Hidden Microphones At Russian Camp

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32392, 3 September 1970, Page 1

Hidden Microphones At Russian Camp

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) BERLIN, Sept. 2. Young Australian and New Zealand tourists found five hidden microphones at a Russian camping site near Moscow during their stay there, members of the group said today, the Associated Press reported. Tony Skelton, a 25-year-old Aucklander who led the group organised by a London travel office, said that the micro-

phones were hidden in umbrellas placed at camp-site dining tables. The group of 45 Australians, New Zealanders and some Canadians were held for 20 hours at the Soviet-Polish frontier at Brest-Litovsk as Russian border guards searched for the microphones. “They found one,” he said, “and took it away from us.” According to Mr Skelton, the other microphones were in possession of other tourists not with his group and one was turned over to the West German Embassy in Moscow. “A German found the first one,” Mr Skelton said, “and then we began digging about and found the others.” He described the devices as cylindrical, made to fit inside the umbrella poles, and hooked to a network of wires.

Although the Russians discovered that the bugging devices were gone they gave no sign while the group was still in the camp, one of two near Moscow used by foreigners and Russian campers. Colin Green, a 23-year-old New Zealand topdressing pilot from Piopio, said the Russian border guards searched all three mini-buses in which the group travelled. Mr Skelton said that he, Mr Green, another driver, and two girls in the group were searched by the Russians along with the buses. Mr Green said that the group was held at the Soviet border overnight. The visitors had the impression that the Russians wanted the microphones back so that proof of their bugging would not be taken out of the country.

Otherwise, they said, their trip via Finland to Leningrad, Novgorod, Moscow and Minsk and then two nights in Poland before reaching West Berlin, was uneventful. Carle Griffin, a 25-year-old Sydney girl said she did not think anyone was afraid during the searching. “If there had been just two of us, maybe,” she said. “But what could they do to 45 of us?” Asked to describe her impressions of the Soviet Union Miss Griffin said: “Better than I thought they would be. Compared to what I had been told, I found things pretty good. But I would not want to - live there.” “None of us is going to hurry straight back,” said Faye Seginer, aged 25, of Perth.