The Washington times., 1922-09-09
IOOL|ZE
'TR0TzkY
AS CHIEF
Under Bolshevist Influence
Since Boyhood, Soldiers Are
Well-CIad and Fed. p
By GEORGES PoPOFF.
copyright. ls22, by Cosmopolitan New
a.L Service.)

by GEORGES POPOFf.
tcopyright, ls2a by. Cosmopolitan News
Service.)
RIGA, Sept. 9.-Soldiers of the
red army of Soviet Russia are
well trained, we'll fed and intense
ly. loyal. They would follow War
Minister Leon Trotzky through
hell if he gave the command. The
army is not saturated with dis
content, and reports of desertions
and rebellion Of regiments in va
rious sections of the country are
without foundation. =
~ have Just returned from Rus
sia, after spending six months
there. AS a result of my investi-
cations am convinced that re-
ports of, mutiny,. dissatisfaction
and rebellion among the red SOL
diers could arise only because on
all sides there exists an entirely
false picture of the character and
composition of the red army.
The red army today numbers
about 100000 young men from
eighteen to twenty-three years
old.
Is Political Factor.
In 1917--at the time OF the out.
break OF the Russian revolution
these men who are soldiers today
were youths of from thirteen to
seventeen years. that is. mere chill.
dren. When they began to think
politically, the Soviet power was
already an accomplished fact. Their
attitude toward the Moscow govern.
ment is therefore neither pro.Bol.
shevist, nor anti-Bolshevist. They
serve that power which clothes and
fore must not, as It so often
erroneousiy, is, be considered a
political factor which might today
or tomorrow. with dramatic sudden.
ness undertake some Independent
action. 1t Is a. non-political army,
indifferent and content.
The Red army Is comparatively
well provisioned. Since the Russo.
Polish war, Trotzky has done every
thing to raise the political and mill
tary level of his troops. In this he
has been successful. IL Is therefore
utter folly to assert that rebellion Is
''foIfieritfnS in the Red army" The
provisioning Of the army is organized |
III SuNu a way thob coIh iSehhOhh -
cared for by a certain government
Institution, a factory, wholesale
trade department, trust or a mine.
Cleanly Clothed.
, Outside of Russia one hears many
statements to the effect that the Red
army is "in rags" that II suffers
want, and that the soldiers 60 bare
foot, while others assert the contrary.
saying that the Soviet troops are
"magnificently equipped" Both
versions are wrong. 1t Is moderately
well provisioned with all necessities.
The soldiers are neatly and clearily
clothed, as measured by Russian
standards: certainly much better than
in the years from 1918 to 1921.
In contrast to the first years Of
the revolution, the Red army Is to-
day again marked by iron discipline.
But the Prussian drill, the stupid,
blind obedience which was formerly
observed in the Russian army, has
disappeared. In off hours the Rus.
sian soldier today feels himself free
and completely at ease In the pres
ence of his superior officer.
OF what elements Is the Red Off
GERS corps composed. Here, too, q
common error must be corrected. II
IN true that so per cent OF the Off
GERS are graduates of the old cSarist
army. On the contrary, 30 per cent
OF front officers today are former
soldiers and workers. Only some 10
per cent were officers in the old
army.
True. 1t is different with the gen.
eral staff, which is recruited so per
cent from former general staff Of.
ficers. In the regiments, and par
ticularly in the military academies,
which are headed by q former czarist
always beside and above him COM
nissary'Nwho has to watch him.
In the military academies II is the
business of the officer to teach the
pupils military science, while the
commissary has to impart to them
communistic wisdom. Generally
speaking, the system works quite
well.
Germans Not Prevalent.
Are there German officers in the
Red army? During the six months
that I spent in Russia / investi.
gated this question, and I believe I
can answer II in the affirmative, hut
with qualifications. There are, scat
tered, some German officers in the
Red army. They are men who do not
know what to do at home--adven-
turers. No doubt there are also Ger.
man instructors in the Russian mill.
tary academies who, OF course, are
now Russian citizens. But all tht BE
must be regarded as isolated cases.
There can be no Justified talk Of any
deliberate German participation In
the organization of the Red army.
Last April Trotzky made known
some data about the Red army. He
fixed the number at approximately
1,000, 900 men. The fleet has about
$4,000 men. OF the total Of soldiers
and sailors, about 100000 men are
registered members of the communis-
tic party In good standing. These
figures are no doubt authentic.
Trotzky has no interest In mining.
ing them. Moreover, the existence
Of a larger standing army is in the
Russia Of todsdy not only improbable
but impossible.
Trotzy Is Chief.