INTELLIGENCE IN ACTION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03362A000700140002-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 2, 1998
• Sequence Number: 2
• Content Type: MISC

Approved For Release lMt2 gqpCE t ~i r8-033UA000700140002-5
(Problem Material)
MESSAGE # 1
THERE IS FAIRLY AUTHORITATIVE INFORMATION THAT ALL CARRIERS ATTACHED
TO THE THIRD NAVAL TASK FORCE JUST ARRIVED AT RANGOON WERE SUNK IN
THE LAST ACTION. MINNESOTA.
MESSAGE # 2
MERCHANT SEAMEN RECENTLY ARRIVED RANGOON REPORT SECRET LAUNCHING OF THE NEW
SUPER 45,000 TON BATTLESHIP TOKYO HUGH SUCCESS. THE FIFTH INFANTRY
DIVISION BASED IN SIAM CROSSED BORDER INTO BURMA. DESTINATION UNKNOWN.
IDAHO.
MESSAGE # 3
UNDERGROUND ACTIVITY IN BASSEIN DISTRICT SATISFACTORY, BUT THERE IS
DANGEROUS LEAK OF INFORMATION SOMEWHERE ALONG LINE AT CHUNGKING OR
CALCUTTA, PROBABLY AT FORMER. NEW MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS, ESPECIALLY
QUARTERMASTER SUPPLIES AND MATERIEL, BEING BROUGHT INTO BASSEIN IN
HUGH QUANTITIES. WAREHOUSES CONCENTRATED MAINLY ALONG RIVER FRONT.
DO NOT KNOW FOR WHAT THEATER IT IS INTENDED. ILLINOIS.
MESSAGE # 4
IN WHOLE OF BURMA, AS WELL AS IN IMPORTANT IRRAWADDY DELTA AREA, THERE
REMAINS PREWAR DISTRUST OF BRITAIN, MAKING PROPAGANDA PIPED FROM INDIA
COMPARATIVELY INEFFECTIVE, IF NOT ACTUALLY HARMFUL. REPORT CURRENT
RANGOON THAT FOUR CARRIERS OF THE THIRD NAVAL TASK FORCE SUNK. MAINE..
Approved For Release 1999/08/25: CIA-RDP78-03362A000700140002-5
 Approved For Release C 8-033UA000700140002-5
(Problem Material)
MESSAGE # 5
THERE IS MUCH TALK THAT THE NEW 45,000 TON BATTLESHIP CAPSIZED WHEN IT
WAS LAUNCHED. NEWS STORY CARRYING TOKYO DATELINE REPORTS THAT BOTH
CARRIERS OF THE THIRD NAVAL TASK FORCE ARE SAFE IN AN UNMENTIONED JAP
BASE. THE FLEET, SAID THE STORY, DID NOT SUSTAIN LOSSES OF ANY
CONSEQUENCE. WYOMING.
MESSAGE # 6
HAVE HAD SOME INDICATION THAT ONE OF OUR MEN IN CALCUTTA OR BOMBAY IS
UNRELIABLE. CHUNGKING MAN ALL RIGHT. NEWS AND INSTRUCTIONS PIPED FROM
CHINA OF INCREASING EFFECTIVENESS IN UNDERGROUND AND WITH POPULATION.
THERE IS FEELING THAT FATE OF BURMA ALLIED TO THAT OF CHINESE. THREE
INFANTRY DIVISIONS FORMERLY BASED IN SIAM ON MOVE TO COMBAT DUTY.
THEATER OF OPERATIONS UNKNOWN. MEMORIAL SERVICES HELD IN TOKYO
YESTERDAY, ACCORDING TO JAP NEWS BROADCAST, FOR THOSE OF THIRD NAVAL
FORCE LOST AT SEA. GENERAL STAFF WAS PRESENT. LOSSES MUST HAVE BEEN
CONSIDERABLE. CALIFORNIA.
MESSAGE # 7
NINTH AND SEVENTIETH INFANTRY DIVISIONS HAVE BEEN ORDERED OUT OF SIAM
TO AN ACTIVE THEATER OF OPERATIONS. GUESS IS THAT THEY ARE ON WAY
TO CHINA. IOWA.
Approved For Release 1999/08/25: CIA-RDP78-03362A000700140002-5
 Approved For Release t99MME (CI4.ARDRT8-033 A000700140002-5
(Problem Material)
MESSAGE # 8
SPOKE TO GROUP SAILORS RANGOON. SAID THEY HAD BEEN THROUGH STRANGEST
NAVAL ENGAGEMENT IN EXPERIENCE. AFTER TWO DAYS BATTLE ONLY LOSSES
SUSTAINED WERE BOTH CARRIERS. NO CRUISERS, NO DESTROYERS, NO TENDERS.
JUST THE CARRIERS. SPOKE TO SEVERAL SAILORS WHO HAD BEEN ABOARD THE
TWO AND RESCUED. SAID BOTH SHIPS WERE TORPEDO-BOMBED. LOSSES IN
PERSONNEL WERE CONSIDERABLE, INCLUDING BOTH COMMANDERS. SUPPORT ON
WESTERN DELTA OF IRRAWADDY. MAY BE WELLINGTON, BASSEIN, OR MYATANI.
TEXAS.
MESSAGE # 9
SAILORS FROM MANILA SAY PREPARATIONS BEING MADE THERE FOR RECEIVING
THREE NEW INFANTRY DIVISIONS. IT IS SAID TROOPS ARE ENROIJTE FROM
CHINA, SIAM, AND BURMA. MARYLAND.
MESSAGE # 10
REPORT THAT ONLY SEVERAL DESTROYERS AND ONE LIGHT CRUISER OF THE THIRD
TASK FORCE WERE DAMAGED OR SUNK, BUT THAT BOTH CARRIERS ARE SAFE IN
UNMENTIONED BASE IS FRONT PAGE STORY IN RANGOON PAPERS. THIS IS TO
DENY WIDESPREAD RUMORS THAT THE TWO CARRIERS ATTACHED TO THE FLEET,
THE YOSHIMA AND THE TULAGI, HAD BEEN SUNK. TWO SAILORS WERE COURT-
MARTIALED FOR TELLING STORY OF RECENT BATTLE. THERE IS INTENSIVE
CAMPAIGN FOR SECURITY. I HAVE RECEIVED UNCONFIRMED INFORMATION THAT
GAN BOON, CALCUTTA OBSERVER, IS ON JAP PAYROLL. BOMBAY MAN ABOVE
SUSPICION. VERMONT.
Approved For Release 1999/08/25: CIA-RDP78-03362A000700140002-5