RUSSIA’S FEARS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 March 1936, Page 5

RUSSIA’S FEARS

o IMMENSE WAR BUDGET LONDON, February 25. Within three years the Russian Red Army expects to have to fight Germany, and, believing that Britain and France will also be fighting Germany in the same war, it expects to be victorious, declares the Moscow correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. After that, Moscow foresees an epoch of disorder in Europe, something like the 30 Years War, with the breakdown of national government in central Europe, and a reaction against: revolution, with anybody fighting anybody, and the British and Russian systems probably alone surviving. Moscow is reported to be less sure of the future in the Far East, while another Russo-Japanese duel is regarded as ultimately inevitable. Russia’s prodigious effort, in fortifying the Baikal and Vladivostok- regions has, it is believed, turned the Japanese thrust south-westwards, but Moscow cannot | imagine Tokio missing a chance of tak-i ing Vladivostock when Germany l strikes eastwards. The correspondent declares that these beliefs explain the present suspension of class-war tactics inside Russia and the attempt to conciliate the peasants. The Government newspapers are plastered daily with pictures of the

army at work and play. The Red conscript is, relatively, a happy warrior. He is subjected to an iron, but not vexacious, discipline, and although the system of training is quite as rigid as that in the old Tsarist army. Red i officers are protected against political intrigue. They have proper military status, with fixed ranks and a regular system of promotion. They cannot be cashiered except by a verdict of the court-martial confirmed by the Supreme Command. No other army enjoys such favourable living conditions in comparison with the civil population. Soviet leaders are now more inclined to give information of State i armaments, but the figures are only, percentages of increases and not absolute figures. Thus, in the years 1931 to 1931, tankettes increased by 2475 per cent., light tanks by 760 pe)’ cent., medium tanks by 792 per cent., heavy artillery by 240 per cent., anti-tank guns by 450 per cent., machine-guns for tanks and aeroplanes by 700 per cent., aeroplanes by 200 per cent., submarines by 535 per cent. The growth lot’ the Russian armament in 1935 was even faster. The quality of arms and ammunition is improving. Already the immense war Budget of 1935 has been doubled for 1936, reaching 592 millions sterling. By the end of 19,35 Russia already had 1.300,000 men of arms. This includes all actually serving in the forces, but not specially selected troops, which account for another 120,-

000. The proportion of fully-trained effectives is increasing daily. Russia probably has at least 6,000,000 men of military age who have done at least two years’ full conscripj tion seiwice, and millions of lightly- | trained territorial divisions and mil- : lions taught to shoot and march by I the official League of Aviation and ! Chemical Defence. The correspondent, is of the opinion however, that the army is not. yet ready to attempt, an offensive was against a first-class Bower like Japan. I ——-