MOSCOW'S MAY DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18389, 3 May 1923, Page 7

MOSCOW'S MAY DAY.

DISPLAY OF MILITANCY. TROTZKY REVIEWS TROOPS. BID FOR DICTATORSHIP. ANTI-SEMITISM RISING. By Telegraph—Press Associatiou—Copyright. (Received 4.30 p.m.) &.. and N.Z. LONDON, May 2. Despatches from Moscow give an account of a great review of 20,000 troops before Trotzky. which was a feature of the May Day celebrations. While giant bombing aeroplanes flew overhead, Red soldiers of the Moscow garrison, with three massed bands, marched past Trotzky outside the high walls of the Kremlin. Their smart appearance proved that the Russian Army is no collection of illequipped rabble. The whole force was in new uniforms, long grey-green overcoats, with narrow red and yellow facings, and picturesque blue, green and red Assyrian helmets. Here and there a uniformed young woman who had earned distinction on some field of battle marched proudly at the head of a company. Each battalion was led by the bearer of a standard that blazed- with red and gold. ? One company wore gasmasks fixed at the breasts; others were equipped with flame-throwers and gas projectors. Unmounted cavalry swung past with sabres drawn. A battalion of political police had black leather coats, light green helmets and wore revolvers at the waist. Armoured cars and tanks accompanied the troops. ■■#'■.

For two hours Trotzky stood, surrounded by staff officers, his hand raised to the salute. As each battalion passed he shouted out, " Long live the Red Army, long live the workers' Republic," receiving answering cheers from the soldiers. The march was followed by a parade of thousands of students in white sweaters with red badges and grey helmets, carrying rifles.

Reuter's correspondent at Riga states that Trotzky is bidding seriously for the dictatorship of Soviet Russia. He is supported by the Jewish elements, who form the overwhelming majority of the prominent Communists. Nevertheless, antiSemitism is becoming more and more threatening, and is invading the Communist ranks. Trotzky's ambitions are forcing Krassin, Tchitcherin and others into the opposition faction, containing practically no > Jews, thus crystallising Communists into two distinct, camps Jews and non-Jews. Jews control the Che-ka and the army.

There are constant war scares, but it is believed that war is the last thing Trotzky wants, as it will almost inevitably lead to the total collapse of the Communist regime. LENIN'S SUCCESSOR. STRUGGLE DEVELOPING. LONDON. April 24. A struggle for power in a the Russian Soviet Republic has already begun, due to the illness of Lenin, says the Berlin correspondent of the Times. Lenin " cannot have a successor " asserts the correspondent, and already rivals for his • dictatorship are bidding for support from the peasantry. The Russian Communist Congress at Moscow resolved to strengthen the "Red" army, to preserve intact the. monopoly of the foreign trade, and to foster the export of grain. Trotzky declared that the fundamental task of the country consisted in developing Russian resources on- Socialistic lines. He admitted that Soviet Russia needed foreign capital, but it should maintain its monopoly until a favourable opportunity. . . • . At the Ukrainian Communist Congress at Kharkoff held previously, Trotzky referred to Lenin's withdrawal from Government affairs, and said that enemies of the Soviet would endeavour to take advantage of this. Lenin's personality was the only welding force between the industrial workers and the peasantry.