Trying To Frighten Tito Into Submission

Chronicle (Levin), 1 September 1949, Page 5

Trying To Frighten Tito Into Submission

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter.

Copyriant)

Reoeived Wednesday, 8.5 p.m. LONDON, August 31. Reports from tlie British United Press and Reuter OQrrespqndeuts in Belgrade state that five liussian tank diyisiona supported by inf'antry aiid planes, are massed OU Yugoslayia's liorthem frontiers at points estiniated at one day's drivp a.cross the plains to Belgrade.Two Russian tank diyisions within the past 24 hours, are reported to have tflken up positions near Timisoara, a Rumanian railway jnhction 25 miles from the Yugoslav border. At least 50, .000 Russian troops anu 500 t'anlcs ai'6, now estimated to be drawn up iu a semicircplar front facing the Yugoslav frontier between Timisoara and Mohacs. Reuter 's . correspondent said the iatest Russian military moves are interpreted as a further sharpening of the war of nerves against the Tito regime. Tlie threat of serious Soviet military action is discounted. Tlie Assoeiated Press correspondent at Leipzig*- says Soviet Zone Ger'man police are engaged in a.full pressure recruiting campaign. There is evidence that Russia is opening the gates of war prisQiiers' eamps to those willing to join. The Communist People 's Police Army was first organised in the spring ot 1948 with an original recruiting target of between 200,000 and 500,000 men. It was estimated in April that 80,000 were already in uniform. It is believed, the Russians' first intention was to use this pro-Coinmunist German force to niain tain Communist dominance if the Reo Army withdrew from Germany.