1.
SV PAN scientist climbs ladder to instrument deck
0.22

2.
SV & CU INTERIOR scientist using monitoring equipment (THREE SHOTS)
0.34

3.
TV PAN mountain tops to scientists measuring snow depth and hardness of rock (FOUR SHOTS)
0.58

4.
LV artillery howitzer towed into valley
1.05

5.
GV mountain top
1.09

6.
SV howitzer pointing at mountain top
1.11

7.
CU Bombadier arms howitzer
1.17

8.
LV howitzer fires PAN TO target area with snow falling down hill
1.26

9.
LV howitzer in valley
1.28



Initials KM/1615



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Soviet Union has called out the army to protect its winter tourist trade.

SYNOPSIS: The enemy in the mountains is the avalanche. Here in the Caucasus Mountains, russian scientists carefully check all the date that could point to a dangerous build-up of the type of snow that could drop off the peaks in the form of an avalanche.

The information gathered around the country's snow resorts is exchanged under the control of the State Committee for Meteorology and the Environment. for these scientists, snow experience is necessary - for there is a lot of mountaineering and skiing to be done - sometimes in the most difficult of conditions. The conditions of the snow; its depth, and the hardness of the under-lying rock must be carefully checked before the Army is called in to help solve any problems.

In the Elbus area of the Caucasus, there are stationed tow hundred and eighty cannons and howitzers. Once it has been established where a possible avalanche might occur, the scientists and the artillery units combine to prevent it happening without warning by making it happen under their control.

It's worth the effort since this is the biggest winter-sport area in the U.S.S.R. attracting thousands of tourists.