MOSCOW: The Soviet Government today ordered a halt to grant of leave to all military personnel and the release of older age groups in the strategic rocket forces, anti-aircraft forces and submarine fleet, the Soviet news agency, “Tass”, said.

D.P. Gurynov, President of ‘Tass” news agency, said in a statement in Tokyo that four Soviet ships were on their way to Cuba and that the Soviets would sink American ships if attacked.

The swift Russian move followed US President Kennedy’s decision to impose a naval blockade on Cuba.

According to “Tass”, the Soviet Government, instructing the Defence Minister to stop leave for all personnel, asked him to increase the combat readiness and diligence of the entire Russian Army.

Another “Tass” message said that Marshal Andrei Grechko, Commander-in-Chief of Warsaw Pact forces, called in officers of the armies of the Pact’s members today (Oct 23) and ordered measures to increase their forces’ preparedness.

In a statement issued in Moscow, the Soviet Government said “if the United States unleashes war, it will meet with the most powerful and decisive riposte”.

It said the United States bore heavy responsibility for the fate of the world in deciding to blockade Cuba.

Dr Fidel Castro ordered all Cuba’s armed forces to battle stations — “an order only issued in cases of most critical danger”. — Agencies

US to sink intruding Soviet ships

WASHINGTON: United States Naval and Air Forces were poised in the Caribbean today (Oct 23), ready to open a blockade to prevent offensive weapons from the Soviet Union reaching Cuba.

The American fleet and air squadrons were under orders to sink Soviet ships if necessary, to stop what President Kennedy termed a build-up of Soviet medium and intermediate range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads 2,000 miles from Cuban bases — to Washington, Panama Canal and other sites in the Caribbean. — Agencies