Evening star., 1943-03-24

OpeakS at PreSS
|Club Luncheon
RusSian.Born Author
Relates Incidents as
Var Correspondent
By Gretchen Smith
That Nazi invaders of Russia are
doped before attacking towns and
villages, was the theory advanced
last fall by a Russian woman doc
tor, according to Trina Skariatina
RuSsian-born novelist and foreign
correspondent, recently returned
from the land of her birth, where
she covered the war" for Golfers
magazine.
Speaking before members of the
Women's National Press Club yes
terday at their weekly luncheon
meeting, the speaker told how two
Russian women doctors discussed
Nazi brutality.
The invaders kill and destroy,
uselessly and ruthlessly, every man,
woman, child, dog or chicken they
find in a village" Miss Skariatina
was told "One of the doctors said
she believed the invaders were doped
SO as to produce killing mania.
The other doctor said she did not
think it was so much dope as fear.
The Germans know that the entire
population is against them and that
they have to defeat every woman
and child as we'll as the Red Army.
Even old women of 80 years and
small children carry hand grenades
to throw at invaders of their vii
lage."
Never Say German
The Russians do not speak of
the enemy as Germans or Nazis, the
speaker commented. They never
say German but invader when
asked why, they reply that they do
not feel the Germans as people
are responsible for the atrocities of
the party in power. They say the
Germans are suffering as much as
we" she continued.
They do not say THAI Germany
must, be destroyed but that the
fangs of Germany must be de-
stroyed They believe that there
should be no factories like the Krupp
works permitted after the war. Some
say the younger generation should
be destroyed. Others believe they
should be re-educated~
High praise was paid Russian
women by Miss Skarisetina.
My first impression on entering
Russia last year was that it had
been taken over by women" she de-
clared. women were flying planes,
making machinery, running trucks
and doing everything in the coun-
try. Even older women were work
ing. I saw one woman of 80 who
was decorated for the work she had
done to release younger woman for
work at the 'front.'
Tells of Nurses Bravery.
The bravery of the Russian
nurses aides was extolled by the
speaker. who told how this group,
strong young women between the
ages of 19 and "a, follow the men
into battle to minister to them
when wounded
They crawl onto the battlefield
on hands and knees" she explained.
If a man is wounded the nurse
gives him first aid. If he is seri-
ously wounded she places him on
her back and craWls back to the
base hospital with him. Sometimes
they do this so or so times a day.
she added
Women are fighting as guerrillas
and serving as air Wardens among
other duties. Miss Skariatina con-
tinued. Laughingly she told of an
old woman who stood at her post as
air warden with a frying pan on her
head instead of a helmet
when asked why she wore the
flying pan she replied she dion t
like the new-fangled helmets" the
SPEAKER cNDidlllSu.
Faith in the people of Russia was
voiced by the speaker, who several
years ago spent three months in a
Russian prison condemned to die.
MY father and mother were both
royalists.' she explained, "and I
had title. For that reason I was
sentenced to die
Left Russia in 1923.
The intercession of American
doctor friends and an American
engineer working in Russia saved
Miss Skariatina's life, she said, and
in 1923 she was permitted to leave
Russia legally with passport.
Since that time as an American
citizen she has frequently re-
turned to her native country.
In reply to a question, rs the
Russia of Stain much changed
from the Russia of Lenin?" she
replied. The period Of Lenin was
one of destruction I heard Lenin
say that in order to build he had to
destroy. That was the first five-
year plan," she added.
Russia today is in its great re-
construction period" she concluded
"and no one has realized the great
power that is coming to life between
the Volga and the Urals."
The speaker was introduced by
Christine Sadler, club president.
4 d C Wornen Ioir,