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2122Z 09 June 1967 transmitted message text from
Chief of Naval Information to
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and
Commander, Sixth Fleet and others

P R 092122Z JUN 67
FM CHINFO
TO CINCUSNAVEUR
COMSIXTHFLT
COMIDEASTFOR
CINCLANTFLT
CTG SIX ZERO PT ONE
CTG SIX ZERO PT TWO
CTF SIX ONE
CTF SIX TWO
CTF SIX THREE
INFO CINCPACFLT
COMSEVENFLT
BT
UNCLAS
SIXTH FLEET HEADLINE REPORT 09 JUN 67
1. ALL MEDIA THIS MORNING CONTINUES EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF ATTACK
ON LIBERTY. REPORTS SAY THAT LIBERTY WAS FIRST ATTACKED BY A
NUMBER OF ISRAELI JETS THAT MADE SIX STRAFING RUNS, FOLLOWED
TWENTY MINUTES LATER BY THREE TORPEDO BOATS THAT FIRED AT LEAST
TWO TORPEDOES. SOME STORIES SPECULATED THAT THE ISRAELI TROOPS
HAD BEEN BOMBARDED BY ARAB SHIPS LYING OFF SHORE AND HAD ORDERS
TO CLEAR THE AREA OF ENEMY SHIPS. MOST STORIES ALSO IMPLY THAT THE
SHIP WAS ON A MISSION OTHER THAN THE ONE OF COMMUNICATION ANNOUNCED
BY PENTAGON SPOKESMAN. MEDIA THIS MORNING REPORT THE NEWS PAPER,
PARTIES IN MID EAST WAR HAVE ACCEPTED THE UN CEASE FIRE. THE
STORIES POINT OUT THAT ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SURRENDER,
IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE ARABS HAD BEEN HOPELESSLY OUTCLASSED AND
DEFEATED.
3. UPI STORY DATELINED AMERICA RAN IN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON PAPERS
AND IN PAPERS THIS MORNING SAYING THAT THE SOVIETS ARE STEPPING
UP THEIR HARASSMENT OF SIXTH FLEET SHIPS. REPORTS QUOTE STRONG
MESSAGE SENT BY ADM MARTIN TO THE SOVIETS TELLING THEM TO DIS-
CONTINUE THEIR UNSAFE PRACTICES AND CLEAR OUT OF THE AMERICAN
FORMATION. STORY GOES ON TO SAY THAT SPECULATION IS INCREASING
THAT THE SIXTH FLEET MAY TAKE SOME ROLE IN UN PEACE KEEPING EFFORTS AS
WAR ENDS IN MIDDLE EAST. THE STORIES QUOTE SOURCES AS SAYING
THAT ALTHOUGH NOTHING OFFICIAL HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED THE FLEET
MIGHT BE USED TO ENFORCE TRUCE LINES THAT MAY RESULT FROM THE
CEASE FIRE.
4. CHICAGO TRIBUNE REPORTS THAT EVIDENTLY THE TENSION HAS BEEN
LIFTED AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT. THE STORY DATELINED MALTA SAYS
THAT FIVE SHIPS AND MARINES THAT HAD BEEN PLACED ON TWO HOUR
NOTICE TO SAIL NOW HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED TO STAY IN MALTA TO PERMIT
ANOTHER WEEK OF LIBERTY.
5. ( Garbled ) DATED 8 JUNE DESCRIBE
DRAMATICALLY A CAT AND MOUSE GAME OF CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE
SOVIETS AND THE AMERICANS. HE SAYS THAT THE CO OF THE AMERICA
GREW PROGRESSIVELY MORE IRRITATED AS THE DAY WORE ON AND FINALLY
HE SENT A MESSAGE TO THE RUSSIANS TELLING THEM TO STAY OUT OF THE
FORMATION. HE ALSO NOTES THAT A SUBMARINE CONTACT WAS BEING
MAINTAINED IN THE AREA AND THAT ALTHOUGH NO KNOWN SUBS WERE IN
AREA, TASK FORCE COMMANDER INTENDED TO STAY WITH THE CONTACT.
IF IT COULD BE FORCED TO SURFACE, HE SAID, IT COULD BE VERY
EMBARRASSING TO THE SOVIETS.
BT

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