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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 2, 1943)
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION DIAL 4-5444 OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION DIAL 4-5444 ROOM 5, ADMINISTRATION BLDG. — VOLUME 42 COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY 2, 1943 2275 NUMBER 83 Modified Cadet Set-Up Remains Next Term We’ve Gone a Long Way AN EDITORIAL Today is the second day of the new year. 1943 is here—the year after Hitler said he was going to win the war—eat lunch in the Kremlin while Stalin waited his table; dinner in London with John Bull at his feet; breakfast atop the Empire State building using the tail of Roosevelt’s coat for a napkin. Yes, this is the year. We have come a long way since December 7, 1941. The boys “over there” and the men, women, and children “over here” are settling a score. There’s no time, nor the slightest desire, to knock off from fighting and building to commem orate or rehash the never-to-be-forgotten state of affairs we found on January 1, 1942. The Japs stuck their necks out. We’ll cut their heads off! Today, Aggies are fighting all over the world. Every part of the world is echoing and re-echoing with the ex ploits of the sons of Aggieland. And it’s hard fighting, with blood and sweat, in the Solomons, Africa, Iceland, Alaska, Oceania, and the Orient. Yes, we’ve come a long way since January 1, 1942. We have sent expeditionary forces to all parts of the world. We invaded North Africa, Iceland, and retook Midway, gallant Midway. We accelerated our production line. Our American tanks went to Egypt and Russia. Our planes flew over Rome and Berlin. Our ships cruised in enemy-infested waters sinking enemy ships and downing enemy planes by the score. We stayed at home and helped fight the war on the home front. We accepted gas rationing. No tires. One spoon of sugar in one cup of coffee. Fuel oil shortages. Scrap drives. Bond sales. Stagedoor canteens and “smokes for Yanks” drives. We are in it—saving, skimping, fighting, building, working, dying, living—to WIN THE WAR. Hirohito picked a bad bargin when he drove us to battle. We’ve always been a tough people when our souls were threatened. Americans are rugged, peace-loving, square dealing, shrewd, and democratic. We’ve fyad political dif ferences, sure, and union squabbles. We agree with some people some of the time and with some people none of the time. We talk and write as we please, what we please, and when we please. We love straight-for-wardness, sincerity; we encourage honesty, decency, and hunmanity, despise the double-cross so royally gvien us. We are clean-living, homespun folks. We dine, we dance, we play, we gamble. We like good sports, hate the poor, bel ligerent loser—folks like the ones we’re fighting. We play cards and gossip with the neighbors; listen to the radio, and go to the movies. We eat peanuts at the circus and hotdogs at the ballgames. We’re the butcher, the farmer, the banker, the news boy, the housewife, the kid up the street, and the college kids. Irish, German, Jewish, Polish, Italian, Catholic, Hun garian, Chinese, Protestant, Scotch, Black, White, and Yel low—that’s us. We are the America—the all and the everybody. We’ve come a long way, Ole Army, but the fight is just begun. In a few weeks, Aggieland may see a great deal more change than we saw last February, but be that as it may, it shall be the everlasting resolution of the “boys from the. Brazos bottom” to fight, fight, fight—till the victory is ours. —JH Russian Need Of Seeds for Spring Planting Critical Russia Will Have Trouble Replanting Ravaged Lands Without American Support Washington.—A generous and immediate response by American seedmen and farmers to the ap peal of Russian War Relief for seeds for planting next spring and summer in the Soviet Union is “absolutely essential,” Dr. M. L. Wilson, director of extension work of the Department of Agriculture, said in an address over the Colum bia Broadcasting System on Dec. 26. Dr. Wilson is honorary chair man of the Seed Committee of Russian War Relief, Inc., 11 E. 35th St., New York City. Larry Lesueur, CBS correspond ent who has just returned from the Soviet Union, also said in a statement read on the same pro gram that the Russian need for seeds is critical. Dr. Wilson predicted shortages in America during 1943, of farm machinery, other agricultural sup plies, and agricultural labor. “Farming will be mighty hard work in 1943,” he said, and then continued: “But, While our farm situation’ will be difficult, it will be even more difficult for the farmers of Russia, whose richest agricultural lands have been ravaged by war these past two summers. “Millions of Russians have been fighting against Nazi invaders these past 18 months; and they’re still in there fighting. These sol diers need huge quantities of food. In addition, a civilian population considerably larger than ours has to be fed. All this demand for food must come from a Russian agricu- ture which has been deprived of areas as rich and productive as our great Corn Belt. “So Russian agriculture has had to push eastward into new lands. Farm labor and machinery kept moving eastward as the Germans advanced. Next spring millions of acres of new