RUSSIAN DESTROYERS THROUGH BOSPHORUS.




Initials GHB/VS/MR/SGM



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Background: AS THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TODAY (SATURDAY) GRAPPLED WITH THE MIDDLE EAST CRISIS, THREE RUSSIAN DESTROYERS AND A NAVAL TRANSPORT VESSEL MOVED THROUGH THE BOSPHORUS TO JOIN THE SOVIET FLEET NOW GATHERING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

THE SOVIET UNION HAS SOUGHT PERMISSION FROM TURKEY FOR 1O VESSELS TO PASS THROUGH THE NARROW STRAITS, AND THE THREE WARSHIPS TODAY - ALL DESTROYERS - WERE PHOTOGRAPHED BY HUNDREDS OF CAMERAMEN AS THEY SLID THROUGH THE CONFINED WATERWAY.

TWO SOVIET VESSELS ENTERED THE MEDITERRANEAN EARLIER THIS WEEK AND ANOTHER DESTROYER, TWO SUPPLY SHIPS AND A PT BOAT ARE DUE TO PASS THROUGH IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

TODAY'S THREE ARRIVALS INCLUDED ONE DESTROYER OF THE KOTLIN CLASS (2,850 TONS) AND THE OTHER TWO OF THE SKORY CLASS (2,600 TONS).

THE DESTROYERS, WITH THEIR NUMBERS 383,626 AND 514 SHOWING BRIGHTLY ON THEIR GREY SIDES, SLIPPED INTO BOSPHORUS FROM THE BLACK SEA EARLY TODAY. THEIR PRESENCE WILL BOLSTER SOVIET STRENGTH IN THE MEDITERRANEAN - HOME OF THE AMERICAN SIXTH FLEET.

BOTH SOVIET AND AMERICAN FLEETS ARE WITHIN A FEW HOURS SAILING TIME OF THE MIDDLE EAST CRISIS AREA. A SOVIET DESTROYER AND TWO MINESWEEPERS HAVE BEEN PATROLLING OFF MALTA DURING BRITISH NAVAL EXERCISES THERE BY AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER AND FOUR FRIGATES.

ALSO TODAY, THE AMERICAN DESTROYER "DYESS" ANCHORED AT PORT SAID WAITING TO PASS DOWN THE SUEZ CANAL. THE SHIP'S DESTINATION WAS UNKNOWN. EGYPTIAN DOCKWORKERS WAVED THEIR FISTS AT THE DESTROYER, SHOUTED OBSCENITIES AND DENOUNCED THE US ATTITUDE IN THE CURRENT CRISIS.

ONE OF THE SOVIET DESTROYERS WHICH ENTERED THE MEDITERRANEAN FROM THE BLACK SEA TODAY WAS REPORTED TO BE ARMED WITH SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES.