Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-17
THREAT TO WEST?
AIbonio Is Valuable Soviet Military Base

Arab countries, particularly Syria.
Russio Fortifies Island
The Russians are known to have
fortified the sizeable island of Sa-
seno. just of the Albanian coast,
ana built there strong submarine
base repeatedly capable of pro-
viding bombproof shelter for APP
proximately 80 vessels.
The Soviets have also fortified
and improved the harbor of Valona,
on the mainland. and built at
least five airflelds inland equipped
to handle modern jet fighters and
bombers as well as long-range
transport planes. Much of the work,
reports said, has been and is being
done by the Russians themselves.
Large areas are of limits to Al
bantam civilians and troops.
Although Albania has popula-.
ton Of only 100000, it maintains
an army of 10000, organized in
three divisions, each with armored
compliments of 40 tanks. Its Sc
curity police number 10000.
The country thus becomes a DO
tential source of those volunteers"
SO often mentioned by Messrs.
khrushchev and Bulganin.
In limited war; Albania would
quite obviously provide a handy
staging area for volunteers" and
ornaments from more distant
sources. About 100000 tons more of
Soviet commercial traffic" moved
from the Black Sea into the Medi-
terranean in 1856 than was the case
in 1855. Most of it went to Syria
and Egypt. But husky fraction
was discharged at Valona. It is not
unlikely that the Russians have
already stockpiled considerable
quantities of munitions and supplies
in Albania.
In KremIin's Grip
Politically. the country is COM
pletely in the grip of the Kremlin.
much more so than any other
Soviet satellite. Its Stalinist catho-
Lefty has been unique even among
the slave states. Not until last
November. for instance, did Hoxha
even bother to pay lip-service to
Moscow's co-existence line and at
tempt to patch up his quarrel with
Tito. When he did so it was easily
spotted as a half-hearted gesture
by Hoxha's implacable enemy in
Belgrade.
We shall strengthen and de-
fend the friendship of our people"
said Hoxha on November 8. with
the fraternal Yugoslav people in
accordance with the Marxist-
feminist path described by the
third (Albanian) Party Con-
At Pula, three days later, in a
speech famous for signalling a sus-
pected rift in the Kremlin hier-
archy over Budapest, Tito attacked
Hoxha personally. describing him
theoretically as parrot who knows
how to say Marxism-Leninism and
not word more" He charged
Hoxha and his party of riding the
backs of the Albanian people with
the help Of the "Stalinists Of the
Soviet Union"
Hoxha countered. on November
%. by carrying out death sentences
against three alleged Titoist spies
who had been held in jail for
months after a typical Stalinist
trial. One OF the three was report
eddy a Yugoslav subject.
Given the hostility OF Tito and
the animosity of the Greeks, it
would seem comparatively easy
task to unseat Hoxha. The Italians
have no love for him either.
Economy Is Shoky
The country's economy. further
more, Is in deplorable state. The
Soviets are carting away the coun-
trys not inconsiderable output of
chrome ore and copper, paying for
1t mostly in ornaments, second
hand machinery and promises.
Opposition underground workers
who occasionally escape, complain
that they are getting no help what
ever from the West. that no one
seems interested in Albania's plight
nor aware Of its potential as a
Soviet base.
The West may yet regret its
indifference to the Russian presence
in Albania.
What was once an outpost of the
Ottoman Empire in Europe seems
to have become an advanced POSI-
ton OF the Soviet empire on a
continent that the Kremlin clearly
hopes to separate from North Africa
and the Middle East.