Evening star., 1943-05-23

than do our troops. For instance, few
soldiers appear to have heard of the
Anglo Russian treaty which joins Russia
and Britain in European interests for 20
years"
Only few of our soldiers. said the
Times reporter, understood the nature
of fascism and communism or would
recognize them if they were not clearly
labeled. He feared that some domestic
brand, tricked out with patriotic stars
and stripes, might not be understood
for what it is
The apathy Of our soldiers toward
their part in the postwar world, Middle
ton felt, was an i'll omen for the future.
IF our Army returns home to turn its
back on the world then in 20 years its
sons and daughters may have to fight
again. He thought the remedy might
be found in 'the introduction into the
Army of some sort of current-events
bulletin, bulletin which would provoke
discussion among officers and men alike,
perhaps in weekly meetings"
The Special Service Division is not
sorry that the Middleton dispatch was
published. For the article, whether or
not it paints too blackly the political
ignorance of the American soldier, puts
finger on the necessity for doing the
very thing that the division is trying
to do. 1t believes that the informed
fighter is the best fighter. 1t is guided,
said one of its chiefs, by the axiom OF
Oliver Cromwell, who, when asked to
define the perfect type of soldier. re-
piled: Give me man who knows that
for which he fights and loves that which
he knows"
Like Home Folks.
The Times writer may have been too
severe on the American soldier in stress
ing the superior interest of his British
counterpart in world affairs There is
a perfectly natural reason for the diff
ference. He may also be said to have
written an indictment that runs quite
as much against the civilian population
as it does against our soldiers Are they
not, after all, thinking in about the same
terms, reacting in about the same ways
to world events as their fathers and
mothers? Wouldn't a public-opinion
| poll show about the same proportion
OF ignorance OF the Anglo-Russian treaty
among civilians as among soldiers?
These things may be true without
altering the soundness of Middletons
conclusion, which is the conclusion Of
the Special Service Division also that it
Is up to the Army to do it's utmost to
teach our soldiers why we fight. 1t is
up to the Army, in other words, If for
no other reason than it's duty of turning
out hard-fighting soldiers to repair the
educational gaps for which we as
people, with all our vaunted system of
| public education, are responsible.
HOW well is the Army doing the Job?
There can be no doubt that the Army
is aware of the Importance of the task.
In the view of this writer, after talks
with Brig. Gen. Frederick H. Osborn and
several of his associates at the head of
the Special Service Division-Col. Living
ston Watrous. the deputy director; Col,
Edward l.. Munson, jr., and others
| there is equally no doubt that the OBJ
legation is being conscientiously and
skillfully discharged.
1t was Col. Watrous, a Regular Army
| VI.
son, of the Regular Infantry, who heads
the information branch of the division,
told good deal of himself and his ideas
when he wrote last year in a hand
book, Leadership for American Army
: Leaders," that they are "all wrong" who
think that the duties of a military
leader are confined to the parade
ground and the battlefield. "It is the
business of military leader" wrote
Munson, ito see that his troops know
why they are training and why we are
fighting this war"
| SmugneSS Is Lacking.
Gen. Osborn, formerly a New York
corporation executive, has an impressive
record of business and research activity:
he is graduate of Princeton, studied at
Cambridge University and has written
extensively in his special field-popula-
| ton. He was the chairman of the
| Presidents Advisory Committee on Sc
| lective Service in 1910.
Gen. Osborn reflects both the enthusi-
asm of his division and its gratifying
lack OF smugness. He believes it is
working along correct lines and that it
has made substantial progress in edu-
eating our soldiers in the inwardness Of
the war. But, he says, the problem
only been dented; and if the division
should ever become satisfied with what
it has done, it ought to go out of busi-
ness. Gen. Osborn is impressed with
the value of current-events discussions
among soldiers, and the division has
plans for expanding what has already
been undertaken in this direction.
If the average American soldier, as
Middleton says, is still abysmally unin-
formed on such subjects as the under
lying causes of the war. the true mean
ing Of fascism, the parts that our Allies
have played, the reason must be sought
elsewhere than in the quantity or the
quality of the educational material
which the Special Service Division has
provided for the troops. Along with
this, for the use of all those who have
to do with dispensing information in
the camps is guide book which strikes
sensible note. This Is sample of its
advice:
1T is of supreme Importance that the
armed forces Of the United States be
kept mindful not only of the war aims
OF the Nation but that they be coun-
seled to such fullness of understanding
Of the world in which they live and self
discipline Of spirit on behalf of their
country that they will be able and