EAST GERMANY: Run, Do Not Walk

To many a resident of Communist East Germany, the nicest thing about his country, compared to the other satellites, is the ease with which he can get out of it. Last year a total of 252,870 East Germans fled westward, among them 2,553 People’s Policemen. So far this year, the escape traffic has been even higher: 18,828 in 1956’s first 20 days. These are not East Germany’s aged, tired and homeless; most are hard-working farmers and factory employees fleeing excessive work norms, or young men who want to escape the draft (the East German army was officially proclaimed last week). Among the latest batch seeking sanctuary in the West: three judges of the Communist courts, two professors, three senior government officials, the woman boss of a steel works.