Evening star., 1941-10-20
Population Being Recruited.

Population Being Recruited.
To reinforce the embattled Red
armies, admittedly under mounting
pressure, MoScows population was
being recruited rapidly into a huge
civilian army and large numbers
of Siberian and Mongolian troops
were declared by the Soviet radio
to be rushing westward to meet the
German onslaught
In one sector of the Moscow front
the Russians acknowledged their
forces had been pushed back along
the now-carpeted. ice-glaZed bat
tleheld, but asserted the Germans
were paying an enormous price in
men and equipment.
Suburban areas fringing Moscow
were reported being converted into
improvised forts with the inStalla-
ton of anti-tank and machine guns
in every home. Streets were re-
ported being mined.
In his proclamation as chairman
of the State Committee for Defense.
Stain appointed two defense chiefs,
Gen. Gregory K. Zhukov, chief of
the general staff and commander Of
the western army, TO be responsible
for the city's approaches from the
west. and 1t. Gen. Artemiev. COM
mander of garrisons in Moscow
proper, to be responsible for defense
of the city
The state OF siege was clamped
down Ito secure the rear for the
defense of Moscow and to strength
en- the rear of the forces defending
Moscow, as well as to stop any SUBJ
versive activity of spies, diversion
lists and other agents of the Ger
man FaScists."
Summary execution was ordered
for provocateurs and spies.
Curb on Traffic.
All street traf1c-both pedestrian
and vehicular-was banned between
midnight and am, except under
special authorization granted by the
military.
Maintenance OF the strictest Or
der in the city and suburban areas
Is intrusted to the commander Of
Moscow, Mai. Gen. Comrade Sini-
lov, for which purpose the forces of
the inner defense, NKVD, and work
ers and volunteer battalions are
put at his disposal" Stains procla-
nation said.
The japanese foreign Office in
Toxic announced receipt of word
from YoShitsugu Tatekawa, Japa-
nese Ambassador to Russia, that
the Staf1 of the japanese Embassy
In Moscow together with other diplo-
mats accredited there were proceed
ing to Kuibyshev, $40 miles airline
east and slightly south of Moscow.
Kuibyshev is on the Volga River
some 200 miles southeast of Kazan,
where facilities had been estab-
lished for temporary capital. The
/ Japanese advice did not state. how
ever, whether Kuibyshev was only a
temporary stopping place.
More May Come to Aid.
In addition to the troops declared
moving westward from Siberia to
join the battle for Moscow, there
! WIS IcpOIl III LOiluO1 tlldU Uc-
sieged Leningrad forces Of Marshal
Klementi Voroshilov soon might at
tempt to go to the rescue of Marshal
Semeon Timoshenko's central-front
forces in the Kalinin region.
Some Of the Siberian and Mon
golian troops were reported already
in action in the Mozhaisk sector.
The withdrawal OF these troops
from the Far East prompted the
conclusion here that Stain had de-
cided to lay his heaviest stakes on
the western line and scorn the
Japanese threat at his back door.
| A determination on the part OF
Britain and the United States to
deal firmly with Japan in the event
her pro-Axis policy should provoke
4 Far Eastern crisis was stressed
by reliable sources In London
| Russia must have good reason
| for removing her forces from east
to west" said one informant. "and
that reason probably is reliance on
the Allies to handle Japan"