Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-29
Older Men Have Been De-
modified and Young Sol
diers Drilled and Worked
in Efficient Organization
BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER

Especial Cable to The Atlanta Journal and
Chicago Daily Eews-Copyright. 1927
THE HAGUE, June 27.-The writ
er is able herewith for what he be-
lieves to be the first time to tear
away the veil which has been OBJ
securing the evolution Of the red
army during the last year. The
source of the correspondents infor-
nation is not Russian but technical
and reliable. The revelation is little
short of astounding. Thanks to the
tremendous effort of Leon Trotzky
and the soviet government, the
army, which in March, 1921, at the
time of the cancellation Of peace
with Poland, was a disorganized rab-
BILE Of 100000 men, has been en-
tirely reorganized on an efficient,
modern basis and could take the
field Immediately, well armed and
equipped, in conditions well calculat-
ed to inspire terror in Russia's west
ern neighbors.
Observers all agree that there
are only two really effective organi.
cations in Russia today--the Cheka
and the army. One assures the gov.
ernrnent's interior positions, the 9TH
er secures it against foreign foes.
IL is these two forces which stand
behind Finkelstein, alias Max Lit
vinov, and his fellow delegates here
at The Hague and enable them to
spend with such naughty assurance.
Further, comment is superfluous.
The facts speak for themselves.
Trotzky's first step following the
peace with Poland was to demobilize
the older men, get rid Of superflu-
GUS formations, discharge many Of
the officers and revise the grades.
BY July there were only 2,700, 900
men under arms. BY the first Of
this year there were only 1000 900
men Of the three classes and at this
figure the army now stands. The
new officers are all good communists
carefully chosen. There is great
staff activity. Plans are being made
for fast general mobilization, for i'm
provement in transportation and the
development Of war industries over
period Of several years.
Three Classes Under Arms
Thirty-siXe per cent OF the 1922
budget, or a total Of $50 900, 900 COLA
rubles, Is being devoted to the army
and navy with 100000 gold rubles
subsidies to war industries. An en-.
tirely new study and training pro.
gram for officers is being rushed
through. At the present time there
are ESQ military schools with more
than $4,000 students. There are
two staff colleges, one higher artil-
Iery school, an engineering, marine,
electro-technical supply school, a
war chemistry, aeronautical and
tank school and a physical culture
| institute.
For peace time there will be not
only permanent military academies,
but military normal schools with
three-year courses for active army
Officers and one year for reserve Off
GERS. All youths more than 16 years
OF age are being made to undergo
| preliminary training exercises with
proper political indoctrinal. Several
excellent military weeklies and
monthlies are being published with
articles on ali modern subjects
drawn from practical experience in
recent wars and revolutions. The
clothing and equipment Of the army
has been greatly improved. The
savings on the reduced food ration
are being devoted to this purpose.
War industry is working on a
basis Of Is per cent Of the former
Russian maximum production which
was in 1916. This far exceeds the
| production in other soviet industries.
Fifty industries are making war
materials. It is planned to increase
the production as rapidly as possible
and also to start new factories. The
| general aim is to make Russia mill.
tary self-sufficient.
Progress is hampered by the un.
solved coal crisis, but plenty of raw
stuffs are available. The supply
service is still weak but Russian
privates are VIGOROUSLY excellent
foragers. Transportation has been
considerably improved. Practically de.
teriation has been arrested. Mean
while rs new locomotives have been
ordered from Germany and 1000
from Sweden. Two hundred and
eighty from each country are due
for delivery this year. Fifty have
been received already. The whole
railway situation. while bad, is not
SO bad that it makes general nnobi-
lization or movements of troops i'm
| possible.