Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-07
BY CROSBY 5. MOVES

BY CROSBY s. MOVES
European Correspondent Of The Star
VIENNA - Measured against
the mass Of information on sat-
elite military forces available
here, there is something grimly
humorous about Mr.. Molotov's
threat to set up a sort of Eastern
NATo in retaliation against Ger
man rearmament.
It is hard to understand what
the Soviet Foreign Minister Is
talking about In calling on his
allies to take common meas
ures In the field Of organizing
their military forces and their
commands" On the basis OF
proved fact it was possible to
write authoritatiyely OF the satel-
lites a year ago that:
"Never in the history OF the
world has there been a military
bloc more carefully directed,
more closely disciplined, pro-
vided with better standardized
arms and equipment. or trained
with more uniform tactical and
unconditional ,.i,lee
Here, in brief summary, are
some Of the details Of the mill
tary force that Russia has been
patiently building In the six vas
sal states along her western Dor
ders. In comparison with the
strength of NATO. these latest
reports provide SOLDERING food for
thought.
Treaties Join Satellites.
To begin with, the military
coalition has long existed on the
diplomatic level through a series
of interlocking treaties OF
Friendship and mutual assist
ance" joining the Soviet Union to
the satellite states. Most Of these
treaties run for 20 years, renew
able indefinitely. As originally
written, the military clauses OF
these treaties called for imme-
diate action in case of aggression
by Germany or any other power
allied with her-a formula vague
enough to permit very broad
Interpretation. More recently,
however, these terms have been
further broadened. For instance.
the agreement between Russia
and Romania provides for joint
action to remove any threat OF
aggression" The most recent
treaties do not name Germany
specifically, referring only to
aggression by ANY third state"
On this political platform. the
command structure Of the East
ern military force has been
raised. According to recent in
telligence reports it divides itself
into three separate parts:
/. A Western Defense Group,
comprising Poland. Czechoslo-
vakia and East Germany. possess
ing its own joint general staff
and political operations de.
Communist Party controD mech
anism.
.. A Southern Defense Group,
consisting of Hungary, Ronlania
and Bulgaria. with a similar
command setup.
3. A Baltic Sea Command, in.
GLIDING naval units of the East
German Republic, Polish ane
Russian units. under the supreme
command of the Soviet admiralty
staff.
Albania Not Included
tAlbania-the seventh satellite
state-is not considered as part
of the southern group. Its army
OF $4,000, grouped into six divi-
sions, is believed to be relatively
lightly armed)
In terms of fighting strength
the first Of these groups, the so.
called Western Defense Group
with its military headquarters In
Warsaw. is believed to be by fal
the most important. Its mission
in contrast to the southern
group, is believed to be mainly
offensive. 1t receives a major
share of military equipment pro-
vided to the satellites by Russia
Although there is no evidence
so far that the satellite forces
are in possession Of tactical
atomic weapons, a move to equip
them in the near future Is be-
neved possible.
The northern group is under
the command of Marshal Kon.