Evening star., 1923-01-16
SOVIET PERIL ADDS
TO WAR SPEcTER

Continued from First Page)
point. The Russian commissioners
tarried at Berlin en- route to italy.
Reticence and evasion marked their
attitude when questioned as to the
real underlying purpose of their ne
gotiattons in the Wiihelmstrasse.
Formidable Army.
II Germany is able to call UP
"Trotsky's army" to aid her in de-
flying France in the Ruhr. France will
be faced by the military establish
ment acknowledged to be, next to her
own, the strongest in Europe. Some
authorities claim the soviet army is
stronger than the army OF France.
Last year, during the discussion over
recognition of soviet Russia by the
outside world. LLOYD George declared
that Lenin and Trotsky marshaled a
force OF 100000 men, so formidable
in every way that they were capable
OF offering resistance and defiance to
all Europe. During the Washington
armament conference BRAND. justify
ing French disinclination TO reduce
land forces, painted the soviet mill
The eloquent French premier limited
strongly that the French could not
leave out of their political and mill
tary calculations the possibility of a
soviet army sweeping down upon
them across Germany with or with
out the cooperation of that revenge
full and unrepentant people.
There can be no doubt that Marshal
Foch and Premier Poincare. in en-
visaging the ultimate in the Ruhr
! considered the danger OF a Russian
German combination against Fran
CO. -Belgian-Italian phalanx. AS to
Italy. while Mussolini has not ap-
French military measures in the
Ruhr, the italian dictator is a sworn
foe of bolshevism. He is not likely
to stand still if he sees a red army
advancing westward in Europe.
Onicered BY Germans.
1t is an open secret that 'Trotsky's
army has been Differed and to a
large extent organized by ex-German
officers. The -Krupps. always deeply
identified with the Russian armament
industry, long since renewed their
old-time relations with soviet Russia
At this moment they are engaged in
monumental scheme for exploita-
ton Of the Valley of the Don for alleged
agricultural purposes. Vast quantities
OF Germany's raw material in recent
times. for the amazing revival of her
| industries. have come from Russia.
Inc Russian railway system has
been largely rehabilitated with loco
motives and other rolling stock sup
pied by German manufacturers.
American observers recently in Ger
| many have returned with detailed
! accounts Of arrangements long per-
fected for a mighty German Russian
economic relationship, to come into
| effect the moment the reparations
| crisis was settled and Germany was
! at liberty to go to work "unfettered." !"
| Threatened by such events as the
Ruhr invasion conjures up. the states
Germany will hardly hesitate to in
| woke the imm powerful aid
| of Russia. There is little danger that
! such an alliance would result in the
! 'sovietization" of Germany. Lenin
| for months has systematically been
leaning toward the capitalistic re-
gime, conducting what he called ian
economic retreat" 1t may be taken
| as a certainty that the treaty of
Rappallo guarantees Germany against
| any peril of radical communism of
the original bolshevist brand. II Ger
! many and Russia war together on
France. the joint reward of victory
| IL they attain it-would be Ger
man Russian dictatorship on the con-
| tinent of Europe, with possibilities
beyond that which stagger the imagi-
| nation. For no country more than for
/ Poland are those possibilities more
momentous.
Copyright. 1921