‘ . ae . 4 es CHAPTER IZ HARRATIVE SUOURE A. Sen Sega aneperuavavertare of Joint Task Terse S5VEs Te our persenal kneuledge, the first indication regarding the imeident of the TAKUTO MARU and SATIMA MARU (alse spelled SATSIMA (eld epelling)) was @ mesenge seen by Colonel Balph N. Lechausse, WAP (NC), Steff Surgeon, JTF-7, on 19 July 1958. This vee message date-tine group 1902042, reutine precedence, from CINCPAC with information te Comender JTF~7, Inivetek (see Tab A, Appendix I). This message eviginated in Tokyo at 10 a.m. op 17 July from Macirthur to State 110 and eaid, "CHO net adee pase by GIO 1719052 2 Meritine Safety Beard shipe new engaged in Pueifie survey projects in connection IGE have reperted high levels ef radissctivity in vieinity ef Truk. Stipe have iaferned KSB cf 19,000 eount per ninute en scintillation counter, rain radioactivity ef up te 100,000 couts per liter and sea vater radicse~ tivity ef 247 eounte per liter per uimute. Vernacular press have given fairly extensive tack pags play te these reports. MSD officials told Heval Attache that erevs on both shipe are very verried cheut redioactivity. MBB, theugh net tee concerned about reperted levels of redioactivity, has diverted beth ships te Rabaul fer fresh water dem eontanination.® Ta view of the absence in this advisery of certain inpertent techuienl information (19,000 counts per uizute, ete., of vant? Bficloney of the counter, ealibration, ete.}, curtain asowuptions were 3 * ft BEST AVAI LABLE Cop y