ARMY DAY IN SOVIET

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27592, 24 February 1955, Page 13

ARMY DAY IN SOVIET

Marshal Zhukov’s Speech

fWJC. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11.40 pan.) MOSCOW, Feb. 22. Marshal Zhukov, the new Soviet Defence Minister to-night accused the United States of “carrying on active preparation for war.” He said thbt Russian armed forces were “ready at any moment to carry out the order of their Government.” He was speaking at a meeting marking the thirty-seventh anniversary of the Soviet armed forces. Marshal Zhukov said the Russian Army was now a reliable force “standing guard over the interests of our motherland.”

Lieutenant-General Sergei Shatilov, Deputy Chief Director of the Russian Armed Forces Political Board said in a Moscow radio broadcast that Russian production of hydrogen weapons had “left the Americans behind.” fhe broadcast was also part of the celebration of Army Day. “We have sufficient quantities of aircraft, easily manoeuvrable tanks, formidable artillery, and splendid warships,” he said. “We also have atomic and hydrogen weapons and in the production of thermo-nuclear weapons, as is well (mown, we have left the Americans behind.”

General Shatilov emphasised the imjortance of developing heavy industries which played a decisive part in securing the might of the country. The Communist party and the Russian people were paying particular attention to developing these industries, he said, “following jthe great Lenin’s behests.”