Tass Lampoons Marines for ‘Wild Carousing’

The official news agency Tass on Saturday accused members of the Marine security guards at the U.S. Embassy of “wild carousing” with women, liquor, drugs and pornographic films at American facilities here.

The accusations appeared two days before Secretary of State George P. Shultz (a Marine captain in World War II) is to arrive for high-level discussions on arms control.

The Tass commentary was the latest Soviet put-down of allegations that Moscow beauties seduced the Marines who later allowed KGB agents into the most secret areas of the U.S. chancery.

Its mocking tone was similar to that of Foreign Ministry spokesman Gennady I. Gerasimov when he said that angry U.S. protests over KGB seduction of the guards only made him smile.

Two of the Marines--Sgt. Clayton J. Lonetree and Cpl. Arnold Bracy--have been accused of espionage in a sex-and-spying scandal that erupted earlier this year. Two others, Staff Sgt. Robert S. Stufflebeam and Sgt. John Joseph Weirick, have been detained for alleged fraternization with Soviet women, and the latter is also suspected of aiding the KGB at the U.S. Consulate in Leningrad.

Employing sarcasm to make its point, the Tass article envisioned a Marine walking guard duty one night:

“An enticing woman’s whisper came rustling to him out of the dark: ‘Hey, buddy, want some love in return for the key to the ambassador’s safe?’

“The Russian beauty was seductively appealing and the corporal . . . capitulated.”

The article said that the Marines lured women into liaisons in the embassy compound, in nearby American country homes known as dachas and even at Spaso House, residence of the American ambassador.

“Many an adventuress slipped in across a fence with the help of resourceful Marines, and many then ran away in torn clothes, with their bodies bruised,” the article said.

“Damsels who were administered narcotics after being treated to pornographic films and lots of booze at the country house in Tarasovka did not manage to avoid being outraged as well,” Tass charged.

The Marines have such a reputation as “drunken Yankee brawlers” in several of their favorite bars and restaurants, the article said, that expensive mirrors must be protected during their visits.

Tass listed several incidents involving Marines. It accused them of driving drunk in Red Square and of harassing Muscovites on the street, tearing down Soviet flags and scuffling in bars.

“High on drugs, they got onto the embassy’s roof and emptied a basket with scraps of classified diplomatic papers onto militiamen (police) at the gate down below,” the article added.

“Marines’ escapades in Moscow . . . could fill volumes,” Tass concluded.