WIldJ ClldllllClo ~ lao w oCSh
the removal of Soviet rocket
bases in Cuba by diplomatic
means. Talks which opened
at the United Nations yester-
day are continuing today.
The White House reported
late yesterday that Soviet de-
velopment of ballistic-missilt
sites in Cuba is continuing al
a rapid pace, apparently in
tending achievement of "ful
operational capability as soon
as possible"
American aerial reconnais-
sance of rocket sites showed
Thursday that bulldozers and
cranes are working to clear new
areas and improve roads APP
preaching the launching pads
Mobile missiles with range
of 1000 miles are believed to
be already operational.
Intermediate-range rockets
with a reach of 1900 miles
have been observed in more per-
manent installations now I'M
der construction.
Since the blockade went into
effect at IL am. Wednesday
the DEFENSE Department dis
closed that IL Soviet ships
turned back before the Khrush-
chev promise was made last
night to Acting U. N. Secretary
General U Thant.
Another Russian ship, the
tanker Bucharest, was inter-
cepted by vessels of Vice Admit
raj Alfred G. Wards Task
Force 1876 Thursday morning
but was allowed to proceed tc
Cuba when it was determined
the only cargo was petroleum
Some Ships Turned Back
The original estimate by Sec
rotary of Defense McNamars
was that Is Soviet or Commu'
nist-bloc ships were en- route tc
Cuba when the historic quar-
antine proclamation was issuec
by President Kennedy.
Assistant Secretary OF De-
tense Arthur Sylvester told re-
porters the dozen Soviet ships
that turned off their Cuban
course presumably did so be-
cause they were carrying Of
fensive arms or materials for
the bearded dictator. If these
figures were correct, that would
leave at least 10, or possibly
more, Russian vessels to be ac-
counted for.
From Warsaw, the APP re-
ported that the 7,173-ton
Polish freighter Bialystok was
due in Havana today. Polish
sources said they expected an
interception of the ship by
American warships, and said
the freighter would submit to
search under protest. Polish
Ocean Lines said the Bialystok
an American-built freighter
was carrying general non-
military cargo.
The feeling at the Defens
Department was that the block
AIDE would persist, despite Nj
Khrushchev's promise, becaus
: tof President Kennedy's experl
l ence last week with Soviet Fol-
] eign Minister Andrea GromykC
The Russian diplomat blandl
told President Kennedy to hi
face in the White House tina
the USSR had provided Castr'
only with defensive" weapon
when the President alread.
knew from aerial photographs
that the weapons emplaced II
Cuba were offensive missiles
capable of blasting much o!
the Western Hemisphere.
It is not considered likely the
President will stake the safety
of the Nation on mere prom
Uses made by the Soviet Union
With the Gromoyko meeting
still fresh in the minds OF
Americas leaders, it is likely
the blockading force will in
crease it's vigilance, if anything
The United States has an
nounced only two interruptions
by Task Force 136-the tanker
Bucharest and the LebaneSe
freighter Marucla-but there
were indications that at least
two unannounced interruptions
have taken place.
Vern Haugland of the ASso-
ciated Press reported watching
from a chartered airplane the
interception of a tanker-ap-
parently the Norwegian ship
Mylla-which was allowed to
proceed. The APP reported later
that a ship of that name was
heading for Japan.
Cuba said the first ship in
tercepted and passed through
the blockade was the Soviet
tanker Vinnitsa, which re-
portedly sailed into Havana
yesterday.
The Marcula, a Liberty ship
under charter to the Russians
was halted 100 miles northeast
of Nassau, in the Bahamas, at
7:50 am. yesterday and board
ed by unarmed officers and
sailors from the destroyer Jo-
seph P. Kennedy, jr.
The boarding officer was
quoted by Mr.. Sylvester as re-
porting the Marucla had a deck
cargo of IL trucks, plus supplies
of sulphur, asbestos, newsprint
rolls, emery paper, lathes ano
automotive parts.
Since none of these items is
on the list of prohibited materi-
ais, the Marucla was permitted
to proceed and headed for Ha-
vana at a speed of nine knots
The Marucla was first spot
ted by the destroyer John r
Pierce, aided by Navy S-2F