ADMIRAL BALTIN STILL AFLOAT.

ADMIRAL BALTIN STILL AFLOAT.

Admiral Eduard Baltin has not yet received orders relieving him of command of the Russian Black Sea fleet, despite reports of his dismissal January 16 by a joint decree of Russian and Ukrainian presidents Boris Yeltsin and Leonid Kuchma. In comments yesterday, Baltin reminded the news media that reports of his dismissal have come only from the Ukrainian side, but have not been confirmed by Russia. With characteristic outspokenness, Baltin went on to assert that the fleet "has been driven into a deadlock" because the Ukrainian navy insists on basing its headquarters in Sevastopol. An unnamed spokesman at fleet headquarters said the same day that as fleet assets are transferred to Ukrainian jurisdiction, as well as to Caspian flotilla and northern and Baltic fleets, the fleet "will be totally ruined." (9)

Manning Levels Said to Be Rising in Russian Army.