Following a hasty mobilization of their crews, the new destroyers Hull and Reid started for San Pedro, thereby increasing the concentration of light warships there. Other fleet units apparently were getting up steam.
All_ clviliang wore banned from the destroyer "units in the harbour, even down to newsboys and salesmen who regularly were allowed aboard. Civilians sti were permitted out units of the cruiser squadron, but who. boarded were searched, "and officers answered all questions with a curt "no comment." wore transferred yesterday from here to San Pedro, and no official explanation was offered. Shore speculation included the suggestion that the navy merely was undergoing "a sort of "test mobilization," to determine how quickly the crews could be rounded shore and the vessels got "In other quarters it was pointed out that the nine vessels, all of world war construction, might be des patched to the naval, base at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, to release newer ships for duty elsewhere, "Training Purposes'
In_ the first explanation of the transfer of nine destroyers here tram Sop Diego, the suddenness of which had raised wide comment ashore. Commander C. J. Wheeler, USN. said to-day that "one squadron Gestroyers" has been temporarily transferred to San Pedro for training, Purposes, and no: further movement contemplated."
Commander Wheeler said he be-Heved the vessels would return to their page a! San Diego to allow their personnel to spend Christmas. with their families—United Press. son for the sudden transfer of nine American destroyers on Monday from San Diego to San Pedro, it is reliably Tearned to-day that the Navy is at desire present about 85 per and. that many hulls fed scraping before they would be able to make' lengthy cruise. Als, there fs a searelty of fuel ships and supply ships, which must be. fedied before' any action such the subject" of speculation in "the Reuter. newspapers could be undertaken
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