It is notable that in his proclamation Hitler put Finland and Rumani which are small countries with griev-lances, in the forefront of his pro-da drive. This is a palpable attempt, according to observers here, to divide world opinion, to cover his. calculated and unscrupulous strapping of the Russo-German pact and to justify his act of blatant and ion World, speculation as to the number and striking power of the Soviet forees will at least be brought to an 'end as her machines go into action against the Luftwaffe and Russia's of treat strength revealed in actual battle.
Any estimate of the "Red" strength has' in the past been largely conditioned by political circumstances at the time of writing, but it has been universally agreed that from the "point of view of numbers the Soviet air force is, if not the largest in the world, at least very close to that of Germany; which is now fighting on a number of fronts and, at the moment, Russia out only one.
As to the efficiency of her air force Russia' has released very few details, but it is certain that a power which was thie pioneer of parachute troops and glider trains, and capable of producing planes that made a sen-national trans-polar flight to the American continent a few years ago, is fully aviation-conscious, So are the Russian people. Parachute-jumping towers are as familiar sights in Russian parks. as round abouts and swings in Britain. Women pilots are as normally accepted as men, and children at early ages participate in flying course.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.