STORY OF SOVIET PLANES OVER ALASKA

Grey River Argus, 17 April 1948, Page 5

STORY OF SOVIET PLANES OVER ALASKA

NEW YORK, April 15

A member of the United States House of Representatives, Margaret Smith (Republican, Maine) was correct when she told a meeting that Russian planes had violated Alaskan skies, according to the proprietor of the Ketchkan (Alaska) Daily Cronicle, William Baker, writing in his paper to-day. However, Mr Baker adds, both American and Russian aircraft had crossed each other’s borders over a period of several months. Mr Baker also says that the “mystery submarine,” first reported to have been seen in Kska harbour by an American pilot over a fortnight ago, lingered in Aleutian waters for about 10 days. The Navy had a radar “fix” pn ti e submarine several times and awaited orders from Washington. Several thousand personnel at the Aueltian bases were “'alerted

and sailors' leave cancelled. Mr Baker says he has received reports that- a Superfortress, which crashed north of Nome on December 27, “had the Soviet in her belly.” U.S. FORCES ORDERED TO ALASKA The Army announced tonight that an undisclosed number of combat troops, anti-aircraft units and other ground forces have been ordered to Alaska from Hawaii and from the American West Coast. The shift is intended to “balance” the Alaskanforces and train the ground troops in co-operation with the Air Force units. The Army has no combat troops in Alaska now. The 7000 soldiers there service and supply the aircraft. An Army spokesman said the troops were being sent as part of the rotation programme, under which soldiers will receive periodical training.

No Jet Planes Seen but Sub. Only (Received April 16, 9.40 p.m..). ANCHORAGE (Alaska), April lb. Lieutenant-General Nathan Twining, Commander of the United Mates armed forces in Alaska, to-aoy branded as fictitious reports that Russian iet planes have scouted Alaska, that an American Superfortress was forced down with a Russian shell in hei’ belly, and that a Soviet submarine iiad lingered in Alaskan waters. General Twining was C ° l P: menting pn the statements published in the Ketchikan Daily Chronicle. General Nathan, however, admitted that an unidentified submarine has been seen. He said. It was seei only for a period of two minutes, and it has not been sighted since . Atom Bomb Tests HONOLULU, April 15. Military sources believe that the first phase of the atomic tests at Eniwetok have been completed and that they probably involve the use of a guided missile, says the United Press correspondent. Uncon firmed reports said a bomb was set off last week-end and that the test was not an under-water or an airplane job.