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University Daily Kansan
Monday, March 28, 1955
Russian Soldier Today Hardship Conditioning
By JOYCE NEALE
A huge iron caldron, mounted on a horse-drawn wagon, constituted the Russian Army's equivalent to our kitchen supply train during World War II. This "train" followed the combat troops as best it could. If it passed a beet field, the soldiers would pull the beets and toss them into the pot. The same was true for potatoes or anything they happened to find—including cows or useless horses. This stew was kept brewing all the time, and a Russian soldier would be served at any time he chanced to find the kitchen.
The problem of supplying food to combat troops was only one of the points made by Major John S. Mace as he presented a picture of the Russian soldier of today to the Faculty club last week. Major Mace, associate professor of military science, worked with the Russian army in the latter days of World War II and reported from first hand knowledge. Since then, he has continued to study all available material on newer developments.
"Because the individual Russian soldier can live off the land, because of his capacity for suffering and uncomplaining endurance—he can exist for great lengths of time without assistance." Major Mace said.
Military training starts at the age of six for Russian boys. At approximately 19, young men enter the army where they receive ten hours daily military training for six days a week-plus political training for several hours every night. The average Russian welcomes service as he receives better food and clothing and more pay (although meager by our standards) than he could ever get in civilian life.
Balancing the ledger are the facts, brought out by Major Mace, that the average Russian soldier can not swing with the punch. He will follow orders, no matter what they are; but he is incapable of making a decision to alter his course of action as the situation changes. Also, there is a great lack of technical skill in the lower ranks. As an illustration of that lack, Major Mace told of a jeep out of gas in the middle of a small street. The Russian examined the inside (the motor was still there) and the underside. As it grew dark, they turned the jeep on its side, set fire to the house across the street (so as to be able to see)—and never did figure out what was wrong.
The Russian high command (the Marshals) are recognized as among the best in the world. They have survived both wars and political upheavals. They know how to plan the masses of men. The middle group of officers are primarily of political caliber, not too militarily capable.
The industrial advancement of Russia should not be underestimated, nor the efficient use of manpower. The Russian tanks used in Korea, one of their older models, is comparable with the best we have in production and is not the advanced model used in the drive on Berlin by Russian forces, Major Mace said.
For manpower utilization, Major Mace recalled a Russian lieutenant he met. This man had been a pilot in World War II. After being shot down twice, he was no longer capable of being a pilot, so he was transferred to the infantry. After two serious injuries there, he could no longer walk, so he was assigned to the crew of a tank. Three wounds later, he was still with the tank crew and intended to stay there so long as he could crawl into the tank and operate a gun.
Therein lies the core of the average Russian soldier. Although essentially a peaceful man, his entire lifetime is, in a sense, a conditioning for the hardships of war. And he is intensely patriotic. For him, the only security there is lies in the fight of Russia and he will fight to the death for it. This is the Russian soldier of today.
Ten drugs developed within the last 20 years are credited with saving as many as ten million lives.
French Club to Show Movie in Lindley
"Ma Pomme," a French language musical comedy starring Maurice Chevalier, will be presented by Le Cercle Francais in 426 Lindley Wednesday evening.
Mr. Chevalier, a popular French actor and entertainer, made the movie in 1950. He toured the United States in 1948. During most of his performances he wore the tuxedo and straw hat which were his trademark.
"Under the new Western Civilization ruling. College sophomores will be required to enroll in the course and they will be given one hour credit for each semester enrolled.
New Western Civ. Ruling Set for Fall
Students will not be required to take the examination prior to attaining junior standing. The new ruling will go into effect this semester, Rupert Murrill, director of the course, said today.
The old rule was that any student in the College who spent two semesters at the University prior to becoming a junior had to take the exam or receive six hours of credit or failure in the course.
"Although the Western Civilization examination need not be taken at any particular point, students in the College and in the Schools of Journalism and Education must pass the examinations in order to be graduated from the University," Professor Murrill said.
Students who wait until their junior or senior years to pass the exam will receive only four hours credit for it, while those who take it by the end of their sophomore year will receive six hours credit.
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Sex and Songwriting Get Stormy Reception
New York—(U.P.)—A storm over sex and songwriting is blowing strong over Tin Pan Alley. Broadcast Music, Inc., a big clearing house for new tunes, has promised to slam the door on suggestive "leerics" from now on.
"Actually," said Carl Haverlin, president of BMI, "we just re- tightening up the screening process we've maintained all along. I guess we were being awfully innocent to let some of this stuff get by."
A criticism aimed by Variety magazine at risque titles and lyrics of "Rhythm and Blues" dance records has led to widespread soul-searching among music publishers, disc jockers, recording companies and songwriters.
Many of them admit that certain numbers currently popular have gone too far. But they don't agree on what should be done about it. Mr. Haverlin said that BMI, which licensed many of the "R&B" records singled out for attack, has three screening committees that study the "literary aspects" of new tunes. These committees recently were increased from five to seven members each.
You can't always tell by reading a lyric what it will sound like when sung in a certain way. Take the phrase, come up and see me some time. That looks harmless enough until Mae West says it," he said.
Irving Berlin, a poet of the June- moon school whose lyrics might be considered above reproach, said this week he wasn't sure where the responsibility for off-color records lies, but he thinks the situation "should be cleaned up from the inside."
"I remember during the ragtime period when 'Everybody's Doin' It' was a big hit." Mr. Berlin wrote in a letter to Variety. "There were some comments that the title was suggestive, but when they got to know the lyric they knew it meant everybody was doing the tzke-trot."
Camp Fire Girls claim more than 392,000 members and more than four million former members.
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