The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-03-17
"A STORY OF LIFE IN
THE WORKERS ARMY
By A RED SOLDIER.

A uS pOyB Lpkc dh lnLSEGbbFAAA POA-
tics. To make these lessons interest
ing we adopt the direct method. For
instance, if the lesson is on discip-
line we organize mock trial of I'M
disciplined Red Army men. ! preside
over the tribunal and we have pub
lie prosecutor, witnesses and counsel
for the defense. Gradually the whole
squad is drawn into these lessons,
Simonov acts mostly as the public
prosecutor. He is a regular Mry-
lenko when dealing with an undis-
ciplined Red Army man. But sone-
times the counsel for the defense is
also fun of go and q regular battle
IS fought out. In connection with
these mock trials we deal also with
the subject of military secrets, the
necessity Of taking care of things,
etc.
Somet'Hes a village meeting is
imperso'n ed on some question or
other. his gives fullest opportunity
to air AIS views. The skirmishers
are as rule, on the one side, Sim
onov, and on the other side, Salni-
kov, and regular battle takes place,
everyone Is as active as can be.
We also have the polit-roulette and
are preparing political contests be-
tween squads.
Peasant questions predominant at
these polit-lessons, Everyone comes
TO the lesson with questions which
ne considers very urgent although
they have perhaps nothing to do with
the set subject.
"Why does not the chairman of our
rural soviet give help to the families
of Red Army men?" asks Andreyev
Ia very stoud lad) indignantly.
"You say that peasants are now
better off than before, but l had
formerly three cows and now ! have
enly two" declares smart little
Zverev.
There are heaps Of questions, they
all crop up at the polit-lesson and
continue to be discussed in the Lenin
corner in the evening. After verifi-
cation they are the, subject of endless
conversations in bed. But not ali
sre active. There is, for instance,
Cherkov, who declared emphatically
that he doesn't understand politics.
When he is asked any question he
Keeps mum and shakes his head OBJ
stinately.
But there are not many like Cher
l;ov. The number of Simonovs is
growing from day to day.
Rabiner does not attend politics
sons. He sits mostly in the Lenin
corner contriving all sorts of wonder
tul things.
According to Ilyitchenko's plan I
contrived together with him a poll
tical rifle range. We painted on card
board the figures of Chamberlain,
E'ilsudski, Mussolini and provided
them with springs.
These figures are our target. If
the rifleman hits it, Chamberlain i'm
mediately disappears and another
piece of cardboard comes up with a
text relating Chamberlain's latest
achievements.
The political rifle range attracted
The notice of the whole squad. Target
shooting went on continuously.
Ilyitchenko is delighted-no other
squad has anything of this kind.
TODAY is festive day in the regi-
ment. Today the champions of
the world proletariat have come to the
Red Army men. Today, delegates of
the Communist International paid
visit to our regiment. We were able
to see those about whom we read so
much in our newspapers and period
icalS, about whom we speak 80 much
in the Lenin corner and when we have
retired to bed, about whom the Red
Book on the little table in the corner
of the reading room has so much to
say.
Our band played festive music. Del
cgates from fiery Spain and cold
Norway, from France and PARKWAY
Cuba mingie with the men Of our
regiment. I saw the Cuban delegate
having a lively conversation with
Salnikov.
What could these two who do not
understand each other talk about, and
why was Salnikov SO excited? Per-
haps he asked the delegate Of Cuba
about the construction of socialism.
Perhaps he was able to understand
the unknown tongue of the harbingers
Of world revolution.
Yes. the delegates speeches were
understood In spite Of the unfamiliar
language. Their gestures were elo-
quent enough. The best interpreter
was the fact that they are leaders
and delegates Of the world proletariat
who are now in the heart Of the Soviet
country, In Red Moscow among US
Red Army men.
Mboxv S;4> A. ~.