POSTERS REMOVED BY SOVIET TROOPS

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31767, 26 August 1968, Page 1

POSTERS REMOVED BY SOVIET TROOPS

More Forces Arrive At Prague Airport

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter— Copyright)

PRAGUE, August 25.

Soviet troops moved through Wenceslas Square in the centre of Prague overnight, ripping down posters and obliterating signs of support for the Communist Party First Secretary, Mr Alexander Dubcek.

A few hours earlier they cleared the ancient square, firing bursts from heavy machine-guns mounted on tank turrets, shattering roofs on surrounding buildings and bringing slates down on to pavements below.

As the Russians moved to end the protests against their occupation, word spread that Mr Dubcek was about to return to Czechoslovakia from Moscow.

Meanwhile, more Warsaw Pact occupation troops landed at Prague Airport early today. Radio Free Prague reported. It was not clear whether the new units represented a troop build-up in Prague. The clandestine radio station, monitored in Bonn, did not state the nationality of the forces arriving today, or give the numbers involved. Some reports have spoken of demoralisation among young Soviet soldiers and units being withdrawn to be replaced by more experienced forces. Some free radio reports have also claimed that occupying units have gone short of food and water. Soldier Breaks Down An N.Z.P.A.-Retiter correspondent yesterday saw a young Soviet soldier break down in Wenceslas Square. He ripped off his helmet and ran into a crowd of Czechoslovaks crying: “I don’t understand what is going on,” after heavy machine-gun fire

had broken out in the area.

The Russian troops opened fire in Wenceslas Square last night as they seized a group of young Czechoslovak patriots hurling pro-Dubcek leaflets from a passing car. The occupants of the car—three men and a woman—were dragged out and marched away at pistol point. A crowd of people in the Square burst into boos and jeers and Soviet machinegunners opened fire over their heads. Dubcek’s Part

The capital fas tense this morning as people sensed that their future could be determined today in negotiations being conducted by President Ludvik Svoboda in Moscow.

Reliable sources in the Soviet capital said yesterday that Mr Dubcek and his Prime Minister, Mr Oldrich

Cernik—there whereabouts a mystery since they were bundled away by the Russians last Wednesday—were taking part in these talks.

Free radio stations continued to broadcast in defiance of the Russians, urging people to resist the invasion but not to provoke the occupying troops. Radio Free Danube—a Slovak language station apparently broadcasting from somewhere near Bratislava — said early today that Mr Dubcek had talked with four Slovak Presidium members on the telephone from Moscow last night. He told them he might return to Czechoslovakia today, the radio said. Congress Meeting Clandestine radio stations urged the Communist Party Congress to go on with its secret meeting in a Prague factory because Mr Dubcek might be able to join them. Brno Radio said Mr Gustav Husak, a Vice-Premier, who went to Moscow with President Svoboda, had told members of-the Slovak Communist Party not to start a party congress scheduled for tomorrow until he and Mr Dubcek had been able to join them. Soviet helicopters flew up and down over Wenceslas Square yesterday dropping thousands of leaflets carrying the proclamation to the Czechoslovak people issued by the five Warsaw Pact nations.

Youths ran through the square snatching the papers from people’s hands and tearing them up or burning them on a bonfire before the bullet-scarred National Museum. Student Appeals While students bellowed appeals through megaphones to people to sign appeals for the release of the detained national leaders and the withdrawal of occupying troops, Soviet tank crews lay sprawled in the sunshine on gun turrets. Czechoslovaks licked icecream cones as they stood around the tanks and armoured cars, jeering at the Russians. “Zian Go Home” was the most popular message printed on the paper flags pinned to lapels. The N.Z.P.A.-Reuter correspondent, Vincent Buist, entered the National Assembly building yesterday for the first time since Soviet armour surrounded it on Wednesday. Two Demands

Deputies there were in permanent session and sticking to two minimum demands:

Withdrawal of all occupation

forces. Release of all detained political leaders.

Deputies said they feared that the "neutrality” slogan posted up in towns and villages all over the country

could endanger delicate negotiations going on to form a compromise rule for the country.

They said they believed Mr Svoboda had obtained Kremlin agreement for a staged withdrawal of Warsaw Pact troops after certain political accords reached in Moscow.