Evening star., 1953-08-02
Reds Ban Sale
'0f Rail Tickets
Obtain Food
Cruckdown Ordered
| As zoo, 900 Seek
American Gift
BY the Assoeioted Press

food relief in West Berlin, and
revoked all such tickets already
sold.
In the Communists greatest
blow against the American-fi-
nanced food program, the rail-
->----~~--~
U. S. Food Proerom to Go on os Long
os Possible. Poee AZ
way ministry outlawed sale of
single trip tickets and Sunday
round trip tickets between all
Soviet Zone stations and Berlin.
The ban was clamped after
some 100000 East Germans
mostly riding trainS-Swarmed
into West Berlin today from five
Soviet-occupied provinces.
The ministry said it took the
unprecedented measure because
Of the intention of Americans
and West German war makers
to organize provocations in Ber-
lin against workers and farm
ers' forces of the German DEM
ocratic Republic.
Allow Few Exceptions.
The ministry said the only ex-
ceptions to the ban on rail travel
would be season tickets, workers
committing tickets, vacation tic
kets and students tickets.
The Soviet move came shortly
after American authorities an
nounced that the United States
is preparing to keep the huge
good relief program for hungry
East Germans running for weeks.
The Soviet controlled railway
administration revoked all sim
gle trip and Sunday trip tickets
already in the hands of hungry
East Germans waiting to coll
lect relief packages in West
Berlin.
1t said the price of outlawed
tickets will be refunded at the
wish Of travellers" But it added
that the tickets might be usable
again before August 31--a plain
hint that the Communists ex-
pect to destroy the relief pro-
gram in short order.
Week End for Zone.
Only Soviet zone residents are
receiving food during the week
end. East Berliners have been
asked to wait until Monday for
distribution to resume to them.
The action was taken by 4,400
Western city employees and VOL
unteer welfare workers so all
who come from distant places
in East Germany on their week.
end holiday can be served
promptly. Waiting time was
reduced from eight to three
hours in the long queues.
Many workers made the trek
today from Eastern strategic in
dustries. including the Soviet
operated uranium mines in Sax
ony. Even more were expected
tomorrow. Trains were over
crowded. some passengers cling
ing to the steps.
Our June II revolt was Just
a rehearsal" said a burly ma
chiniSt from Halle. wait un-
til the real thing comes along"
PECK Back in Berlin.
A heavy Communist guard pa
trolled East Berlin's railway sta
tion and adjacent streets today
as President Wilhelm PECK re-
turned from a three month rest
cure in the Soviet Union. Hun
dreds of police and soldiers were
on duty, armed with machine
pistols and other weapons.
Mr.. PECK. II, was stricken
with pneumonia last spring. He
looked fat and sun-tanned as
Premier Grotewhol welcomed
him back to his officials duties
as a figueehead leader over a
sullen, rebellious people.
The Soviet Zone Interior Min
istry which controls 100000
police agents and 125,000 army
troops simultaneously decreed
tonight arrest and fines up to
$50 marks (S35) for any East
German caught without his own
identity card or in possession of
another'S card.
Many relief applicants today
carried identity cards of rela-
tiveS and friends. The West gave
food package for every identity
card presented.
American and West German
officials were stunned by the rail-
way ban--a Red counterattack
they apparently had not ex-
pected.
This is one of the most brazen
acts ever taken by a gang of