International ‘Cuban troops, Russian tanks, jets set to attack Smith’

Press, 9 May 1978, Page 8

International ‘Cuban troops, Russian tanks, jets set to attack Smith’

NZPA-Reuter New York Hundreds of Cuban troops, backed by Soviet tanks and jet fighters, have moved into Mozambique in preparation for a big offensive against Rhodesia, “Newsweek” magazine reports. “South African and Rhodesian intelligence sources report that two companies of Cuban troops have moved into Mozambique, along with 200 Soviet tanks and 35 MiG2l fighter planes,” “Newsweek” says in its current issue, published in New York.

“According to “Newsweek” sources, the Rhodesians are now convinced that Soviet-backed Cubans are hatching a major of-

fensive against Rhodesia from neighbouring Mozambique,” the magazine says.

Quoting the same sources, “Newsweek” adds: “General Vasily Ivanovich Petrov — the man believed to be directing Russian military operations in Africa — recently turned up in Mozambique.” “Newsweek” says that United States Intelligence said it could not confirm the reports of a military build-up in Mozambique.

But the magazine quotes a senior United States State Department official as saying that while no attack seemed imminent, “every day that passes increases the danger of a Cuban move on Rhodesia.”

In Lusaak, a Zambian presidential aide said yesterday that the Rhodesian war would escalate rapidly if the West failed to remove Mr lan Smith from power, and he indicated that Cuban troops could become involved.

Up to 70 Cuban advisers are already in Zambia helping to train guerrillas of Mr Joshua Nkomo’s wing of the Patriotic Front. Nkomo guerrillas are also being trained in Cuba and in Angola.

But until now the Zambian President (Dr Kenneth Kaunda) has resisted the deployment of Cuban forces in the Rhodesian war. Two years ago he condemned Soviet and Cuban intervention in Angola as that of “ a

plundering tiger with its deadly cubs.” Zambian officials declined to confirm a report in the London “Observer” newspaper that Dr Kaunda was on the point of inviting Cubans to help the Patriotic Front But they agreed that the war would intensify if Mr Smith was allowed to remain in power. The “Observer” report said Dr Kaunda was delaying his decision on inviting the Cubans pending a final appeal to Britain and the United States to remove Mr Smith — as called for in Anglo-Ameri-can settlement proposals for Rhodesia.

The Zambian leader is to visit London and Washington this month.