RUSSIANS EXPECT WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19699, 27 July 1927, Page 11

RUSSIANS EXPECT WAR.

OUTBREAK NEXT YEAR.

BALTIC FLEET WARNED.

STRENGTH TO BE INCREASED.

By Telegraph-—Press Association—-Copyright

(Received July 26, 5.5 p.m.) Times. LONDON. July 25

The Riga correspondent of the Times says a general meeting of seamen and commanders of all the units in the Russian Baltic Fleet was held at sea on the conclusion of the manoeuvres'of the Russian Navy. The Commissar of War, Voroshiloff, warned the fleet that the menace of war was a real one. The next war, he said, would probably start in 1928. The fleet was already in fighting trim, but must strive for greater efficiency. He said the fleet would be augmented for 1928. The first instalment would comprise four cruisers, three destroyers and seven submarines, "in order to protect the Baltic from British raids." The Soviet has for some time past displayed a fear that Russia would be involved in war before long, and active preparations for defence have been in hand for several months. On January 19 the Berlin edition of the Chicago Tribune reported tlmt the secret service had revealed the fact that the Soviet army was then the strongest in Europe. The personnel was said to total 1,270,000; permanent infantry, 370,000; trained reservists, 560,000; cavalry, 80,000 The paper went on to state: Russia has an air force with 2000 aeroplanes, 860 of which are obsolete, but they are being rebuilt and fitted with apparatus for spraying deadly poison-gas These are ostensibly to protect Russian forests from parasites. A fortnight ago M. Rykoff, President of the Council of People's Commissars, said: "The funds we are collecting are to build an air flotilla. Clubs and associations have organised meetings, shooting competitions and military studies for defence work." M. Rykoff added that this was only the beginning of persistent work to assure the defence of the country. The strength of Russia's Baltic, Fleet has been kept secret and no data is available regarding it. v The last "war scare" speech made by the Soviet Commissar of War was delivered to the delegates to a congress of Soviets on April 29. The speaker said all the Western Powers, including the States bordering on Russia, were increasing their armaments. Their activity was directed against the Soviet. The Red army was not prepared for war, but no effort must be spared to prepare it for the war which was bound to come.