Threat Of Trouble Over Barge Traffic

Chronicle (Levin), 29 April 1949, Page 5

Threat Of Trouble Over Barge Traffic

(N.Z.P.A.-

— Reuter,

Copyrigkt)

A 'T~ Received Friday, 10.15 a.m. BERLIN, April 28. The Russians tonight said that they wouid dely the British military police and cut off Berlin barge trafiftc in the British sector of Berlin at dawn, says the Assoeiated Press eorresv pondent.

They have posted officers wearing sidearms in buildings a c three' British sector canal rocks — three atj Char'cttenburg lock and one ofQcerj . eaeh at Spandau and Ploetzensee ylocks. Thev said they had orders ' 1.0 stop all barge traffic which was nou registered with the Soviet Water Control. In repiy to the Russians, British! military police, supported by twoj armoined cars, received instruclions to keep firm control of the locks, which they had wrested v.ilhout violence from a few Russian soldiers early today. British guards are also prepared to spend Ihe night at the lccks awaiiing a possible showdown with the Russians early tomorrow morning. A British Control Commission tran. port officer, Mr. George Fietcher, said that the Russians had "iven no resson for their actions. "We have enough troops here anc sianding by to cover everything,'' he said, "but we have been instructed to avoid trouble. The Russians csn sta.y here ail night all iight, but we will see what liappens "1^ try to stop traffic in the n.oruin .