SOVIET ANNOUNCES ARMY MANOEUVRES

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31740, 25 July 1968, Page 11

SOVIET ANNOUNCES ARMY MANOEUVRES

Secrecy Over Talks

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

MOSCOW, July 24.

The Soviet Union has today again increased its pressure on Czechoslovakia by making more attacks in the press on leading Prague officials and by the launching of military manoeuvres along Russia’s western frontiers.

The announcement of the manoeuvres, involving called-up reservists and Regular troops, was made in the Government newspaper, “Izvestia.”

The exercises, expected to continue until August 10, are being held over a wide area stretching from the Baltic State of Lithuania, on the border with Poland, down through Byelorussia and the Ukraine.

The Czechs share a common border with the Soviet Union in the trans-Carpathian Ukraine, and many of the Soviet troops now slowly moving out of Czechoslovak territory after the Warsaw Pact exercises are crossing this frontier to return to their bases.

There is no definite indication, apart from the location of the exercises, that they are directly connected with events in Czechoslovakia, and with the tension between Moscow and Prague. But experienced observers here cannot recall anything similar to the form of the Ministry of Defence announcement of the manoeuvres published prominently on the front page of “Izvestia.” These observers say the timing of the announcement, coming only a day after the Kremlin had proposed that the entire Czechoslovak Presidium and the full Soviet Politburo should meet in Czechoslovakia to discuss their differences, could hardly be coincidental.

As it announced the Soviet manoeuvres, “Izvestia” made the accusation that the West German Bundeswehr exercises originally due to be held near the Czechoslovak border in September, but now moved elsewhere, were “a provocation.”

The West German Minister of Defence (Dr Gerhard Schroeder) announced today that the manoeuvres would now take place west of Ulm in the troop-training areas of Muensingen and Heubergs, instead of in Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels, which are both near the Czechoslovak border. “Izvestia” also published what purported to be an open letter from an unidentified Czechoslovak historian, attacking Prague’s Minister of the Interior (Mr Josef Pavel) as “an evil man.”

The anonymous letter, the publication of which is seen in Moscow as unprecedented in relations between Russia and its Warsaw Pact allies, accused Mr Pavel of having been responsible for the execution of innocent people during the Prague purges of the early 19505. An attack on the Czechoslovak party’s Chief of Defence Staff (General Vaclav Prchlik) was launched by the Soviet Defence Ministry newspaper, “Red Star,” because he has proposed changes in the command structure of the Warsaw Pact military forces. Prague Silent In Prague, details of the proposed top-level talks remain a secret. Czechoslovak officials and news media have given no hint of when the Soviet Politburo will fly to Czechoslovakia.

Moscow rumours indicate that the Soviet leaders have already left. Mr Oldrich Kaderka, head of the Czechoslovak Central Committee, said on television that negotiations about the time and venue were still going on. He told viewers they would be informed of the outcome of these preliminary discussions and added that a series of talks was already in progress with a number of other Communist parties. Otherwise, despite the immense interest in a meeting which may well decide the fate of the Czechoslovak party's First Secretary (Mr Alexander Dubcek) and his liberalisation programme. Czechoslovak radio and television newscasts have all but ignored the unprecedented conference now being prepared.

The last thing the Czechoslovaks want is embarrassment over a meeting which is already tense in political drama.

The news clamp-down in Prague last night and early today indicated that the Czechoslovak party wants to keep the confrontation secret until after the Soviet party leaders have returned to their own capital.

AU along the road approaching Cieszyn from Katowice, Soviet trucks and soldiers armed with sub-machine-guns are standing, waiting. Military sources say there are more there than can be seen. Exactly how many, noone knows. But, the sources say, the Soviets probably have tanks up in that hilly, wooded Polish countryside. No-one is going up for a look. These are not soldiers from the regular Soviet garrison stationed along the Czecho-slovak-Polish border, either. Most of these left Czechoslovakia after the Warsaw Pact manoeuvres and have been kept lingering, just in case.

The news black-out in Prague itself contrasts with the flood of news from Moscow sources reporting yet another large Soviet Army exercise—this time, not inside Czechoslovakia but around her borders.

But the average Czechoslovak is beginning to become accustomed to news of Soviet troop manoeuvres, and there has been little reaction to that of the latest deployment of Red Army divisions. Troops Wait A scant three miles from Czechoslovakia, in the foothills of Poland, Soviet troops can be seen hanging nets over their trucks and equipment, the antennae from their mobile communications vans bending in the wind.

No-one pays them much attention. These soldiers and what is hidden in these Polish foothills under camouflage netting are the Czechoslovaks* problem. But Cieszyn is the only place where their presence is clearly noticeable, perhaps because Cieszyn provides quick access to the heartland of Czechoslovakia.

The Soviet soldiers are unmistakable in their stiff hats and high leather boots. Their presence suggests that Moscow is prepared to bare its military teeth if words fail to persuade the Czechoslovak Communists to keep in line with Soviet policy.