U.S. OFFICIAL BRUTALLY MURDERED

Chronicle (Levin), 1 November 1948, Page 5

U.S. OFFICIAL BRUTALLY MURDERED

(N>Z.P.Ai-

— Reuter ,

Russian Soldiers' Outrage ln Vienna

CovvrtQht)

Received Monday, 10.20 a.fn. VIENNA, Oct, 31. The United States and Austr,ian authorities have reported that four Russian soldiers "most brutally murdered" Mr. Irving itossj an American Ofhcial of the EuTopean Economic Co-operation Administra-

tioii in Vienna. Mr. Ross held third position below the chief of the Europeah Economic Co-operation Administration. Unofficial reports said that Mr. Ross was sitting in a car with a giri outside the south railway station when foUr uniformfed Russians. broke into the car and forced hihi at pi'stol point to dfive towards the Russian, sector. The glrl, Anna Sutkena, who apparently jumped from or was thrown out of the car, is in hospital with a skull fracture. Her condition is seriOiis, but she is expefcted to live. She told the police that tWo of the fotir Russians beat Mr. Ross over the head with their rifle butts and also beat her. Austrian police found her lying on the road.*" An AUstrian labourer ^oing to work found Mr. Ross's car m a field with the wheels removed and ail wires cut. The Austrian police said that Mr, Ross's skull had been crushed by blows from rifle butts and there were wounds indicating that he had also been bayonetted. He'hau been so brutally hit that his body was hardly reCognisable. Mr. ■ Ross's wif e and three children, living in Vermont, United States, Were due to join him at Vienna early in November. Allied military police and United States investigators were pefiiiitted to visit the scene of the crime after the Russians had first attempted to prevent investigation. Russian troops cordoned off the field where the car was found and allowed no one to approach it.