THE RED ARMY

Hokitika Guardian, 12 September 1929, Page 2

THE RED ARMY

5,562,000 AVITH RESERVISTS. The latest official figures place the strength of the regular Red Army at 562,000. To these are added, also officially, reservists of the first, second and third category,. numbering 5,000,000. At the same time territorial sectors are composed of all fit men and a large number of women in each province and each separate autonomous ' Republic. Tliese are divided into Communists . regiments, trade union regiments, and student regiments. The latest estimated number of all territorial. units is 12,000,000.A further addition to the armed (forces was organised three years ago by an amalgamation of the so-called voluntary corps into the “Osoavia-him”—-the united aviation and chemical warfare sector numbering 3,000,000 active members. 1

The training of, the Red Army is claimed to have been “intense” by means of lengthy marches by day and by night, by sudden alarums, gas attacks, combined attacks, local skirmishes, and general battles. The infantry stationed along the Fab Eastern and Manchurian frontiers—troops said to be ready waiting for the signal to give battle—are specially praised for their fighting capacity. It is claimed that while the average marching capacity of Western infantries is about 15£ miles a day, the Far Eastern Red infantry can march in mountainous districts both in the heat and in the cold and fully equipped approximately 50 miles. The Red Air Force is stated to be “one of the first in the world,” and according to Voroshiloff, the Red com-mander-in-chief, will give a good account of itself everywhere in war action.

in view of the fact that the national composition of Russian armies has always played an important part in the success or failure of Russia’s warfare, it is interesting to note the present percentages. There are 64.8 per cent of Ukrainians and Cossacks in the total forces—a majority of reliable and capable fighters. Care has been taken to include only a small percentage of unreliable and “untrustworthy” nationalists.

An interesting review of the strength and capability of the Chinese forces, particularly those organised and maintained by the Nationalist Government, appeared recently in the “Krasnaya. Zvesda,” the official organ of the Soviet Red Army.

According to this review, the troops' at the disposal of the Nationalist Government were composed of regular mercenary soldiers, of, volunteers Kuomintang—and of peasant corps. The majority of the troops were infantry trained in modern warfare hut badly equipped. The artillery was praised, but its strength was considered inadequate.

A later report in the same official organ spoke highly of the “reforms in the Nationalist armies ” and expressed great confidence in their capabilities and particularly their power of endurance.