RUSSIANS' FIRST ADMISSION

Chronicle (Levin), 10 April 1948, Page 5

RUSSIANS' FIRST ADMISSION

( N.Z.P.A. — ,

Reuter.

Knew Of Viking's fresence In Air Corridor . sf*

VoDvriaht)

Received Saturday, 1 a.m. LONDON, April 9. The British United Press correspondent in Berlin says the Russian Air General Alexandrov in the Red Army newspaper Taegliche Rundschau admitted that the entry into the air corridor of the British Viking which collided with the Russian fighter on Monday had been notified to the Four Po.wer Air Safety Centre in Berlin. This statement contradicts all the previous Russian reports which stated that the Russian authorities were unaware of the Viking's flight. A Russian announeement last night alleged that American and T >rit ish planes almost daily infringed the quadripartite air security rogiilations over Berlin and the Soviet zone. says Reuter 's Berlin eoi'resjxnident. The infringements included flights at a very low allitinle over Russian airfields, somethnes as low as 500 feet. The announeement is believed bv some observers to foreshadow an atlenipt to impo.se new traffic regulations on Hrit ish and American planes as part oi" a Soviet campaign to squeeze the Western Allies out oi" Berlin. The Daily TelegTaph's Berlin correspondent says there was eonstant actrvity over the Berlin ai'ea on Thursday by British Ternpest figliters opcrating from the R.A.F. airfield at Botow. British offieials denied that any special significanee was being atfached to these manoeuvres, but there is little doubt that these ma'chines are being held in reserve to carrv out eseort duties in the " air corridor between the AVestern zones and Berlin ii" and when required. The United States Military ({overnor (General Glay) announeed that he would not convene the Allied Gontrol Uouncil tomorrow which is the norinal date I'or the next meeting because there had been no request for a meeting i'rom any of the delegations and no subject had been presented l'or diseussion. Agenev representatives at Berlin say the Russian representative (Uolonel Jelisariv) at a Konimandatura meeting said Air. Benson's charges that the Russians stripped Berlin in the earlv days of the occupation were unl'air. "AVhy didn't the British get there first if they wanted to preserve these -tliings." he asked, adding, "The British should reniind themsejves how they looked on Avhile llitler's army looted the I)on Basin. The British nding classes and imperialisls gave Hitler arms to wago war and afterwards looked on as this machine was fiung against the Soviet Union. " Air. Benson said he was second to none in "Vecognising the Red Army's gallanlry, but he rejected the charges against the British with the contempt they deserved.