The Times News

Navy Broadens West Coast Patrol;
Alien Submarine Activities Rumored
SAN PEDRO, Calif., Dec. 28. (UP) - Rumors of alien submarine activity off the California coast, and the dispatch of a second squadron of nine naval destroyers here from San Diego for patrol duty enlivened the navy's mysterious maneuvers in the Pacific today.
The Los Angeles Daily News said today that navy authorities were discussing reports that "an alien flotilla of submarines, probably Japanese," had been seen off the coast.
The newspaper said the information came from "a man well versed in naval secrets both in California and Washington," and that the informant said it was feasible for Japanese submarines to operate from some secluded place along the lower California coast.
Commander C. J. Wheeler, secretary to Admiral Arthur J. Hepburn, commander-in-chief of the fleet, denied the rumor.
"The navy has not taken any stock in it," Wheeler said. "The report is about a week old, first describing only one submarine. It appears to have grown into a flotilla."
The Los Angeles newspaper informant said the navy had sent seaplanes to scout for the submarines. He did not say what the result was.
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NAVY BROADENS ITS
WEST COAST PATROL

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fliers intended to do had they
found them.

Navy authorities continued to
describe the movement of destroy-
ers as part of a "routine security
program.

Squadron 2, comprising eight
newly-commissioned, 1,500-ton de-
stroyers, led by the U. S. S. Por-
ter, a "pocket cruiser" of 1,850
tons, was ordered here from San
Diego today.

Rear Admiral Walter R. Sex-
ton, commander of the destroyer
flotilla of the battle force, said
Squadron 2 would relieve Squad-
ron 11, which came here after
emergency mobilization ten days
ago and began patrolling the coast
while bluejackets in navy launches
guarded San Diego bay and halt-
ed and boarded scores of fishing
boats that they encountered.

The destroyers had been confin-
ing their patrol work to the San
Diego and San Pedro areas, but
yesterday they appeared off Ven-
tura, 125 miles north of here.

U. S. customs last week began
a sudden drive against fishing
boats that are owned by aliens
and operated under American reg-
istry. One Japanese boat, the
Nancy Hanks, was seized. Cus-
toms men said that the navy was
co-operating with them in the
drive, and they implied that it
was the reason for the current
navy maneuvers.

Navy launches have been halt-
ing between 20 and 30 fishing
boats a day in San Diego bay.
Navy patrols in each case board-
ed the boat, inspected its papers
and questioned the crew as to its
nationality.