MILITARY POWER IN GERMANY

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28481, 10 January 1958, Page 11

MILITARY POWER IN GERMANY

Effect Of Russian Withdrawals

(N.Z. Pros Association—CopynoMi (Rec. 8 pun.) NEW YORK, January 9. Estimates of military power in Germany indicated that the balance would shift temporarily in favour of the United States if the Soviet Command carried out its reported plan to withdraw 41,000 men from East Germany, the “New York Times” said today. The newspaper, in a dispatch from the West German capital, Bonn, said that reliable estimates were that the Soviet ground forces would be at 185,000 men when the withdrawals were completed... It said that although no official figures wars available, estimates that had never been disputed placed the strength of the United States 7th Army in Germany at nearly 200,000 men.

The “New York Times’’ said that with the United States 12th Air Force in West Germany included, the total United States manpower was estimated to be well within the reach of 25Q.000 men.

In terms of combat formations, the Russian table of organisation in East Germany still showed 20 to 22 divisions, the “New York Times” said. How the withdrawals would affect the number of formations would depend on how the reductions were carried out. The “New York Times" said the British forces in West Germany were highly mobile and possessed considerable firepower. “When put alongside the 7th Army and the 12th Air Force, th-; British Army of the Rhine and the Royal Air Force units in West Germany give the Atlantic Paet command a good margin over the Soviet ground and air forces in East Germany.”

EAST GERMAN VISAS

Western Reminder To Russia

(Rec. 8 p.m.) BONN, Jan. 8. The British, French'and American Ambassadors in Germany have reminded the Soviet Union of its responsibilities to facilitate the travel of Western diplomats through East Germany. A British Embassy spokesman said today that identical Notes were handed over to the Soviet Charge d*Affaires in East Berlin yesterday. The Soviet last week announced that in future Western diplomats would have to get visas for transit through East Germany from the East German Government, which the Western Powers do not recognise. Until now these have been issued by the Soviet authorities in East Germany.

The Western Notes said that the Russians still had their quadripartite responsibilities to help Western Allied diplomats to travel through East Germany. The Western Allies did not consider that these responsibilities have ceased.

A British spokesman said the Notes were not a protest, but rather in the nature of a reminder. The new travel arrangements do not affect travel between West Germany and West Berlin. In practice only a few of the diplomats were likely to be affected, the spokesman said.

These were the ones who went through East Germany by car or train to Warsaw or to Moscow.

GENERAL GAVIN TO RETIRE

WASHINGTON, January 8.

Lieutenant-General James Gavin said today that his decision to retire as Army Research Chiei—caused by what he claimed to be the slow build-up of the United States Army—was final. Telling this to a secret meeting of the Senate Preparedness Subcommittee, General Gavin said that promotion prospects had nothing to do with his decision. He would serve the right kind of Army as a private, be said. . Senator Lyndon Johnson (Democrat, Texas), chairman of the sub-committee, relayed the general's decision to reporters. He told them: “What really had influenced him was his inability to get something done about the rapidly deteriorating position of the Army.” He quoted the 50-year-old General as saying he felt he could "do better for the Army outside than in.”

VIRUS DISEASE IN N.S.W.

(Rec. 10 p.m.) SYDNEY. Jan. 9. Health authorities at Newcastle. 100 miles from Sydney, believe that a mystery virus which has attacked about 20.000 persons in the district in the last five weeks, is a form of gastro-enteritis. They blame the drought and the prevalence of flies for its rapid spread since Christmas A Newcastle doctor said today the infection, assumed to be. a virus, was “definitely on the decline now.” The Hunter River health officer. Dr T. L. Dunn, said the infection spread rapidly, with people travelling during the holidays, and probably was a form of gastroenteritis.

Symptoms of the infection are giddiness, vomiting and diarrhoea, with, the more serioumy affected also suffering stomach' pains and cramps.

ASIAN ’FLU AGAIN IN FRANCE (Ree. 8 p.m.) PARIS, January 8. A second, but less severe, wave of Asian influenza is sweepiM France, officials at the Pastear