Washington, Apr. 13.
The Navy Department said today it had no-information of the- presence. of a flotilla of unidentified ships off Davao, Philippines.
The Navy spokesman said he was not officially informed of the despatch of two American warships to the scene to investigate but said that Admiral Harry Yarnell, Commander of the United States Asiatic fleet, could have ordered the move without advising or consulting Washington.
The War Board was reported per-bed today by the presence of a ofthe southernmost Philippines.
The War Board was said to be concerned despite the possibility that the ships were part of the American fleet, as it showed that the ships of a theoretical "enemy" could pass undetected through the defence sphere of Admiral Harry Yarnell, commander of the Asiatic fleet.
Some circles hinted the ship movements, if actually American fleet manœuvres, might be a War Board stratagem to dramatize the Islands' vulnerability.
A Navy spokesman indicated that if the "mystery fleet "proves to be that of a foreign Power, complete revision of defence plans for the Philippines may result." It was expected that the War Board would determine procedure after, the two destroyers arrive and radio their findings to Washington.—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.