Atlanta Daily World

Defense Advisor Evans Addresses A. U. Students

By ADDIE SCOTT

James C. Evans, adviser to Secretary of Defense Forrestal addressed a large audience of students and citizens in Davage auditorium Thursday morning.

Focusing his address upon the fields of force found in contemporary culture, Mr. Evans clarified his presence on the Atlanta university campus by stating that he was not here to advocate a strong army, navy and airforce or to apologize for himself or anyone else.

"We are steering sharply toward the European way of a large standing army and we are not preparing for war," Evans pointed out. "We are hopeful of setting up a defence machine that will stand against any aggressor."

Soon 30,000 youths per month will be drafted; of these, 3,000 per month will be Negroes and 75 per cent of these Negroes will be from the South Mr. Evans said.

KNOCKING AT DOOR

The speaker mentioned that when he went into defense service he was told that the Negroes were not needed in the air force. But the dominant force in Europe became the air force and not long after the bombers admitted their only source of sure conscientious coverage was the 332nd.

"The metamorphosis in this field is surprising; now defense authorities are knocking on the door of the Negroes," the speaker said.

"But," Mr. Evans quickly asked, "What have we to offer? Of one million Negroes, half of them are unable to read and write. Remedial training program of military training makes it possible to teach the youth in 12 weeks what he was not able to learn during 12 years of school status."

The last half of the speaker's talk was opened to the audience for questions and answers.

Mr. Evans was asked: What steps have been taken for integration of Negroes into the armed forces?

He answered: "That is the 64 dollar question. Army plans are slightly in front of civilian plans and this is bad because it makes for a militaristic nation. I am not convinced that we as Negroes are convinced that we want it."

The speaker was also asked: Are the 100 Negroes per day that will be drafted to enter the army as Negro soldiers or as American soldiers?

He answered: "Both. There will be a much nearer approach to equality in uniform than without it."