Evening star., 1941-08-24

Trucks NTH track laying, tread-type
Despite Germany's swift and far
flung successes in Russia, President
Roosevelt this week admonished con-
gressional leaders not to become alarmed
and held out hope that the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics would be able
to stand indefinitely against the Nazi
military machine.
Were these assurances another eX-
ample of the levity with which the ad-
ministration continues to mask the re-
tardation of its programs of defense
and aid TO Britain? Or did they reflect
superior knowledge of Russia's war
strength-a knowledge hitherto veiled
by the Kremlin in such Incompatible
secrecy that the German high command
to some extent underestimated its task?
That the latter supposition represents at
least part of the truth is indicated by
an inquiry among sources of information
which until now have remained impene-
trable.
The dense Soviet curtain appears to
have been raised in Moscow for Harry
L. Hopkins. The lease-lend admins
traitor may well have reported to Lon
don and Washington that the Workers
and Peasants Red Army. far from being
the humble pushover of early German
vaunts, must be ranked as the worlds
strongest armed force in manpower and
probably in systematic teaching of
morale; as equal to any for valor and
scorn of death: as no worse than sec
ond in training, modern equipment and
background of natural resources, and
among the first three or four as to in
dustrial plant for replacement of mate
riel.
Started War Without Debt.
In addition, Hopkins no doubt learned
the amusing and ironic fact that the
Soviet government, through processing
abhorrence of capitalism and all its
works, was the only one to enter the war
with a balanced budget and even
surplus on the credit side. According
to the latest report of A. G. Zverev,
Peoples Commisar of Finance, revenues
for 1910 were 178, 100 900 900 rubles, while
expenditures were 173,300, ,000, 900.
When the Red Army began fighting,
it was backed by treasury without
kopeck of foreign debt, which obtained
81 per cent of its income through taxes
and only per cent through domestic
borrowing Incidentally, the 1941 budget
for defense amounted to II 900 900 900
rubles At the ruble's official value Of
20 cents, this sum is equivalent to $14,-
100000, 900. 1t has probably been multi
piled since the outbreak of war
The Red Army was also supported by
the industrial expansion of two COM
pleted five-year plans and the first three
years of third such program. Between
1899 and 1941, Comrade Zverev stated,
more than 10000 900 900 rubles or $780,
900 900 900, were disbursed for state con-
struction Factory output was said to
have increased A per cent, while 1900
new industrial enterprises began opera
ton and fresh capital totaling l0S,0O0,-
100000 rubles was invested in the ma
tional economy.
With the prospect of German attack
in view, feature of this expansion from
the outset was drastic decentralization
of manufacturing plants. Reports di1er
as to the extent to which the process
has been consummated. 1t is generally
accepted as true that the Far East armies
have been made largely self sufficient
in regard to munitions and implements
of war. The Soviet Embassy in Wash
ington maintains that national industry
would be able to carry on even If the
army were driven back to the Ural
Mountains.
Last February the Red Army cele-
bated it's 23d birthday anniversary. Dur
ing this period, universal military service
was in effect Figures as to manpower
can only be approximated. An unofficial
estimate is that 100000 men at least
have received two years of army training.
If, as the Germans calculate, there are
now 100000 Russian soldiers in the
field, then there would remain some
5000, 900 trained reservists, most of them
under so years of age.
Saw Hitler Menace.
Alone among Germany's neighbors,
Russia seems to have taken "Mein
Kampf" seriously In 1884, year after
Hitler came to power, the Soviet staff
began a radical reform of its armed es-
tablishment One of the first steps was
to abolish, the territorial system, corre-
spending to the American National
Guard and "fedepalize" the whole mill
tary setup. Drastic changes were made
in organization. armament and technical
equipment.
The war strength Of the rife division
was raised from $4,000 to $4,000 men,
according to report Of Marshal Klement
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