IN THE SEA OF JAPAN THE UNITED STATES AIRCRAFT CARRIER 'RANGER', ALONG WITH THE CARRIER 'YORKTOWN', AND 30 ADDITIONAL VESSELS ARE NOW ON PATROL WITH THE NEWLY-FORMED THIRD TASK FORCE. ACCORDING TO REAR ADMIRAL HORACE EBBS, THE TASK FORCE COMMANDER ON BOARD THE 'RANGER', THE FORCE HAS BEEN STRENGTHENED AND IS ON STAND-BY FOR ANY SITUATION WHICH MIGHT ARISE.

THE 'RANGER' HAS BEEN OPERATING IN THE SEA OF JAPAN SINCE LAST MONTH AFTER THE NORTH KOREANS CAPTURED THE U.S. SPY-SHIP 'PUEBLO' AND ITS 83-MAN CREW.

THE 60,000-TON ATTACK CARRIER HAS A COMPLIMENT OF PHANTOM JET FIGHTER BOMBERS. IT IS OPERATING OFF THE WEST COAST OF JAPAN, AND WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE NEW TASK FORCE REPLACES THE NUCLEAR CARRIER 'ENTERPRISE' AND HER ESCORTS WHICH WERE HURRIED TO THE NORTH KOREAN COAST AT THE START OF THE CRISIS BUT WERE LATER WITHDRAWN AS A GESTURE OF CONCILIATION TO AID THE CURRENT PANMUNJOM TALKS.