Evening star., 1941-06-22
Soviet Russio's Military Power Estimated
Reds May Have Largest Army in Word-5oooo 900 More
Air Force Secret Industry and Transport Are Question Marks
b. the Associated Press.

Adolf Hitler today launched his
fast, mobile panzer divisions against
what may be the largest mass army
of the world-the Red Army of Com
munist Russia
Whether that potentially largest
army actually is there is something
which the outside world can only
guess at today.
Moreover, whether that army is
equipped and properly trained,
whether it is indeed mobilized and
in position to meet the blitzkrieg
thrust, and finally, whether it has
the heart and spirit for fight are
world has been allowed only meager
information for many years.
Some military authorities have
placed Soviet Russia's potential
trained man power at 100000 900 men,
Might Have Army of 100000.
For years the country has had
compulsory military training. Every
year 100000 young men of her huge
170,000,000 population mot counting
recently annexed territories are
called up for military service, 800 900
of whom cuStomarily are given
training.
But actually the effective man
power of that army was stated in
Moscow in 1888 to be 100000 men,
counting the regular army, and the
cadres of reserves and territorial
forces.
Fully modified. the Soviet might
amaSs an army of 5000, 900 men or
more.
But on the controversial question
Of Soviet production depends
whether they will be equipped with
the modern implements of war so
as to be effective.
Moreover, the Soviet state of pre-
paredness, depends whether they
have been mobilized and moved into
approximate position to meet the
onslaught
Owing to the poor state of Russian
railways and motor roads, some au-
thorities believe it would take so to
go days for the Soviet really to mo-
biliZe.
Army Has Been Overhauled.
Fed for years on the propaganda
of the Soviet state of preparedness
the world was puzzled, then amazed
when the little Finnish Army stood
off the Red Army for many weeks
in the winter of 1939-4o.
Since then, Joseph Stain has
seen to it that the Red Army was
given a thorough overhauling. Real
discipline was introduced. The po-
litical commissars, previously sta
toned with each unit to see that the
military commander did not double
cross the Communist party, were
practically abolished, and the gen.
erels we're given command of their
units. Generals and other oficers'
ranks replaced the old system Of
commanders.
The salute was introduced, SOL
diers and sailors no longer enjoyed
the privilege of appealing over the
heads of their commanders. Guard
house punishments for infractions
of discipline were made more Sc
we're, decorations were awarded for
merit.
More rigid training, with an eye
TO actual field conditions, was in
troduced and realistic maneuvers
carried out. .-.
Russia Driving to Keep Abreast.
A hint that Russia was driving
constantly to keep abreast of de-
velopments in the art of making
war appeared at the May day parade
this year
Masses of truck borne infantry
and new motorized artillery were
feature attractions in the Red
Square; there were fewer foot
soldiers than in past years and less
of the usual field artillery.
Many tanks were in the parade,
and powerful long-range guns par
ticipated for the first time.
Dive bombers-presumably given
much recent attention by the Soviets
in view of the German success with
them-roared and plunged in the
skies over the square
Air Force Closely Kept Secret.
The Soviet air force is one of the
most closely guarded secrets in the
world.
Foreign estimates placed the num-