1937-12-07 — Page 8

Page

From an Interview with

PROFESSOR S.H. ROBERTS

CHINA MATE

BER 7, 1937.

MILITARY POWER OF

THE SOVIET

O owerful tank force of all the world's armies, it nevertheless shows symptoms of relying on mass rather than on relatively small,

tween France, the little Entente "Historically, the present align highly mobile, formations. It still, (Czechoslovakia, Rumania, Yugo ment compares with the alignment he points out, maintains

Germany's

slavia), and Russis. The surest se of Britain, France and Russia in divisions, and they are manoeuvred curity against German aggression in 1914. Just as France acted as the in the manner that was employed The Anti-Communist Pact, now Central Europe has been the im- broker them, so Germany has acted in the Napoleonic wars. The peace signed by Germany, Italy, and Ja-pregnability of the Moravian gate to-day, and has brought together, time strength of the army is 1,300,-

the way, and the promise of Russia to Italy, and Japan Germany, Italy, 000 compared with pan, gives new solidarity to already-implicit league between send planes to the aid of Czechoslo- and Japan are all Fascists at heart; 550,000.

they all believe in aggressive mea- these Powers. At the same time vakia.

"The result of this is that, unless sures; they all sanction warlike mea- it seems that it must thrust the non-Fascist Powers into more "close we are content to give up French sures as instruments of national alliance?

has boasted that the pact

links

WIDELY-SEPARATED FRONTIERS

Against the huge numbers of Rus- support and rely on the goodwill of policy, they all believe in the big- the United States, we must see stick method of diplomacy. More sla's army must be set the vast Signor Gayda, who speaks for where Franco-Russian policy in over, they are all leaders of the distance between her western and Italy with almost-official authority, Europe leads us. We may say that have-nots, and they are all fight- eastern frontiers, and the primitive 200,000,000 people. Inevitably the we will not participate in ideolo ing a desperate struggle against nature of the transport that con- * reader_contrasts with this figure the gical wars, but the other side has adverse economic factors. Here we bects them. It has been necessary 270,000,000 people of Great Britain called the tune, and we must either have all the materials for a pugilis to build up two practically indepen and the dominions, France, and support the combination that opposes tic combination against the rest of dent armies, one in the east and one the ideology of dictatorship or lose the world. It is useless. to belittle in the west, even to develop muni- tion factories and agriculture in Russia.

the support of that combination and the pact by saying that it has no

eastern Siberia. "It

military clauses. Experience proves. is useless to deny that the

accept isolation.

Captain Liddell Hart considers the pact marks the crossroads of post-

"Personally, I think that econo- that these can quickly follow. The war diplomacy," said Professor S. H. mic considerations more than out- main point is that the main Powers new Red Army to be of better qual Roberts, of the chair of history in weigh this latest confession of dicta- which believe in the use of force as ty than the old Russian Imperial the University of Sydney, when dis- torial faith, and that the anti-Com- against what we call peaceful army, both in equipment and morale. "The officers," he says, "are pro- cussing the implications of the new munist pact need be taken no more change, have come together. The "development.

seriously, than the German-Japanese extent of their joint action will de fessionally enthusiastic, and much

better educated than their predeces All I pend on circumstances. "The pact," Professor Roberts add- pact of some months ago.

"We are not only on the way to sors-no army takes a keener in- ed, “clearly means that Italy has would urge is that, in considering

two

armed terest in foreign ideas and all news given up hopes of winning over Bri Russia, we should look on her, not dividing Europe into

On man tain to an anti-Bolshevist front according to our political beliefs, but camps. We are already there," Pro. of military progress.

oeuvres there is much evidence of Obviously, Italy and Germany can according to her international fessor Roberts concluded.

skilled organisation and staff work. not give up their ideological strug- strength, and, in particular, accord-

The elimination of the corruption gle, because, if they do, their in- ing to the network of treaties with

which was rampant, on the adminis ternal regimes cannot survive. This France and the Little Entente, which

trative side of the Czarist army puts the onus of a decision on Bri- are one of our man potential safe tain; and, if Britain is forced, by guards against aggressive dictator. Much of Communist Russia's ar- alone goes far to reduce the

dour has been spent on the crea of defeat through shortage of equip the logic of circumstances to fol- ships.

tion of the Red Army, and on this ment and supplies."..

all over have

*.

WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL TANK FORCES

low the Franco-Russian camp, then THREE OTHER COURSES army attention will now be concen- There are said to be 6000 tanks, Europe faces the position of 1914

except that now we "The other courses are isolation, trated as seldom before. There is Captain Liddell Hart points -- out, support of Czechoslovakia alliance with the anti-Communist no convincing evidence that the re- and the number of breakdowns is cent parges in the Red Army great- relatively small He considers that Europe. It is the grim (that is, the prodictatorial) camp ly damaged its efficiency, or meant a noteworthy part of the Russian inexorability of this evolution that or dependence on the United States.

more than that certain of the higher equipment is the parachute force, to the is so disturbing, because we are be- From these I turn back

commanders had aroused the vir which has landed a commando of and ing forced along, willy nilly,

thought of Russia's bombers Russia's treaty friends in Europe tuous indignation or the jealousy of 1200. men with 18 light feld guns CURB TO GERMANY and I subordinate my anti-Commun- Russia's rulers. Many would assert, and 150 machine-guns behind an in-

a oeuvres "The time has come to face facts. ism in matters of internal govern- quoting history, that the removal of aginary enemy's front on

The Soviet air force is said The peace of Europe has been kept ment to my desire for safety in for a handful of senior generals in

-peace-time army would improve its for years by the understanding be- eign affairs.

calibre by bringing younger and contain 3500 to 4000 machines, in- more alert men to the fore.

cluding more than 500 long-range The criticism of the Red Army bombers. If it is even approximate- offered by Captain B. H. Liddell ly equal in quality to the air forces Hart, in his recent "Europe in of other European Powers, it is the Arms," is that, though it has the strongest air force in the world.

THE

WORLD GOES BY By “ULYSSES ”

TEVER slip on a banana skin în țît.

NEVER

front of an oncoming motor door.

You may cause the car to

It is much safer to open the

Never use string to hold your The string may

skid. It is far better to pick up trousers up.

the skin, carry it to the pavement, break. It is better to make sure and slip on it there. Motorists by nailing them on, or, better still, using half a dozen or so good wood will appreciate your forethought.

Never throw a lighted cigarette- screws.

・

end out of the window. The Never use petrol to light a fire. scavenger who's stoops to pick it up The smell is apt to hang about the may burn his fingers. It is far curtains and annoy your mother-

few sticks better to drop the unwanted rem-in-law. Use nant of your smoke on to the dynamite instead.

Never use steam-rollers to crack drawing-room carpet. The women-

Christmas You may folk will appreciate this, as nothing nuts at is more deadly to the moth than damage your fingers. "Borrow an armoured car from the Volunteers. smouldering tobacco.

Never leave your discarded Never go to bed with your boots razor-blade where the baby canon. You may soil the sheets. Your get hold of it. He may scratch wife will much prefer you to the furniture with it

change into slippers first. Never cross the street on the Never, never, eat food. This is green light. There will be a lot of most important. Someone may be other people crossing at the same trying to poison you.

time, and you may be injured in

the crush. Cross on the red light,

when you can go alone,

A health expert says there are

Never lean out of the motorcar three different ways of taking the

window when looking bits of finft. You may fall throu

Hot, cold and for

nted, one presumes.

Sman-

WORTH WHILE

GIFTS

LARGE & VARIED

SELECTIONS

Nothing is more acceptable as a Christmas gift than

a bottle of exquisite perfume, a bottle of exotic toilet. water, a beautiful compact, or a combination set of toilet- ries.

You will find that our extensive selections are priced quite reasonably.

THE

CALL IN AND DO YOUR SHOPPING NOW

GRAND DISPENSARY

- Limited

Corner, China Building.

to