The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-07-30
Copyright, 1921,


TO the formation of the famous Rus
sian revolutionary Red Army, it may
be we'll for us to start at the breakup
of the Cars army. Already, before
the February, 1917, or "first" revolu-
tion, this enormous military machine
was disintegrating. Rebellious and
weary of the ruinous imperialist war,
the workers and peasants were desert
ing by tens of thousands. And with
the downfall of the Cars government
this disintegration was tremendously
hastened. Although Kerensky's gov
ernment attempted to hold it together
and to make it fight, the old army
melted away like snow before an April
sun, Millions of soldiers quit it, TAX
ing with them what equipment they
could carry. This collapse ended
Kerensky's ambitious war plans and
finally sealed his doom.
The journey homeward of these
many millions of soldiers, suddenly
freed from the army, was one of the
most striking events in history. Multi
tudes of them had to walk as much as
four or five thousand miles back to
their villages, living on the way no
man knows hoV. The railroads were
choked beyond belief with them.
When train departed it would be
literally packed with humanity, inside,
outside, top and bottom; every place
where human being could hang on
had it's occupants. Large numbers
were killed, often the overcrowded
car-roofs caved in and crushed those
packed like sardines below, hundreds
were swept off the trains by the
bridges and tunnels. The whole thing
was terrible nightmare.
With the old army rapidly dissolv-
ing pressing need arose for a de-
fense force to preserve order and to
protect the revolution from imperial
istic counter-revolutionists. Conse-
quently the famous Red Guard sprang
into existence. This was loosely
constructed organization, consisting
for the most part of detachments Of
workers recruited in the various shops
and factories of the big industrial
centres, together with few remnants
OF The old army.
Despite it's lack of numbers, organi-
zation, equipment and discipline, the
Red Guard served its purpose well,
covering itself with glory in many al
hard-fought fight. Its sympathies
were altogether with the working
class, and it went hand in hand with
the Bolsheviki in overthrowing the
Kerensky government in the second"
revolution of October, 1917.
Hardly was the present Soviet gov
ernment in power when it perceived
and set about remedying the made
quacy of the weak Red Guard. The
whole capitalist world was arrayed
against Russia. Terrific struggles
were surely ahead; and in order to
survive them great, powerful mill
tary machine had to be created. Plans
were made for the Red Army-an or
ganization entirely distinct from the
old Red Guarrd-and their carrying
out entrusted to the remarkable Peo.
pies Commissioner for War, Leor
Trotzky.
Tremendous problems confronted
the organizers Of the new Red Army
military experts the world over de
clared the whole proposition impos
sible. We can mention only very few
Of these problems. One was the ques
tion of compulsory military service
Due to their bitter experiences will
imperialistic militarism, the Russian
people had gained deep hatred O.
conscription. Hence the Red Guart
was founded upon the volunteer sys
tenn. But this did not work well. The
war-weary people were tired Of fight.
ing and the burden of the struggl,
fell upon the best and most militant
elements Of the city workers. Russis
was slaughtering off her most pre-.
cious mechanics and industrial work.
ers "a loss from which she is now
suffering severely, while the Stacker
elements either stayed aloof from the
army altogether, or, having Joined it.
would leave in few weeks time, fed
up, with good clothes on their backs
and rifles in their hands.
Under such conditions it was mani.
festly impossible to build real fight.
ing force. Nor did the Russian lead.
ers hesitate before the obvious remedy
Even as American trade unionists, by
setting up compulsory systems Of
dues, obedience to strike votes, etc
(our movement would be impossible Il
it depended upon the volunteer system
in these matters), practically compe
the ignorant and indifferent worker,
to fight inteligently and vigorously
in their own behalf, SO the Russian