CHEVROLET, MERCEDES COMPETE FOR RUSSIAN MARKET.

General Motors is close to an agreement with the Russian car firm ELAZ to produce 600,000 Chevy Blazers and 300,000 engines in Russia annually, Wards Automotive International reported June 19. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz reached a similar production accord with another spin-off of the Kamaz truck manufacturer, Moscow radio reported the same day.

Diphtheria Epidemic Threatens Russia, Europe.