1939-03-31 — Page 10

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ANOTHER PRIME FOLLY?

Soviet industry seems at last to be well on its way to recovery. Special attention is being given to the armaments industry, a matter which naturally, interests the British Isles, for both in Europe and the Far East a; strong Russia is a guarantee of peace.

con-

That Russia's military strength - is fully appreciated in Nazi Ger- many is proved by some remark- W.C.2-able extracts from speeches and articles by German military lea- ders recently collected by the French paper "L'Ordre." All agree, of course, that the Red Army. is not only the greatest |in existence but probably the greatest rever organised in the world. But according to Captain von Zeska, ä German staff officer, its offensive strength ́ ́is tinually increasing: "Without any doubt, the Russian soldier is |brave, stubborn,' and tenacious."

Commandant Schmettel, of the Air Ministry, wrote that “Rus- sia is the only country which can remove its armaments industries out of range of air raids." The same writer believes that in 1940 Russia will be producing between |12,000 and 15,000 aeroplanes a year and that in the event of war it will be able to count upon an Air Force of 20,000 'planes. The "Militar-Wochenblatt," the organ of the Ministry of War, stated that Russia to-day, be yond all doubt, possesses numeri- cally the largest Air Force in the world."" The same opinion an astonishing thing, in was held by Captain Fischer von the face of all that has been hap-Poturzyn, of the Air Ministry, pening in Europe in the last three who added that behind this vast force stands an industry whose weeks, with Poland already in-efficiency, at least in this domain, itiated into the first stages of is uncontested." The official or- Nazi high-pressure undermining gan of the German Navy, "Nau- tactics, that it is possible for ses "the largest submarine fleet ticus, stated that Russia posses-

Mr. R. A. Butler to get up in the in the world." It is possible, of House of Commons and tell a course, that German writers ex- questioner bluntly that Britain aggerate the numerical strength of Russia's forces in order to find has no intention of associating

an excuse for their own, but herself with the Franco-Soviet they would hardly praise the defensive alliance. It is the more offensive power of the Red Army odd since there have been signs or the efficiency of the Russian that the present British Govern-Air Force unless they believed it ment was beginning to regret its to be true. And a country strong frequent rebuffs to Soviet ad-enough for Germany to fear as vances. The folly of this at- an enemy is certainly strong titude scarcely needs emphasis. enough for Britain to welcome as It seems impossible to believe a friend. that any representative. British group, except perhaps the select inner circle of the Government, A.R.P. would wilfully throw the Soviet back upon a policy of isolation The production of one plan from European affairs, for, no after another for protecting us other reason than prejudice or against attacks from the air, if" some mysterious fear of Bolshe- it achieves nothing else, tends to vism--or of offending the sus-steady the nerves. A quite dif ceptibilities of the anti-Comin-ferent psychological result might ternites.

reasonably have been anticipated.

It

:

?

It is true that Mr. Hudson has But the actual effect has been been to Moscow and seems well to make people talk about the pleased with the economic re-various forms of A.R.P. very sults, but if peace is to be sav-much as they talk about macm- ed we shall need political and toshes and umbrellas in rainy even military co-operation as weather. This is an attitude of well It is, in many ways, a indifference which Sir John. An- favourable moment to press for derson is now trying to shake. closer relations with Soviet Bus- From steel shelters the Minis- sia. In recent months the Rus-try of Civil Defence has turned sinn Government seems to have its attention to the provision of recovered from the brainstorm refuges by strengthening base- which led to the terrible purges, mente. Standard sets of steel It is concentrating more on dis- struts have been provided, and cipline and efficiency and less on they are being tested thoroughly, political dogma. Having learnt by Houses, with experience, what others night

have concluded by reason that

it will not improve producti

put the fear of Stalin into responsible official Gov

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