Evening star., 1957-08-30
SovietRepOrfed
To Have Fired
-Four ICBNs
Many Shorter Tests
Also Held Over
Longer Time

Russia was reported today to
have fred at least four long
range ballistic missiles since
June and to have tested many
more Of shorter range over q
longer time.
Moscow withheld until last
week any announcement Of its
claimed successful test Of an
intercontinental missile. Bits
and pieces Of the information
had been coming into WASH
ington from intelligence sources
since shortly after the test op-
erations started.
Apparently the Kremlin's
announcement on Monday was
timed to make it a contribution
to the fierce new Soviet diplo-
matte offensive against the
West. Only the timing was q
real surprise here-and pre-
sumably in allied capitals.
Since the Russian announce
ment there have been solidly
backed reports here that the
United States Army believes It
has ready for production a.
proven 'counterweapon - an
American missile of shorter
range which could hit key So
Wet areas from advance bases.
Production Model Doubted
There is every evidence Of
high-level doubt here that the
Russians actually have a pro-
duction model Of q 5.00O-mile
intercontinental missile ready
for operational use. Officials
stress the difference between an
experimental prototype and an
atomic warhead weapon ready
for use.
The big Soviet missiles in
volved in this summers tests
were reported to have been
launched from points in the
northernmost part Of Euro
pean Russia. aimed eastward
into the wild and sparsely in
habited areas Of East Siberia.
The information was pieced
together laboriously and eval-
uated by American military
and other intelligence agencies
before going to the Technical
Intelligence Review Committee
for final study and evaluation.
This committee includes rep
resentatives Of the military, the
Central Intelligence Agency
and the State Department and
has the benefit Of advice from
several scientific bodies.
Whole Family Of Missiles
In addition to the testing Of
the 5.000-mile range ballistic
weapons, the Russians are also
reported by the same intelli-
gence sources to have been
testing a whole family of mis-
siles for the last l8 months
or so.
The short-range weapons are
generally tested in an area be-
tween the Caspian and the Aral
Seas.
Among the lesser weapons
the Russians are said to have
fired rockets with ranges of
between 100 and 200 miles.
another series ranging up to
600 miles and an intermediate
group designed to go between
600 and 1000 miles.
The United States Army's
answer weapon is reported to
be of slightly longer reach
about $500 miles.
In addition to rocket-pow-
cred missiles. such as the in
termediate and intercontinental
weapons. the Russians, like the
United States, have tested a
variety Of pilotless bombers be-
lieved to have capabilities
similar to the Matador of the
United States Air Force and
the Regulus of the United
States Navy.
Defense Offices Concerned
While much Of the Pentagon
questions Just how close the
Russians are to a fully opera
tional intercontinental missile,
there is still evident concern at
defense headquarters over the
Reds progress.
The military chiefs, however,
stress that the United States
itself is making long strides in
the long range missile field.
On the other hand, a number