Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-22
CUBA

does not know whether the. at
tack on the shrimp boat was q
deliberate decision by the Gu
ban government or merely q
decision by the pilots involved.
Cuba Denies Attack
In Havana, the Castro gov
eminent rejected and denied
categorically" that Cuban
fighters shot at the shrimp
boat. the Associated Press re-
ported.
A Cuban Armed Forces Min
istry communique last night
said that two reconnaissance
planes Of our air force made
exploratory flights along the
north zone Of our shores with
the aim Of locating two Cuban
fishing vessels which in pre-
viouS days were attacked and
hijacked. ...
Both plane flew low over
the small fishing vessel so as
to identify it without opening
fire or making hostile acts
against it,"
The communique said the
two planes withdrew imme-
diately from the place on veri-
flying 1t was not one Of the
Cuban vessels" and added: Its
ridiculous to affirm q small
fishing vessel could be attacked
by two combat planes and that
both it and her crew we're not
hurt" .. g..
Considers Il an Attack
A reporter noted that the De-
tense Department announce
ment on the incident said SIM
ply that the MICS fired near
the shrimp boat" and asked
the President If he considered
1t an attack that missed or
just harrassment.
Remarking that the shots
came within some 40 yards Of
the boat, Mr.. Kennedy said, II
would think II you are on the
boat that is regarded as an at
tack"
Mr.. Kennedy conceded that
he did not know whether the
MIG pilots were trying to hit
the boat or merely attempting
target practice.
They Know our Response
In any event. he said I'VE
made 1t very clear what our
response will be and we would
hope that this response would
make any future attacks such
as this unlikely"
Asked II American planes
would turn to the doctrine Of
"hot pursuit" and chase Cuban
planes back to their bases II
necessary in any future Incl
dent, Mr.. Kennedy said he
would prefer to wait on
events" before determining such
details.
How far the pursuit would
CO." he said. land all the rest
is q matter which ! think the
Secretary Of Defense and the
Joint Chiefs of Staff and the
Secretary Of State-we all
might consider as the situation
develops, and as we see whether
today's action was an isolated
incident.
II would think when we have
got O clearer pattern. then we
could make a judgment on
whether hot pursuit should be
carried out TO the shores Of
Cuba"
Orders Are Issued
He said he had asked the
Defense Department Ito make
any necessary revisions In
standing orders so as to insure
that action will be taken
against any vessel or aircraft
which executes an attack
against a vessel or aircraft OF
the United States over interna-
tional waters In the Carib-
beam"
The shrimp boat Ala, out OF
Fort Myers. Fla, had been
drifting about three days be-
cause OF engine failure when
fired on by the MICS at a spot
about go miles north Of the
Cuban mainland and rs miles
south-southeast Of Key West
Fla. The MICS involved flew
away when American Marine
Jet fighters approa ched.
Secretary Of Defense McNa-
mara discussed the affair with
the Senate Armed Services
Committee yesterday during q
hearing on the Defense Depart
ment budget.
Some Senators who took part
in the discussion said they got
the impression that shoot 10
kill" against any such attack
ing planes In the future is now
the fnolirv chairman Rtfeaall