Urgent Coincidence

Last week, on the eve of Western Union's joint naval exercises, 30 Russian trawlers in four groups appeared in the English Channel. Moving slowly along Britain's southern coast, they anchored off Falmouth, 50 miles from Plymouth, where the naval maneuvers were to start. Local fishermen did a rushing business ferrying out sightseers at eight shillings a trip. The Russians refused all requests to board, some shouting "Is forbidden" and others "We go fishing."

Customs officers were allowed on the mother ship, where the flotilla master explained: "The Russian fishing industry urgently needs more trawlers in the Black Sea." He was waiting for other trawlers to catch up and refuel, then all would proceed on through the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The naval maneuvers were to be held in the Bay of Biscay.

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