Soviet Surprised by Repairing of Berlin’s Power Station

Grey River Argus, 15 April 1948, Page 5

Soviet Surprised by Repairing of Berlin’s Power Station

\ LONDON, April 14. The Western Allies are going to spend between £2,000,000 and 3,000,000 on repairing Berlin’s big power station.

The Western Allies last night gave the Russians what the Berlin correspondent of the Daily Herald calls “an electric shock” when they gave orders for the immediate re-equipment of the West Berlin power stationstripped by the Russians in 1945 —to ensure adequate electricity for the three Western sectors should the Russians cut off the existing power. All other power stations are in the Russian sector of Berlin. The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that this move will go far to restore confidence in Berlin, which is being bombarded daily with Russian propaganda stating that the British and Americans are about to withdraw from the city. The Berlin correspondent of the Times says that the West German Bizonal Administration has been instructed to provide materials for rebuilding the station, and has been 'told that the task is to be regarded as of the highest priority. SOVIET BARS U.S. MEN FROM PHONE LINES The American Military Government in Berlin announced that the American maintenance _ crews manning cable repeater stations on the telephone lines crossing the Soviet zone between Berlin and Frankfurt will be withdrawn to-morrow following the refusal of the Soviet Deputy Military Governor, General Dratvin. to grant an extension of their passes. Earlier this week the British authorities decided to withdraw their maintenance parties. RUSSIANS HOLD UP BRITISH POSTMAN AT VIENNA The Associated Press Vienna correspondent reports that Soviet troops stopped a British courier delivering letters and packages to the Schwechat airfield, which is an official British airport 15 miles from Vienna. The Russians insisted upon seeing his passport or identity card with a photograph, which British personnel do not. carry.