Exchange visit

Press, Issue 33840, 12 May 1975, Page 15

Exchange visit

CN.Z. Press Assn—Copyright) BOSTON, May 11.

Two Russian destroyers will steam into Boston harbour on Monday, and two United States destroyers will drop anchor a few hours later at Leningrad, marking the first exchange visit by warships of the two super-Powers since World War IE The simultaneous visits commemorate the thirtieth

anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany.

United States sources in Moscow said the exchange grew out of a joint effort to eliminate incidents at sea involving ships of the United States and Soviet navies.

They said the Russians, encouraged by success in that effort, first raised the idea of reciprocal visits in 1972, and suggested three months ago that an exchange be made to mark the anniversary of V.E. Day. The; United States accepted. United States Navy I officials said the Russian' guided-missile destroyers Boyky and Zhguchy were expected in Boston about 9 a.m. local time. Some eight hours later, sources in Moscow said, the guided missile frigate U.S.S. Leahy and the guided missile destroyer U.S.S. Tattnall will arrive in the Baltic sea port of Leningrad.

The 750 United States officers and men on the ships bound for Leningrad have been told, “Your uniforms are your passports,” giving them the right to free travel on public transport. Similar privileges will apply in Boston to the approximately 700 officers and men of the two Soviet destroyers.