Evening star., 1941-10-14
Thut Siberian Army

Thot Siberian Army
One of the most significant aspects
of British apprehension over Rus
sias plight is the series of sugges-
tionS from various quarters regarding
the Soviet'S Far Eastern army.
Concerned by Russian appeals for
help yet recognizing the seeming
inability of launching an effective
diversionary expedition to Western
Europe, British editors and COM
mentators are turning their eyes
toward Russia's chief remaining re-
serve of firstline troops and equip
ment, stationed in the Far East.
The Soviet Red Banner" army
quartered in the maritime provinces
and Eastern Siberia has long been
known as one of RuSSias best. Set
to watch Japan, it has proved its
mettle by roughly handling Japanese
crack troops in frontier chickering's
on more than one occasion. This
army is supposed to number nearly
100000 men, amply equipped for self
sustaining action on a long term
basis. Despite recent rumorS, there is
no indication that any notable por-
ton of this army has been moved
westward to bolster the Sagging bat
tie fronts against the Germans. This
is not to be wondered at when Japan
is massing huge army in Korea
and Manchukuo, obviously intended
to stab Russia in the back whenever
the warlords at Toxic deem the hour
ripe for a major stroke. Yet current
British estimates assert that the bulk
of this veteran Russian army with
its 5000 tanks, 5000 armored cars,
and 5000 planes could be shifted to
the European war zone if the Japa-
nese threat to Siberia could be re-
moved 1t is easy to imagine what
those crack reinforcements might do
if thrown in at the right moment
against the battle-weary German in
vaderS
Tempting as the prospect is in
theory, Russia cannot be expected to
denude her Far Eastern border un-
less the spectre of japanese in
vasion is effectively laid. And even
the most ardent London advocates
of the plan admit that Britain could
not immobilize Japan single-handed.
AS they see it, Toxic could be
stopped-if at all-only by joint
Anglo-American guarantee of Rus
sia's Far Eastern frontier, threaten
ing war if any japanese aggression
against Siberia took place.
These unofficial London specula-
tions are in line with recent British
official announcements. In a press
interview on the Far Eastern situa-
ton, granted two days ago by Vice
Air Marshal Sir Robert Brooke
Popham at his headquarters in
Singapore, the commander in chief
of Britains Far Eastern forces was
asked what Britain would do if the
japanese attacked Siberia. The
marshal replied: THAT is question
for London to decide. I personally
think we would have to act in close
concert with the United States" In
similar vein, it may be recalled that
Prime Minister Winston Churchill in
his memorable address after the At
lantic meeting with President Roose-
welt, said that America and Britain
were agreed that japanese "aggres-
sion" in the Pacific must stop, and
that if it did not 1--WE shall of course
range ourselves unhesitatingly at the
side of the United States"
With Toxic displaying restive
eagerness which increases with every
bulletin of Russian reverses in Eu-
rope, the likelihood of a japanese
stroke against Siberia comes closer.
What Washington's attitude would
be in that eventuality is not known.
Our Government is not revealing
that aspect of it's diplomatic hand.