fields will be plowed and planted in eastern European Russia and Siberia.” The major problem to be solved by Russian agriculture, Dr. Wil son said, is that of obtaining seeds for the huge area of new lands planted. “Ample supplies of good seed from the United States are abso lutely essential for Russia next year,” he asserted. “Without it, Russia can’t begin to feed its peo ple in 1943.” Because of the vital importance of meeting the Russian food prob lem, he announced, the United States government has endorsed the seed campaign being conducted (See RUSSIAN SEED, Page 4) Barney Rapp Features Choir, Singer Orchestra Features Glee Club and Girl Singer, Ruby Wright Barney Rapp and his New Eng lander orchestra has been signed to play the Senior Ring Dance and Corps Dance January 15, Rocky Sutherland, president of the Senior Class, and Bobbie Stephens, social secretary, said yesterday. When Rapp and his band take over the bandstand, audiences will have an opportunity to see and hear a band which has ranked Barney Rapp among the nation’s top musical units for almost a score of years. Featured in the vocal spotlight will be Ruby Wright, known to radio fans as the “Sweetheart of the Air” and the New Englanders Glee Club. Outstanding engagements of the band have been at the Chase Ho tel, St. Louis; Netherlands-Plaza, Cincinnati; Roosevelt Hotel, New Orleans; Book-Cadillac Hotel, De troit; Hotel New Yorker, New York; and Hotel Adolphus, Dal las. Rapp is the owner of Cincinnati’s most popular nightspot, The Sign of the Drum, which has for many years swayed to the rythm of the New Englanders. Rapp has proved himself not only an able band leader, but a top-notch tavern keep er as well. Music fans who claim to know their bands will remember that Rapp dropped out of the public eye about three years ago. It was at that time that he opened the (See SENIOR RING, Page 4) X Industrial Engineers Apply to Ordnance It has been announced by Lt. Col. D. D. Alexander, senior in structor of the Ordnance Unit, that applications for Ordnance instruc tion will be accepted from Indus trial Engineers as well as other branches of engineering. All engineering students, except Agricultural, desiring commissions in the Ordnance Department are requested to submit applications without delay. Two Texas Girls Are Runners-Up in Race For Maid of Cotton Bonnie Beth Byler, 23, daugh ter of fi Lepanto, Arkansas, cot ton planter, was recently named Maid of Cotton in a contest an- ually conducted by the National Cotton Council. The white banners of the South’s cottoil interests will be borne during 1943 by the gray eyed blonde, who will tour the nation as an advocate of the use Nothing Eventful Happens As Aggies Observe 1943’s Coming Twas the night before the first day of 1943, and for the first time in the late history of the college 5000 Texas Aggie cadets found themselves in their holes supposed ly laboring hard in preparation for their next day’s classes. Also for the first time that the class of ’43 has been in school l!he Aggie football team was not in training for a New Year’s Day classic in one of the bowls. All was rather quite on the cam pus New Year’s eve because the majority of Aggieland was cele brating the arrival of the new year at some of the few night spots that Brazos county has spaced throughout its vast territory. Many had gotten off to an early start as they came to supper Thurs day night dressed in number ones and the seniors were getting one more fling in their civics before having- to trade them in for good. But slowly the number of men studying decreased and from the Navasota River on the east to the Brazos River on the west you could find excitement-seeking Ag gies wandering around. Within a few hours before the turn of the year there was nobody, but yet there was somebody in the halls. On the tops stoops you could hear a group of fellow Aggies playing bridge ? ? ? and enjoying the latest beverages and mixtures from the soda fountain ? ? ? They were spending a quite evening at home. On one side of the campus—the North gate, Aggies were fighting for rides as the taxis wore out an other inch of rubber on the road to the river and to the other side of the Metropolis of the county. And the noi’th gate itself was booming all night long. Pairs, trios and larger groups were just roam ing around trying to find some way to see old 1942 out and 1943 in. B«t in the end if nothing was brew ing the Aggies with the RA went dolefully back to their holes. Around the change of the year things began to happen. Fireworks were brought into play and re sounding booms could be head all over the campus. Small groups began to sing—mainly Auld Lang Syne with an occasional outburst of one of the school songs. Then one lonesome soul with a little too much would cry out rather indis tinctly—Happee (Icc) New Year! You weren’t on Canal street in New Orleans or Times Square in New York City, but at College Station where Aggies were cele brating in a simple way the turn of another notch in the 20th Cen tury. After an uneventful hour the beginning of the celebrants re turning to their rooms started. Some walking, some running, and still others crawling ? were making the trip back to their beds. Most in general were feeling like the new year, and you know the rea son why, for it “rained hard” in most places where crowds gath ered. From then on to the late hours of the morning you were awakened to be wished a happy new year by some over-energied Aggie that was straining his vocal chords. I’m sure that a good time was had by all, but the only mistake was that Friday wasn’t Sunday, and a day of a rest could not be enjoyed by all celebraters. of cotton. Runners-up to the new maid were Frances Barton, Calvert, Texas, and Ernestine Ashe of Fort Worth, named first and sec ond alternates, respectively. Miss Byler will be sent to New York for a course in modeling, and will be taught the details of the cotton industry. She will then begin a nation-wide tour in which she will model cotton fashions, and entertain members of the armed forces. Miss Byler, five feet, five inches tall, and weighing 115 pounds, is the daughter of Dr. C. E. Byler. She was graduated from the Uni versity of Arkansas in 1941. Miss Camille Anderson of Mem phis, Tenn., is the retiring Maid of Cotton. Past Yuletide Season Holds Safety Record Fatalities were fewer on the Nation’s highways during this year’s Christmas holidays, but more persons met accidental deaths in other forms than last year, re ports showed Saturday when the toll stood at 274, of whom 164 died in automobile mishaps. The total compared to 431 deaths recorded in 1941, of which 334 were traffic victims. Bolton to Make Awards at Press Banquet Friday All Members to Receive Keys, Seniors Watches; Bolton, Angel to Speak The annual Press Club banquet will be held January 7 in Sbisa Hall at 7:30. Immediately after eating, keys and other awards will be given. Dean Bolton, Dr. T. O. Walton, E. L. Angell, and other executives will make short addresses, and the awards will be made by Dean Bol ton. Bronze keys will be awarded to publications staffmen who have done one years work on any stu dent publication; a silver key for two years of service; and a gold key for the third year. Wrist watches will be awarded the eight major seniors who have been re sponsible for the success of this year’s publications. All students taking active part in any student publication are mem bers • of the Press Club and are welcome at the banquet. Accord ing to the custom set by previous banquets of the Press Club dates are not brought to the banquet except by special invitation. Naval Recruiters To Be on Campus Monday January 11 The Naval Recruiting Party, scheduled to appear on the campus January 6, will not arrive until the following Monday, January 11, Dean F. C. Bolton, dean of the college, stated yesterday, eighteen years of age will have eighteen years o fage 'will have the opportunity to join the V-l program of the Navy. Those stu dents interested in joining this branch of the service should have their enlistment papers already properly filled out before the ar rival of the naval officers on the campus. Bolton especially made mention of the fact that parental consent in writing must be wit nessed by a notary public before the signature will be valid. All papers dealing with naval enlistment may be secured at the office of Dean Bolton in the Ad ministration Building. El Paso Mother's Club Contributes To Reading Fund A $10 contribution for the Stu dent General Reading Fund from Mrs. M. L. Grady, president of the El Paso Mother’s Club of El Paso County, has' been received. This generous gift will be used toward the purchase of books that have been requested by the cadet corps and members of the college faculty. New Engineer Senior Instructor Arrives Lieutenant Colonel Richard H. Buvens, newly assigned senior in structor and professor of military science and tactics of the Corps of Engineers, arrived recently to take on his duties. Lieutenant Col onel Buvens is a graduate of New Mexico A. & M., and was recently stationed at Brownwood, according to the adjutant’s office. Senior Reception Set For Next Monday Nite Invitations to the annual Senior Reception, held each year at the home of Dr. and Mrs. T. O. Wal ton, are extended to all members of the senior class, and it is hoped that every senior will attend this annual function given by the pres ident and his wife. The date of the Senior Recep tion is set for Monday night, Jan uary 4. It will be a come-and-go affair, and seniors may drop around any time from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m., and are free to leave when they are ready. Uniform for the occasion will be number one. Seniors Allowed to Wear Practically Same Uniform Promotion Lists Being Planned as Usual; No Instructions for Other ERC Students By Tom Journeay Although next semester’s seniors will be army privates and paid as such, cadet organizations in some form will exist here and senior cadet officers will wear the usual A. M. senior cadet officer’s uniform, with pro bable slight modifications, state Colonel Maurice D. Welty, commandant. “Provided the War; Department issues no further in structions,” said Colonel Welty, “we will continue with the cadet system of controlling and disciplining the corps with a few modifications.” Promotion lists and the various commands to be given cadet officers at the start of nextf semester are being worked out now-, continued the commandant and will be released at the usual time unless officials are notified to the contrary