RUSSIA’S RED ARMY

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20506, 24 May 1938, Page 4

RUSSIA’S RED ARMY

r MORAL DECAY CORRUPTION OF OFFICERB (Times Air Mail Service) LONDON, Aitfil 18 1 “ Fascist agents ” are trying to corrupt Red Army cheers and political commissars by cultivating endlest drinking and debauchery, according to the Red General Staff organ, “ Red Star,” says the Moscow correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. This allegation follows the dismissal of the Red Army Commissar Koltzoff, political member of the Central Council of the Air Force, for shielding a drunken officer. “ Red Star ” declares that it is tho Soviet Government's intention to bum out all 44 moral decay ” in the Red army with a ** red-hot iron.” It accuses “ Trotskylst-Rukharlnlte agents” of using every possible means to incapacitate military chiefs. Women spies are stated to have been “ pushed info the arms ” of Important army officials bv these agents, who have organised ' all sorts of harddrinking banquets to recruit the officials into '* criminal gangs.” Stalin’s Reminder ‘*~' v “ Stalin reminds us,” states the newspaper, “ that the highest form of wrecking is when our enemies try secretly and gradually to corrupt our people and our leaders. “ The political commissars In charge of the Red Army units must sober up the minds of those who have sunk into the swamps of drink, opening thetr eyes to the insidious methods of the Fascist intelligence services and explaining that it is only one step from moral to political corruption.” “Red Star” claims that drunkenness is not widespread in the Red Army, and therefore can be flixoly suppressed. In our Joyful days only those who are rotten inside can kill time with a bottle of vodka,” it adds. This article forms part of a wider drive to restore the political commissars to the pre-eminent position of authority in the Red Army of which they have been deprived in past years. Aiming at establishing a true “ single command,” Marshal Tukhachevsky and other 44 traitors,” who led the Red Army until last summer, when they „ were executed or removed in tho purge, had reduced these political commissars to the status of something like 44 atheist chaplains,” mere instructors In Communism. . - _ - —■