IS SOVIET READY FOR WAR?

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21088, 14 July 1938, Page 7

IS SOVIET READY FOR WAR?

VIEWS OF REFUGEE IN JAPAN Internal Conditions Unsatisfactory United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received July 14, 12.10 a.m.) TOKIO, July 13. In an interview with the Australian Press Association, General Luseakov, Chief of the Siberian Ogpu, who had taken refuge in Manchukuo, and thence came to Tokio, said: “The Soviet is certainly preparing for war, but Russia’s real intentions are unknown, because M. Stalin alone rules, having destroyed the Proletarian Communist regime, and because of this there is intense unrest.”

Questioned about the morale of the Red Army, General Luseakov replied: “The Red Army is poor, due to lack of confidence in leadership, and dissatisfaction with accommodation and the disorganisation of the food and munitions supply. Moreover the handling of the equipment was careless. The army was disaffected, due to countless relatives among the millions arrested having been executed. Alleged Impostor Another Russian refugee Lushkofi received the correspondents, declaring that he had disproved Moscow’s claim that he was an impostor, but he had not produced any credentials.