Evening star., 1951-02-20
Wonnen's
Clubs
Democratic Club
Hears Pace Talk
On Army Training
By Ruth Dean

The Army is not only training
soldiers for combat now but max
ing citizens of the future, Secre-
tary OF the Army Frank Pace tolG
the Woman's National Democratic
Club yesterday.
Mr.. Pace, who returned 10 days
ago from an inspection trip to
Camp Atterbury and Fort Knox,
reviewed his impressions of the
Army training program at a
club luncheon.
''The training is realistic and
tough" he said. ''I was out In
weather that was seven below zero,
where men. with IL weeks train
ing. slid along on their bellies with
live artillery fire whizzing three
inches over their heads"
Mr.. Pace reported the trainees
spend as much as four or five days
out in the open. without tents;
the disqualification rate is less
than l per cent, the AWOL rate
is substantially lower than dur
ing World War II, and every Sun
day, the chapels are crowded.
In addition to developing the
best kind of fighter America eau
produce, the Army also recognizes
the responsibility of developing
morality, which is the strength OF
a democracy. the speaker asserted
The Secretary expressed salts
faction that what we are doing
is not only realistic but sound,
We're satisfied that as far as the
men are concerned, they're re-
ceiving the kind Of training and
consideration that is important"
he declared.
Secretary Pace also emphasized
the part leadership is playing In
the training program.
Discussing his efforts to see
that young men "who have the
drive, integrity and leadership"
may have a chance to move to-
the top, he admitted that this
may not work out perfectly"
"There will be hundreds of cases
where young men of competence
can't move ahead" he said. You
find that. in business, too. But the
system Is sound"
One Of the biggest problems
that faces the Army is supply.
Mr.. Pace declared. Not only must
the Army supply the soldier with
the ancillary services he would
get In civilian life but must give
him the weapons with which to
fight, he pointed out. This is fur
ther complicated by the fact that
material production must be
timed to soldier training so that
the finished products can be de-
livered "in one package he
added.
Finally, he said, there must be
Intelligent integration" of the
whole training program into the
total civilian economy, $50 as to
have the least impact on the
housewife and the manufacturer"
The Secretary paid tribute to
the Armed Forces in Korea and
to the morale Of the wounded
brought back from the battle
front.
I'm not only proud of Gen.
Matthew Ridgeway. I'm proud
Of every man who's over there or
who's been over there" he said.
Never once have I heard a
word of complaint" he said of
the wounded he has visited in
many of the hospitals throughout
the country. eff every citizen in
America could go to these hos
pitfalls and see their attitude, there
would never be an absence of
faith in America"
Mr.. Pace was introduced by
Mrs. Oscar Chapman, wife of the
Secretary Of Interior. Mrs. Charles
F. Brannan. first vice president,
presided and introduced the head
table guests who included Mrs.
Pace. Karl r. Bendetsen. Assist
ant Secretary Of the Army, and
Mrs. Bendetsen, Mrs. Ridgeway,
Francis Shackelford. General
Counsel to the Secretary of the
Army: Mrs. Clark Clifford and
Mrs. Julien Friant. a past presi-
dent of the club.