The New York herald., 1922-12-10
Reduction of the Red Army.


Russia and the bordering States,
which opened at Moscow last week.
MAXIM LrTvINorF, chairman of the
Russian Soviet delegation, proposed
reduction of the Red army to
100000 in the next eighteen months.
His proposal carried with It the
limitation of the military budget to a
fixed amount for each soldier and
the naturalization Of border zones to
prevent armed clashes.
The size and the efficiency Of the
Red army have been until recently
matters of much speculation. When
early last spring an order was issued
calling the first class Of recruits to
the colors 1t was generally recog
nized that the Soviet Government
was aiming to place the Russian
army on the same footing as the reg
ular armies Of western Europe.
There is no doubt that in appear
>ance at least the Red army has been
developed into a disciplined modern
army.
Most of the transformation has
taken place within the last year.
EDWIN w. HULLINoER, who spent nine
months In Russia. says in the Fort
nightly ReUieto that the Red army
is officially estimated at 1.5oo.-
900 men under arms. nearly twice
the size of the French army, which
Is by far the.greatest standing army
In western Europe and many fold
larger than the British army, includ
ing all troops In service in the col
onies." He says that TRorzKY has
discarded all the earlier communis-
tic ideas of brothers and equals. and
has worked out q Western organiza-
tion. All former discipline has been
restored. even to the salute. The re-
cruits are well clothed and they are
fed better than their relatives at
home.
Mr.. HUILINaER gives to TBorZKY
the entire credit for the reorganiza-
tion Of this force. Many of the off,
GERS were line oficers In the Cars
armies. theoretically BRUsrLoFT
heads the General STAFF. but he is
closely watched; KAMExEv 10 the
reputed Commander in Chief. but
TRorzKY II the real commander.
TRoTzKY gave his time to the de-
velopment Of this force, because, In
his words and those of every Rus
sian, He who holds the army holds
Russia"
Another consideration in the Red
army program Is the propaganda ef-
feet that It will have upon the Rus
sian youth. Recruits are taught to
read, they are also thoroughly drilled
and instructed in the principles of
communism and all that goes to make
up the doctrines Of Bolshevism.
There is considerable doubt In Mr..
HuILrNaERs mind that they are ac-
tually infected with communism.
They are. though. animated with a
nationalistic feeling. They would not
have to be driven into battle, as was
often the case with soldiers under the
Cars. They are at least being made
into Russians, although. perhaps. not
into Bolsheviki.
The Russians. according to the re-
ports OF the conference, are wonder
ing what effect their proposal Of
limitation in armament will have
in America. They profess to see in
the plan proposed by LrTvINoFF a
parallel to the proposal of Secretary
HUGHES at the opening Of the Wash
i~gton conference for the Limitation
of armament, and to believe that
Russia, like America, genuinely
wishes to advance the cause of world
disarmament.
There are several matters. how
ever, to be taken into consideration
in this proposal. The Moscow Soviets
have been rafting the saber nois
lily in their threat to back up the
Turks in their demands against