Washington, May 10.
Reports that the United States Fleet would be sent to the Philippines or any other Oriental destination at the present time were doubted by reliable quarters here today. Naval authorities said that no new orders had been issued since the war in Europe spread to the Netherlands, but declined to make any further comments on the situation.
A transfer of the Fleet to the Philippines would be contrary to the persistent policy of the United States of maintaining the Fleet either at Pacific coast bases or in Hawaiian waters, naval experts pointed out. They further emphasized that movement of the Fleet to the Philippines would take the major portion of the Navy's fighting strength far from American defensive waters and principal bases.
The possibility of some strengthening of the small US. Asiatic Fleet, however, was not excluded in naval cireles—United Press, German Attack Precluded
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.