TOUCH AND GO BERLIN CRISIS

Grey River Argus, 3 April 1948, Page 5

TOUCH AND GO BERLIN CRISIS

SOVIET ENFORCING RAIL AND ROAD BLOCKS

WESTERN POWERS STOP THEIR TRAINS (Received April 2, at 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, April 2. Following on the Soviet’s orders being put into force at Berlin for the control of all traffic between the city and the Western Zone of Germany, there is a tense situation, which the United States Secretary for Defence describes as one of “touch and go.” For the time being the British and American Authorities have cancelled all of their military Trains leaving Berlin for the west, and, as a temporary measure, they arc instituting special air services. This action, says the Berlin correspondent of “The Times” can be no more than a makeshift, and it is the first reaction to the enforcement by the Russians of their new regulations for the controlling of the road and rail traffic in and out of the city. “The Russians are realising the tactical and the strategical strength of their position at Berlin, and they are going ahead with. their plans. This was made clear when Major-General Brownjohn, the British Deputy Military Governor at Berlin, last night made a formal protest to Lieutenant-General Lukyanschenko, the Russian Deputy Military Governor at Berlin. General Lukyanschenko said that he would convey the British representations to Marshal Sokolovsky, but there was no indication either in the matter or in the manner of bis remarks that the Russians are in any mood to modify their attitude. With much firmness, General Brownjohn 'again insisted that the British authorities would not allow Russian officers to board their military trains to check the passengers’ personal papers. The Russians are equally insistent in the contrary sense. The French made a request for a meeting with General Lukyanschenko. This was brusquely rejected. The Americans have begun using ’planes to transport their forces to and from Berlin.