Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-22

Joseph Stain became sixty three
years old yesterday, but the passage
of time has revealed little or nothing
of the real nature Of this extraordi-
nary character.
The basic biographical facts, of
course, are well known. The son Of
a peasant cobbler, Stain was born
at Tif1is, Georgia. his real name being
Joseph Vissarionovich Dzugashvili.
1t was Nicolai Lenin, leader of the
Red revolution, who bestowed upon
him the name of Stain, Man of
Steel.
Stain became active In the Rus
sian revolutionary movement after
his expulsion from a theological
seminary for participating in
student underground Marxist group.
He was arrested many times, distin-
guished himself in fighting against
the White Russians, and finally
became the real ruler OF Soviet
Russia after the death of Lenin in
1924.
Then came the two flve-year plans
periods of ruthless economic
development which were little under
stood in the democratic nations but
during which the foundations must
have been laid for the strength that
Russia is showing today. In 1885
and 1887 came the blood purges.
when hundreds upon hundreds of
Stains political enemies were put
to death. The Man of Steel remained
Indifferent to the effect upon world
opinion. ut is quite clear" he said.
that these gentlemen should be
destroyed, exterminated mercilessly
as enemies of the working class and
enemies of our country. That Is
clear and does not demand further
Interpretation" Among the victims
OF these purges were a number Of
Russia's most prominent military
1gures. 1t seemed that the flower of
the Red Army had been wiped out.
but 1t Is evident that this was not so:
for the Soviet military organization
has abundantly proved its worth in
the test of battle. ~ *s
After the war with Finland and
the signing of the non-aggression
pact with Germany on August "a,
l939-the marching signal for Hit
ler's arn1ies-it seemed that nothing
could rescue the Soviet leader from
the detestation of American public
opinion. But the Red Army, in a
year and half of valorous fighting.
has changed that. The people of
this country recognize today that
the Soviet Army-the army which
Stain built and which he is believed
to have directed in battle-has been
the greatest single factor in stem
ming the tide Of Nazi aggression. It
was upon the Red Army that the
legend OF Hitler's invincibility was
shattered. and 1t is the Red Army
which ultimately may prove to be
the decisive factor In his defeat.
In consequence of these things.
number of Americans and English
men have journeyed to Moscow. and
some have talked with Stain. And
they have brought home their i'm
pressions of hina-as a great or
ganizer, as military and technical
genius, as a man richly endowed
with the capacity for putting first
things first.
Yet, when these impressions are
added up, the stark fact remains
that little is known of Stain. the
man. We know that he is fighting
Tor the survival of Russia, and We
have every reason to believe that he
Will not falter to that end. But it
is sheer guesswork to 60 beyond that
point. We do not know what is In
Stains mind for tomorrow. and we
will not know until tomorrow comes
Tor Stain, as has been his habit, is
keeping his own counsel.