RUSSIA'S MILITANCY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 73, 26 March 1923, Page 7

RUSSIA'S MILITANCY.

|r»ENGTHENXNG THE ARMY. 810 AIR FORCE PROPOSED. LONDON, March 23. The Russian correspondent of the "Morning Post," referring to the flamboyant claim of the Soviet Government lilt it is anxious to proceed with disarmament when European conditions make that possible, describes the Bolshevist military authorities' policy of , ipending the last resources inherited from the Imperial regime on a violent campaign for the reorganisation and strengthening of the army. The latest phase of the campaign is a demand for a mighty air force, which must exceed the strength of the combined forces of all the Western Powers. The paper opened a subscription list, the first week's appeal yielding 700,000,000,000 roubles, which is estimated to be sufficient to build one machine. The "Investia" invites industrial and tommercial readers to subscribe from j their profits an aeroplane each, it being gently hinted that if such a "subscription is not forthcoming the concerns in question may find themselves faced with ji« difficulties in the way of developing industries." The "Investia" wrote Tecently: "The Ut of aeroplanes by the Imperalist Western Governments for the suppression of rebellions in Afghanistan and India ibows what a powerful factor a gigantic fleet of aeroplanes would prove for aiding those depressed nationalities to free themeehee from the yoke of their Wes- i tern capitalist masters, and also for ipreading world revolution.' , A Society of Friends of the Red Air Force has been formed for the purpose of propaganda among the urban masses, md it is claimed that it would provide funds in course of a year for r- hundred ud fifty machines.— (A. and X.Z.)