RUSSIA'S WAR STRENGTH

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 13, 15 July 1939, Page 24

RUSSIA'S WAR STRENGTH

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I read with interest in your paper the account of the address of his Grace Archbishop O'Shea on European politics which was delivered to the League of Nations Union. One passage in that report appeared to me to be scarcely in accord with the careful observations made by his Grace during his recent European tour. His references to the over-exaggeration of the power of Russia and his statement that the Russia of today was in no better position than the Russia of 1913-14 seemed to be general statements which, on the face of them, are too sweeping. In the American "Nation" for June 17, 1939, Fritz Sternberg, a German economist now resident in America deals with Russia's war strength. The figures in relation to the five heavy industries of coal, iron ore, raw iron, steel, and oil which are set out below are sufficient in themselves to indicate that the Russiaof 1938 is not to be compared with the Russia of 1913-14. Germany. Russia. (In million tons.) 1913. 1913 Coal 190.10 30.74 Iron ore 29.00 9.53 Raw iron 19.30 4.63 Steel 18.93 4.79 Oil 0.12 9.20 1938. 1938. Coal 181.00 106.00 Iron ore 11.12 30.00 Raw iron 18.59 15.00 Steel 23.23 18.00 Oil 0.55 29.00 j The Russian Five-year Plans which I are now or have been in operation are converting Russia from a purely agricultural country into an industrial country of great importance. Today, the Russian aeroplane production is entirely independent of the outside world. The German military critics themselves value Russian armament production very highly. Dr. Erwin Haudan says: "In a relatively short time the Soviet Government has succeeded in motorising the Red Army to such axi extent that it belongs in this I respect among the best-prepared armies lof the world." Mr. Sternberg also I states that the Red Army possesses more modern tanks than any other army. Another German military expert, Ferdinand Friedensburg, writes as follows on the question of wartime coal and iron resources: "Of all the great Powers only Russia would face a new war essentially stronger than in 1914. It has learned under the pressure of economic want to manage without imports and it has built up a powerful production apparatus. The experiences of the World War taught it that a State at war can only count with surety on those mines and industries that are situated in the inner parts of the country." During the Great War, the German armies were able to defeat the Russian j armies with only a fraction of their forces. Today, the Russian armies would engage a much larger proportion of the German forces were a conflict between Russia and Germany to develop. The release of the forces of Germany to contest the Western Powers in France in 1914-18 was of prime importance to Germany. The third Reich cannot win a war that it must fight on two fronts at the same time. In this lies the secret for the urgent negotiations which are being undertaken by the British Government at the present^ time to seek the support of Russia in an anti-aggression pact.—l am, etc.,

A. EATON HURLEY