The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-19
Britain, France See Russia As Stronger Ally Today Than In 1914
Conflicting Reports Veil True Extent
 Of War Strength
BY MILTON BRONNER NEA Service Staff COrrespOnden

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 London, April 19-In case of a world war, is Russia once more 8 broken reed upon which to lean?
 That is what statesmen and mil- itary leaders in England and France are anxiously asking! The two great western democracieS would like to be sure that, if Hitler and Mussolini bring about war, they would have Russias support and they are an- xious to know just what that sup- port would be worth.
 At even the lowest valuation, they feel Russia would be more helpful than in the last world war. In 1914, Russia had few industries which could supply rifles, machine guns, cannon, munitions, and tanks. To- day Soviet Russia has made consid- erable advances industrially, thanks to it's various five year plans. Not only that, but the policy has been to move the great vital plants far away from where German armies and German airplanes could get at them. In fact, some of them are in the Ural mountains and even beyond.
 In 1914. Russia could mobilize millions of men, but, due to thiev- cry and robbery in high places, the necessary equipment was lacking. Later in the war Russian infantrymen sent up to the front actually had to wait until some of the more seasoned troops were shot down. Then they could pick up the dropped rifles. Today it is pretty certain that the big standing army has supplies of arms and munitions for all the men serving with the colors.
 What English and French military men would like to know above all Is how effective an air force Rus sia has. In the early weeks of any new world war. the power of the air arm will be of tremendous im- portance. The Soviets are chary a. bout giving out any figures. As much as anybody, the Nazis have been responsible for the spreading of fantastic figures as to the strength of the Russian air force. Sometimes numbers ranging from 1000 to 5000 planes have been mentioned. French authorities think 5000 is nearest the mark. And of that number, they say that a good many are old types and, therefore, of very scant military value today. The best gues seems to be: 1200 to 1900 pursuit planes;
 1900 scouting, planes;
 300 fighters;
 400 day bombers; and 300 heavy bombers. sn4 s,.,5t. .'D-
 The pursuit planes are said to be the most modern and fastest of all the Russian planes, equal, in fact, to the best any other coun- try has. Some of these are based upon the model of the American Curtiss Sparrowhawk. They are 50 up-to-date that some of them carry from one to two cannon instead of machine guns.
 To the contrary, the scouting planes are heavy and slow. New ones are being constructed which are much better and very cheap. The fighter planes are mainly mono- planes, some of them being armed with eight machine guns.
 Some of the bombers cannot compare with those of Germany and England. The best Russian bomber weighs 9 tons and achieves a speed of 300 miles per. hour when flying 10000 feet up. It can carry two tons of bombs 1500 miles from its base. The greatest weakness of the Russian air arm is that its avia- ton factories have not yet worked out many types of engines suitable