Russians Expected To Surprise World Again

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28425, 4 November 1957, Page 16

Russians Expected To Surprise World Again

(N.Z Press Association—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, November 1. American intelligence agents had forecast that Russia was about to launch her earth satellite, and the agency was expecting further revolutionary developments from the Soviet, it was reported today. The report was made by President Eisenhower’s committee of scientists and engineers. The committee made public portions of a talk given before it by the Assistant Director (Dr. Herbert Scoville) of the Central Intelligence Agency (C.1.A.) on October 4, several hours before Moscow announced the launching of the sputnik. Dr. Scoville was quoted as saying: “There has been publicity about the Russian earth satellite. “They will not announce anything till they have it up there. It would not surprise us if such an announcement came at any time. We must be prepared for it. They are capable of doing these things. “There is no question but that the Soviets are capable of great accomplishments both in peacetime and wartime. “In view of the dynamic drive of their entire scientific programme, we must expect further revolutionary developments in addition to the first satellite launching.” As for Russia’s earlier claimed successful firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile, the United States Intelligence official said that the CI.A. could not prove whether they had fired the missile or not. “We know they have capacity to fire such a test vehicle if they want,” he added. “This programme has a high priority and they are putting forth tremendous efforts.” “By Leaps and Bounds” As for military technological advancement generally. Dr. Scoville said there was no question but that the Russians were “moving forward by leaps and bounds.”

“In the electronics field they have a tremendous programme for satisfying military requirements,” he said. “They have a good radar system. “Rumour has it that the Russian communications system in the Antarctic is so superior that the United States expedition has used it on occasion to send messages. “In the atomic energy pro-

..'gramme nuclear tests are being s conducted on a large scale. s| “In the last month (September) -■they have been conducting two - atomic test series simultaneously -'at great distances apart, which t means th?y have enough people land equipment to handle two - tests at once.” f Quality of TV Work I Dr. Scoville’s report said the c quality of Russian work in such as television—usually con- • I sidered to be dominated by the 1 1 United States—was extremely im--1 j pressive. B | “The Russian sets are of high ='quality,” he said. “Their components are superior to those of "jour sets.” I From Cambridge, Massachusetts. I today, moon-watch teams throughlout the world were alerted to ■[begin morning and evening search j for a new Russian satellite on I I November 5. N Dr. Scoville’s report said the director of the Smithsonian ? Astrophysical Observatory, said that persistent “reports and t rumours” that Russia might 1 launch a new satellite on the ■ November 7 anniversary of the October revolution had prompted B his message to the moonwatch ■ stations.