Gen. Mark Clark told Louisiana State University graduates Tuesday communism seeks to destroy everything they had been taught at the university.
Clark, president of The Citadel Military College in Charleston, S. C, said in a commencement address "militant and Godless lommunism" is the nation's and the world's greatest threat.
He watched the Communists, he said, while in Austria after World War II.
"They were in there to loot," tie said, "to propagandize, and to get everything they could."
He said he spent two years with the Communist commanding officer trying to get the Russian at least to make some efforts to restore Austria to independence, but without success.
The United States should negotiate with Russia, he said, "if we must negotiate, from aj position of extreme strength.! it must be crystal clear that if we must fight—and God forbid that we do it again—we will."
He said youth, the most precious asset of the nation, is also a prime target of communism.
"Almost every time there are riots over the world, and specifically in recent Panama riots, there are students involved."
Communist leaders, he said, have said again and again if they could control a nation's youth they could eventually get control of the nation.
Clark gained distinction as an Army commander during World War II.
LSU presented degrees to 525 students at the annual exercises.
President John A. Hunter conferred doctoral degrees upon 22 students in the gym-auditorium ceremony.
The university has more than 13,000 students on the main campus here. With its other campuses in New Orleans and Alexandria, LSU has a total enrollment of over 18,000 students.
New Orleans students receiving degrees were:
