Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-07-06
Eastland Attacks
Negro Soldiers
AS Big Failure
GALLERIES CHORTLE WHEN
MISSISSIPPIAN SAYS HE'S
NOT PREJUDICED

was made by Sen. Eastland of
Mississippi in the course of his
filibuster against the FEPC last
week. He said his information came
from high ranking American gen
erals while he was on tour of
Europe with a group of Congress
men.
Among his statements were that
"Negro soldiers have disgraced the
flag of their country" "The con-
duct of the Negro soldier in Europe,
the soldier to whom it is proposed
to give preference, has caused the
United States to lose prestige; he
has caused hatred for our country
and for our people" "He will not
fight. He will not work"
Concerning the 92nd Division,
Eastland said chat division had the
best equipment of any division in
the American Army; it had the best
training of any division in the
American Army. For political rea-
sons.-and when say political rea-
sons quote American generals
they were forced to commission
some Negro officers for that divi-
sion. In not one instance, Mr..
President, could they place Negro
officer in a responsible position.
In not one instance could they
place upon his shoulders the re-
sponsibility of combat, and l tell
you now, Mr.. President, that
division could not be placed in an
important position in the line. Had
we depended upon it, the German
Army would have gone South to the
toe of the Italian boot and destroyed
our armies in Europe. The Negro
soldier was an utter and dismal
failure in combat in Europe. When
l make that statement, it is not
from prejudice. 1 am not prejudiced
against the Negro"
The galleries broke out into sar-
castle laughter at this point, and
the president of the Senate threat
ened to clear the galleries unless
order was maintained.
Eastland, still quoting American
generals he said, stated that in
Normandy it was necessary to dis
arm a good many Negro soldiers
because they would use their fire.
arms to go into rural farm houses,
call out "Boche, Boche" as if they
were looking for Germans, then
hold the men in the yard while
others went inside to rape the
women.
To emphasize how bad the Negro
was reported to him, Eastland
stated that American Negroes were
responsible for q of 33 rape cases
from the date of the invasion until
May of this year, while during 4
years of German occupation, there
were only two cases of criminal as
sault upon the French population
by the Germans.
"In Europe" said Eastland, "the
Negro has crossed the color line.
He has gone with white girls of the
very lowest caliber." He said the
white soldiers feel very keenly
about this fact.
In the midst of his TRADE, Sen.
Wayne Morse of Oregon secured
permission to insert in the Record
an article from the morning paper
telling of Negro troops wiping out
the Japs on the Marianas in the
Pacific.
Further quoting American gen.
erals, Eastland said: "In Europe
Negro soldiers are used principally
as service troops behind the lines,
and I state now, on the authority
of many American officers, that
they were lazy; that they would
not work; that it was a mistake to
send them to Europe, and further
more, that they should be returned
from Europe and sent to the Pacific,
where there are races of color. /
make this assertion by virtue of
statements made by a number of
high-ranking American generals"
Sen. Dennis Chavez ID. of New
Mexico) intended to obtain the
floor on Saturday to answer the
charges of Eastland against the
American Negro soldier by quoting
the many commentators of Amer
lean generals concerning Negro
troops and their work and part in
the victory in Europe.