Red Army’s 25th Anniversary

Northern Advocate, 22 February 1943, Page 2

Red Army’s 25th Anniversary

| T may be taken for granted that few of the Russian leaders I who took part in the inauguration of the Red Army, the 25th * anniversary of which is to be celebrated tomorrow, dreamed that the Soviet’s troops would be achieving on the silver jubilee of the army the victories which are marking its campaign against Axis Powers today.

Many momentous events have taken place since Trotsky created a “Red Army” which was to consist of more than five million men. In the long course of human endeavour, even of a modest domestic character, there are. done things that should not have been done, and left undone things that should have been done. The past cannot be altered, though there will be heard during all time the cry "of the “Silver King,” who wished to undo what he thought he had done: “O God, turn back Thy universe and give me yesterday.” So far as Russia is concerned, there have been done some thing's which are doubtless not approved by the Russian people themselves today, and many criticisms of Russia have doubtless been made which members of the United Nations would refuse to endorse today. That is a matter which need not be stressed. What does matter is that the British, American and Russian people understand each other today, and are joined in a crusade to rid the world, once and for all, of an evil thing which, if not destroyed, would bring darkness to the world for a thousand years. Comrades-in-arms, the Russians constitute a great unit of the anti-Nazi nations, and, as the course of the war during recent weeks has proved, they are striking deadly blows at a common enemy, who may well fear the retribution which comes to evildoers.

It is therefore fitting that the 25th anniversary of the “Red Army” should be celebrated by the United Nations. Leaders of the British Government have taken a leading part in big demonstrations held in London and provincial centres, and Premier Stalin has expressed the pleasure of the Russian people at the manifestation of British sympathy with, and admiration for, their war effort. Such expression of mutual respect and support is indeed a noteworthy development in international relationships.