OFFICERS AT PARADE; SVOBODA AND OTHERS TAKING SALUTE; MARCH PAST; OFFICERS AND SVOBODA TAKING SALUTE.

Initials JH/B-EURO-TELE/CT/OS

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Background: CZECH PRESIDENT LUDVIK SVOBODA TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED SOVIET TROOPS AT AN UNSPECIFIED LOCATION IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA AS THE COUNTRY BEGAN CELEBRATIONS MARKING THE 24TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS LIBERATION FROM THE NAZIS BY SOVIET FORCES IN WORLD WAR TWO.
DURING HIS VISIT, PRESIDENT SVOBODA INSPECTED THE TROOPS AND TOOK THEIR SALUTE AS THEY STAGED A MARCH-PAST. HE ALSO SAW A SPECIAL MILITARY DISPLAY BY SOVIET ARMY AND AIR FORCE UNITS.
WITH HIM WERE CZECH PARTY CHIEF GUSTAV HUSAK AND PREMIER OLDRICH CERNIK. THEY WERE GREETED BY SOVIET GENERAL MAYOROV.
JOINT CZECH-SOVIET ARMY FRIENDSHIP MEETINGS ARE TO BE HELD LATER THIS WEEK FOR THE ANNIVERSARY.
PRAGUE RADIO DESCRIBED THE VISIT TODAY AS WARM AND COMRADELY.
MAY 9TH (FRIDAY) IS LIBERATION DAY BUT PRAGUE LEADERS, WARY OF POSSIBLE ANTI-SOVIET INCIDENTS, HAVE CANCELLED THE LARGE-SCALE DEMONSTRATIONS WHICH ARE TRADITIONALLY HELD IN THE CAPITAL.