ALLIES STEPPING UP AIR LIFT INTO BERLIN

Chronicle (Levin), 17 July 1948, Page 5

ALLIES STEPPING UP AIR LIFT INTO BERLIN

Keeeived Fridav, 7 p.m. LONDON, Julv 16. Ignoring Kussian complaints that. their air lift into Berlin is endangpring air traffie the British and American authorities are stepping up the flow of supplies into the Western seetors of the citv. The runwav at Gatow airport was last night lengthened, and is in use today witli 20 per cont. additional loads. Yorks are land ing everv ten minutes with Dakotas in ltetween, and it is expected that the former will now be able to make three flights daily instead of two. Giving details of how the Russians are already tr.ving to hamper the AngloAiherican airlift into Berlin Gfpup Captain ib M. S. Wright, seeond m command of the R.A.F. in Berlin, told the Daily Alail's Berlin eorrespondent last nigiit: "They issue 'bmnibus' warnings that their planes will be flying in any number at, all times and hdights. ' ' 'l'hey have hoisted a barrage balloon '011 at least oue occasion and a Dakota has reported tracer bullets np to a height of 15,000 f'eet east of Helmsfedt. The Russians later said this was ' fiVeworks ' from a Kussian leave camp. There has also been a large increase id , Russian flying in the air eorridors." The DailV Maifl's eorrds'pdndent adsd th"at (he Russians la'st nigiit ga've notice tltat Russian flgliters from five air-

fielcls would be on manoeuvres in the air eorridors. • Group Captain Wright stated that, if the Russians tried to cliange Ihe flying rules in Berlin, the Western allies would disregard the change and keep 011 flying down the three air eorridors which tlie four-Power agreement established. He saw 110 way tlu; Russians could elose Ihe eorridors unless thej resorted to anued action.