The Washington times., 1922-04-02
By LEON TROTZkY "
"Japan Throws Band After Band of Enemies
Troops Are Differed by japanese and Are Pa
We Remove Our Troops From Siberia Under T
(The B0IsIeuik Army Chief Outlines
His Field of Operations to COngress)

we Rcm0Vc Wur In
WYE CAN now speak plainly
" of things which were con-
sidered but recently pro-
found military secreta At the
period Of tho greatest development
of our military forces. our army
had in its ranks $500. 900 men. We
decided at first to reduce this
figure to 1900. 900. but the general
international situation gave VI An
opportunity to reduce 1t still more.
As q result We now have q total
effective force Of $4,000. includ-
Ing the red fleet. the army proper
consisting Of 100000 men.
To demobilize an army IL not an
easy task. 1t has no heroic in
cidents. no tales Of deeds Of valor.
The general public scarcely notices
II. But we military men know how
q great rehabilitation strains every
nerve Of the army organism. We
began the contraction with troops
stationed in the interior; at first
We reduced this part of the army
to 10 per cent. Then We reduced
the active forces. Now, when
the army IL all transferred to
. peace footing. We can speak with
dennitsness a. to its active
strength. At the present time we
have ninety.five infantry and forty
nine cavalry brigades.
We began by demobilizing the
older men, those born In 1855. and
finally reached those born In 1899.
We were preparing to demobilizs
the class Of 1899 a. we'll. but there
appeared signs Of new perturba-
tons. and We found ourselves
obliged to exercise caution and stop
the rehabilitation Of this class.
Consequently the soldiers Of the
class Of 1893 were left In the ranks.
since they have the greatest expert
ence and technical knowledge.
This 10 tho general scheme. It
IL now for the Congress Of Soviets
to say whether we are to con-
tinue rehabilitation or to interrupt
II. The commissariat Of war 10
certain that the red army 10 now
eager to reach . stable peace foot.
ing. in order to devote all its 1t.
tention to routine drill and instruc.
ton.
SOLDIERS MERE YOUTHS.
Tho red army Il passing through
q trying stage of its history. I:
has ceased to be active. and has
ceased to be the center Of public
attention. Other urgent matters
are taking precedence in the public
mind. and the care given the army
has become. to say tho least, made.
auate. Questions Of equipment. Of
food, and OF living quarters are
acute even now. when the effective
strength has been reduced to ono
third Of what II was before. No
matter how poor we are. We can still
do much for our young red army
soldiers. We can make their life,
as well as their barracks. clean.
warm. and pleasant. The soldiers
recently called to the colors are
young. They have not passed
through the school Of battle. They
must BE- taught. guided. and
trained.
Tho red army 10 recruited from
all ranks and classes. It consists
OF workmen and peasants. commits
stoned and noncommissioned Off
GERS Of the last wars. and profess
sional military men Of the old re-
gime. Nearly half. or 43.4 per cent.
Of the commanding personnel have
never received any professional
training. From tho point Of view
Of the old army methods, this 10
great defect. But we can b proud
Of this percentage. These <3.4 per
cent are the real heart Of our COM
handing personnel. They ire
workmen and peasants. trained in
battle, red officers of the revolu-
ton. who have not had time to re-
ceive spocial military educa ton be-
cause the revolution tore them
away from the factories and the
fields and sent them to bs trained
in battle. Thsy have had their
training. and they have learned.
That We know very well.
Former noncommishoned on
cers constitute - per cent, red
Shaw