Is Russia Preparing For War?

Chronicle (Levin), 14 June 1948, Page 5

Is Russia Preparing For War?

(N.Z.P.A.

— Reuter,

Copyright) .

Received Sunday, 8.50 p.m. LONDON, June 13. Reuter states that the memorandum of the International Oommittee i'or the Study of European Questions warns that it is probable that during the coming months Russia would attempt to take advantage of her military position to bring heavy pressure to bear on otb'er Powers in order to gain the maximum political advantages before the general staft's of the five Western Powers eoordinate their plans of defence and before the American rearniament plans have been carried very far. The Governments and general staffs of the Western Powers have been receiving reports concerning the existence of Soviet plans to invade Pranee, Italy and Scandinavia while reports from (Jentral Europe contirm that more than 500,000 Soviet troops are concentrated along the Danulie and the combined arniies of Russia and her satellites iiunijjer 2,000,000. - - "If war comes again there will be no sterling debts," said Mr. Ernest Bevin. "The defenders of the faith must throw their all into the pool from first day to last." "The times are exceedingly difficult and we have to get the Air Foree cracking pretty quickly," said Air Marshal Sir Hugh Walmsley, Deputy Chief of Air Staff, in a speeeh. "Our potential enemy is Russia. If the aggressor starts anything we must have the strength to see hini off quickly." Field-Marshal Montgomery, in a speeeh, said: "If we could get the British Empire to speak with one voice we eonld see everybody off. ' '