CRITIC ASSAILED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22210, 21 December 1946, Page 3

CRITIC ASSAILED

ARCTIC CONVOYS PRAISE BY PRAVDA TRIBUTE TO ALLIES LONDON. Dec. 19. The Moscow newspaper Pravda sharply upbraided Captain V. Andreev, a Soviet naval officer, for the article in Red Fleet criticising the British Arctic Convoys. Pravda said: “The article gave an incorrect one-sided picture. The Soviet public appraises at their worth both the competent operations of the Allied fleets and the indubitable courage of British and American seamen.”

Pravda objected that some foreign commentators had represented the article as anti-British propaganda “Certain London newspapers are interested less in the contents of the article than in an excuse for a furore. The article does not reflect the Soviet public’s viewpoint.” In London this evening the Foreign Office spokesman expressed gratification at the Pravda corrective of Red Fleet's altacK on Britain's wartime convoy tactics. The spokesman said references to the gallantry of British seamen and efficiency of the British convoy operations were particularly appreciated. The article was considered a; a valuable contribution to AngloRussim friendship.