N.A.T.O. And Russian Fleet Build-ups Reported

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31551, 13 December 1967, Page 21

N.A.T.O. And Russian Fleet Build-ups Reported

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright)

BRUSSELS, Dec. 12. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Defence Ministers will meet in Brussels today to study the alliance’s military preparedness amid reports that the Soviet Union is developing mobile forces capable of reaching any part of the world. They must consider what the level of forces available to N.A.T.O. should be for the five years ending 1972 and examine the impact of a growing Soviet naval build-up in the Mediterranean. Russia’s fleet in the area has been increased to 46 ships, challenging the United States fleet, according . to United Press International. The “New York Times” News Service reported that the military men of

N.A.T.0., sitting in special session, yesterday voted to establish a multi-national fleet of destroyers to be placed under N.A.T.O. command and available to carry out its orders in peace time. To be called the Standing Naval Force Atlantic, the N.A.T.O. fleet could be rushed to a trouble spot anywhere in the Atlantic to demonstrate in a concrete way the alliance’s concern and power, the news service reported.

The plan will be presented for ratification today.

N.A.T.O. officials say the defence ministers belonging to the committee are expected to approve the idea quickly and order its implementation by next spring. x Yesterday’s action by the military committee, made up of the, chiefs of staff of the 14 N.A.T.O. countries, specified that any of the Atlantic Powers might contribute fully-manned vessels to- the new fleet and that command would rotate, once a year, among' the participating nations.

Only France, which has withdrawn from N.A.T.O.’s integrated military structure, will not be present when the defence ministers review progress made during the last year in nuclear strategic and tactical planning. , This will be the first meeting today since the alliance formed a special nuclear planning group more than a year ago.

This group—the United States, Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece and Turkey—has been discussing ways of giving the 15 N.A.T.O. partners a greater say in the planning of the possible strategic and tactical use of various types of nuclear weapons. The N.A.T.O. secretarygeneral, Manlio Brosio, told a press conference yesterday that the Soviet Union was developing mobile forces and informed sources said this was part of the competition for military supremacy.

Te Russians wanted to match the American capability to moveforces quickly to remote areas, they said. Mr Brosio said the Russians had drawn up their largest military budget for 1968 and warned that while the threat of imminent attack had greatly diminished, the strength of the Soviet Union and its partners was increasing. The Western “Big Four”

Foreign Ministers—Mr Willy Brandt, of West Germany, Mr George Brown, of Britain, Mr Couve de Murville, of France, and Mr Dean Rusk, of the United States, will meet tonight for dinner to discuss the Berlin and German reunification problem and other major international developments. The new Mayor of West Berlin, Mr Klaus Schuetz, will also attend the talks.

Although France has withdrawn from N.A.T.O.’s military structure, she continues to play a part in the alliance’s political and economic roles.

Wool In Demand.—All descriptions of wool again sold under keen and animated competition and, compared with yesterday, better-styled Merinos and come-backs sold in sellers’ favour while all other types continued fully firm, Melbourne Woolbrokers reported. A noticeable feature was the very keen bidding on good fine crossbred types.— Melbourne, Dec. 12.