Soviets Begin Early Removal of A-Missiles

Soviet troops today began the early removal of nuclear missiles from East Germany and Czechoslovakia under terms of a new superpower arms agreement yet to be ratified.

Western reporters this morning saw a train loaded with 32 containers leave Bischofswerda, about 20 miles east of Dresden. Officials at the scene said that the containers were packed with parts of dismantled SS-12 rockets and that the train’s destination was the Soviet Union, where the missiles are to be destroyed.

In addition to the missile parts, 150 of 400 Soviet soldiers stationed at Bischofswerda also left on the train. Officials at the site said the remaining soldiers will leave by the end of the month.

A large banner displayed at Bischofswerda’s railroad station read: “Removal of Shorter-Range Rockets, a Contribution to Security and Peace.”

‘First Practical Step’

The top Communist Party functionary of Bischofswerda, Hannelore Strugalla, said “the first practical step in nuclear disarmament is being accomplished in our hometown.”

The SS-12s are included in the superpower treaty on removal of medium- and shorter-range nuclear missiles from Central Europe.

Dmitri T. Yazov, the Soviet defense minister, said Monday while Secretary of State George P. Shultz was in Moscow that withdrawal of the SS-12s would begin this month as a “display of goodwill.”

The treaty is before Congress and the nominal Soviet parliament for approval.

There were 5 rocket launchers, 8 missiles and 4 practice missiles stationed at Bischofswerda, according to officials.

Other Missile Sites

Removal of the warheads from the missiles was completed a week ago, officials said, and additional rocket parts are to be moved from the site in the next two days.

Soviet troops were also removing SS-12s today from Waren, East Germany, where there are 22 missiles, 9 launchers and 7 training rockets, according to figures released after the superpower treaty was signed. Waren is about 90 miles northwest of Berlin.

The East German government arranged to transport 100 Western journalists to the two sites to witness the removal of the rockets.

In Czechoslovakia the missile removal was taking place in the Moravian town of Hranice, the country’s official news agency CTK said.