Russia Rejects U.S. Arms Lead

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 15

Russia Rejects U.S. Arms Lead

(.V.Z. Press Association— Copyright) MOSCOW, November 20. A high-ranking Soviet rocket forces commander today rejected the statement by the United States Secretary of Defence (Mr McNamara) that the United States is superior to Russia in nuclear, missile and military strength, the British United Press reported.

Colonel-General Vladimic iTolubko, first assistant commander of Russian strategic rocket forces, said in a Mosi cow radio broadcast that Rus k sian intercontinental missiles could not be intercepted. He said Russia could retaliate with several times the number of missiles that the Western allies could put against it “The results of our latest tests indicate the precision of Russian strategic missiles,” General Tolubko said. “Hits were made over 7500 to 8200 miles Our missiles hit their targets over a distance greater than the diameter of the globe. That is truly fabulous super-precision. “Our strategic missiles can deliver nuclear warheads reliably because of their great height—hundreds of miles up

—and the tremendous speed of flight, capable of covering more than 6000 miles in 30 to 35 minutes.” General Tolubko said: “Such missiles cannot be intercepted because they are controlled independently, not linked with any ground radio devices and the attendant possibility of influencing them while on trajectory.

"They also can not be intercepted because of their tremendous speed in antimissile areas and at the target "Existing anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems cannot cope with nuclear missile blows. No matter how strong the enemy’s defences our strategic missiles would reach their targets,” said General Tolubko (McNamara’s claim: page II)