by the War Depart ment. No further information has been received from Washington clarify ing the status of spohomores and freshmen stated F. C. Boltom dean of the college. Course Juniors Take Undecided Present military juniors will be called to active duty and re assigned here, the exact courses they will take not having been de cided yet. Planning of those courses rests in the heads of the Army Specialized Training pro gram. The Army Specialized Training Plan which will regulate calling to active duty all college reser vists and placing them most ad vantageously in special schools and colleges throughout the country for technical training has not been set up. This plan has been tenatively formulated awaiting congressional action and the information avail able on its functions leaves ‘many 0 f the society that it was essential ploints unclarified, added college jf or them as civilians after finish- McNew Speaks At Scholarship Honor Society Banquet Keith Elected President For Next Year; Latimer And Riggs Will Also Serve At the annual banquet of the Scholarship Honor Society held last evening in Sbisa hall Jack Keith was elected president of the organization for the coming year. Bob Latimer was elected vice-presi dent and Claude Riggs was elected secretary-treasurer. The officers were elected with the idea that a normal school term would exist next term here on the campus. The main speaker for the even ing was J. T. L. McNew, head of the civil engineering department, who made a short talk concerning the student’s and the civilian’s obligation to his government as the result of the vast expenditure made by the state on behalf of the student in seeking an education. McNew pointed out to the members officials. Get Pay Plus All Expenses Students who are now juniors will wear practically the same uniform cadet officers have worn in the past, although, they will be privates in the army receiving privates pay with all college ex penses, paid by the government. It is possible and probable that a number of soldiers will be de tailed here for technical training, these men to be taken from the ranks of enlisted men already in the army. After the completion of the next semester’s work, seniors will be sent to a replacement training center and thence to an officer can didate school from which they will receive commissions. Since the War Department made the statement that January 1 they would release further information on the Army Specialized Training Plan, college authorities expect de ing their education to take part and do what’s expected of them as they take their place in society and serve as useful citizens. Dean Marsteller of the school of veterinary medicine also spoke at the banquet which was presided over by Bill Galloway, retiring president of the society. Two Aggies Taken Into Naval Air Corps Landon Nelson Roberts and Woodrow Behannon have been se lected for training as Naval Avia tion Cadets and will be ordered to active duty shortly. When ordered to active duty, they will report to the U. S. Navy Pre-Flight School, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, for three months of physical conditioning, instruction in naval essentials, military drill and ground school subjects. After completing this finite instructions immediately, and j course, they will be sent to one of these will be released to the press | the Navy’s numerous reserve bases upon receipt. for primary flight training. 4 IJfe In Czechoslovakia, China Camp Border In Library Movies The most important of the mov ies to be shown Saturday night in the Ashbury Browsing Room of the Library at 7:15 and 8:45 is new release, Our Western Front. With the gallantry of Russia every day before us, we are apt to for- et the long standing super-human ^esistence of China, the ally stand- r between us and Japan. The 1 • ificance of China cannot be overestimated. In 193 9 Freda Utley, after visit- the front and the war torn inS g 0 f China and talking to the ave ^ t and the low among the Sdnese people, concluded in her boTk China V- millions should be “then by Japan or in a long Strug- 1 to resist her, the world would f G faced by a military menace be- ides which the might of Germany would pale to insignificance.” In this film of China at war (and China at war has meant for al most six years the struggle of all her people as well as her sol diers) we come upon incredible scenes of suffering. With bombs raining upon them in repeated “If China’s militarized, raids every day, with the bodies of babies multilated by the (fury from the skies, or dead of starvation, with thousands homeless and crowding the city streets, Chin ese civilians continue not only to endure but to exert their efforts in war industry. Bulwarked as we are in a pow erful industrial nation with every intricate machine known to man, available to us, it is difficult to realize that millions of Chinese are making materials of war by the old, painstaking, hand methods. This ancient, picturesque civiliza tion has iron as well as grace in its character. One day its people see their lovely homes hanging (See CZECH LIFE, Page 4) CORRECTION Mrs. Nancy Swinford will be presented on Town Hall on Tuesday evening, Jan uary 5, instead of on the first as previously announc ed through error in the Bat talion.