War jitters spreading in the Philippines (2-14-41)

Reading Eagle (February 14, 1941)

WAR JITTERS SPREADING IN PHILIPPINES
Americans rushing to book passages in wake of new warnings
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LEAVES CANCELLED
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Island Army officers ordered to remain at posts indefinitely
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Manila, Feb. 14 (AP) –
War nervousness heightened in the Philippines today with Americans seeking passage homeward in increased numbers which included the sudden return of a Dutch ship to the safety of a neutral harbor and orders canceling the return of Army officers to the United States.

Steamship companies reported they were not having trouble handling first-class bookings, but tourist classes were booked full for several months in advance.

Other events bringing fresh anxiety to this American possession lying within the fringe of the oriental trouble zone included:

  1. The State Department’s renewed advice to Americans to leave the Orient.
  2. An earlier-than-planned movement homeward from Manila of wives and children of United States Army officers.
  3. The warning given at Sydney, Australia, by A. W. Fadden, Deputy Prime Minister that “grave advices” had been received concerning the situation in the Pacific.

Dutch ship returns

The unexpected return late yesterday of the Dutch merchant ship Tjitjalegka, and the orders to Army officers canceling earlier orders for return to the United States, heightened concern first felt when it was learned Army families had advanced plans for departure.

The Tjitjalegka was en route to Hong Kong when the ship’s agency at Batavia flashed orders, without explanation, the captain said, to “return to Manila immediately and wait for further orders.”

Some of the ship’s passengers declared the presence of Japanese ships in the China Sea caused the vessel to seek a neutral haven, but whether they were naval or merchant ships was not made clear.

A second Dutch ship three days out of Manila for the United States also was reported to have received orders to return, but there was no official explanation in either case. Dr. W. Huender, the Dutch East Indies Consul-General, denied however, that there had been a general order issued for Dutch ships to steam for neutral harbors.

Mystery concerning the movements of Dutch ships deepened when the customs service disclosed that the Subengalen was given clearance papers to sell late today for India by way of Java. Dr. Huender was unable to explain why some Dutch ships were preparing to sail while the Tjitjalegka was ordered back to this port.

Under new command

Sources considered reliable said Dutch ships in Far Eastern waters now are operating under orders of a Dutch naval officer who recently flew to Manila from Batavia.

High United States Army officers admitted that certain officers scheduled to sail homeward within the next few days had been ordered to remain in the Philippines indefinitely while their wives and children, numbering between 200 and 300, were due to sail on the transport Etolin next Monday. More Army families are scheduled to sail on the transport Grant in the near future.

The sudden change in sailing orders was not explained officially. Some quarters ventured that officials were needed for training purposes in connection with a 5,000-man increase in the Philippine Scouts.

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Reading Eagle (February 15, 1941)

PHILIPPINES BACK TO NORMAL

Manila, Feb. 15 (AP) –
The Philippines got back to normal today after a 48-hour war scare.

Business went on as usual and street crowds that yesterday and the day before were buzzing with talk of possible military adventures in the South Pacific were calm again.

The main reasons for the flurry of excitement were unexplained orders which brought one Dutch vessel speeding back to the neutral waters of Manila, and canceled the return of U.S. Army officers to the United States. News from the rest of the Orient and from capitals over the world failed, however, to give cause for alarm.

A further reason for not worrying anymore was seen in apparent preparations of the Dutch merchantman Tjitjalegka to depart today and the sailing of three other Dutch ships from Manila last night and this morning.

The Tjitjalegka returned to Manila Thursday, a few hours after sailing for Hong Kong. The Netherlands East Indies government’s order sending the Tjitjalegka back tio Manila was not explained. Neither was the order cancelling the return of Army officers to the United States.

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