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diff --git a/16598.txt b/16598.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2e8b3a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/16598.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13356 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the American Negro in the Great +World War, by W. Allison Sweeney + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: History of the American Negro in the Great World War + His Splendid Record in the Battle Zones of Europe; Including + a Resume of His Past Services to his Country in the Wars + of the Revolution, of 1812, the War of Rebellion, the + Indian Wars on the Frontier, the Spanish-American War, and + the Late Imbroglio With Mexico + +Author: W. Allison Sweeney + +Release Date: August 26, 2005 [EBook #16598] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NEGRO IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR *** + + + + +Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +[Illustration: W. Allison Sweeney] + +HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN NEGRO IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR + +HIS SPLENDID RECORD IN THE BATTLE ZONES OF EUROPE + +INCLUDING A RESUME OF HIS PAST SERVICES TO HIS COUNTRY IN THE WARS OF +THE REVOLUTION, OF 1812, THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, THE INDIAN WARS ON +THE FRONTIER, THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, AND THE LATE IMBROGLIO WITH +MEXICO. + +BY + +W. ALLISON SWEENEY CONTRIBUTING EDITOR OF THE CHICAGO DEFENDER. + +PROFUSELY AND BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED + + + +1919 + + + +THIS HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN NEGRO IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR IS REINFORCED +BY THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT INCLUDING TRIBUTES FROM +FRENCH AND AMERICAN COMMANDERS + + * * * * * + +SPOKEN AND WRITTEN WORDS BY + +J. E. MORELAND INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY Y.M.C.A. + +ROBERT SENGSTACKE ABBOTT EDITOR CHICAGO DEFENDER + +RALPH TYLER EX-THIRD AUDITOR THE NAVY + +JULIUS ROSENWALD PHILANTHROPIST + +COLONEL CHARLES YOUNG UNITED STATES ARMY + +WILLIS O. TYLER MEMBER LOS ANGELES BAR + +CAPT. R.P. ROOTS VETERAN SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR + + * * * * * + +WITH A COMPLETE SUMMARY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE 370th "OLD EIGHTH" IN +THE WORLD WAR FROM THE COUNTRY'S CALL TO THE DAY OF ITS MUSTERING OUT + +BY CAPT. JOHN H. PATTON, ADJUTANT + + + + + +HISTORY + +OF THE + +AMERICAN NEGRO + +IN THE + +GREAT WORLD WAR + + * * * * * + +CONTENTS + +Chapter I. SPIRITUAL EMANCIPATION OF NATIONS. + +THE MARCH OF CIVILIZATION--WORLD SHOCKS TO STIR THE WOULD HEART--FALSE +DOCTRINES OF THE HUN--THE IRON HAND CONCEALED--THE WORLD BEGINS TO +AWAKEN--GERMAN DESIGNS REVEALED--RUMBLINGS IN ADVANCE OF THE +STORM--TRAGEDY THAT HASTENED THE DAY--TOLSTOY'S PROPHECY--VINDICATION OF +NEGRO FAITH IN PROMISES OF THE LORD--DAWN OF FREEDOM FOR ALL RACES + +Chapter II. HANDWRITING ON THE WALL. + +LIKENED TO BELSHAZZER--THE KAISER'S FEASTS--IN HIS HEART BARBARIC PRIDE +OF THE POTENTATES OF OLD--GERMAN MADNESS FOR WAR--INSOLENT +DEMANDS--FORTY-EIGHT HOURS TO PREVENT A WORLD WAR--COMMENT OF STATESMEN +AND LEADERS--THE WAR STARTS--ITALY BREAKS HER ALLIANCE--GERMANIC POWERS +WEIGHED AND FOUND WANTING--SPIRIT WINS OVER MATERIALISM--CIVILIZATION'S +LAMP DIMMED BUT NOT DARKENED + +Chapter III. MILITARISM AND AUTOCRACY DOOMED. + +GERMANY'S MACHINE--HER SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVOR TO MOLD SOLDIERS--INFLUENCE +ON THOUGHT AND LIVES OF THE PEOPLE--MILITARISM IN THE HOME--THE STATUS +OF WOMAN--FALSE THEORIES AND FALSE GODS--THE SYSTEM ORDAINED TO +PERISH--WAR'S SHOCKS--AMERICA INCLINES TO NEUTRALITY--GERMAN AND FRENCH +TREATMENT OF NEUTRALS CONTRASTED--EXPERIENCES OF AMERICANS ABROAD AND +ENROUTE HOME--STATUE OF LIBERTY TAKES ON NEW BEAUTY--BLOOD OF NEGRO AND +WHITE TO FLOW + +Chapter IV. Awakening of America. + +President Clings to Neutrality--Monroe Doctrine and Washington's +Warning--German Crimes and German Victories--Cardinal Mercier's +Letter--Military Operations--First Submarine Activities--The Lusitania +Outrage--Exchange of Notes--United States Aroused--Role of Passive +Onlooker Becomes Irksome--First Modification of Principles of Washington +and Monroe--Our Destiny Looms + +Chapter V. Huns Sweeping Westward. + +Toward Shores of Atlantic--Spread Ruin and Devastation--Capitals of +Civilization Alarmed--Activities of Spies--Apologies and Lies--German +Arms Winning--Gain Time to Forge New Weapons--Few Victories for +Allies--Roumania Crushed--Incident of U-53 + +Chapter VI. The Hour and The Man. + +A Beacon Among the Years--Trying Period for President Wilson--Germany +Continues Dilatory Tactics--Peace Efforts Fail--All Honorable Means +Exhausted--Patience Ceases to be a Virtue--Enemy Abandons All +Subterfuges--Unrestricted Submarine Warfare--German Intrigues with +Mexico--The Zimmerman Note--America Seizes the Sword--War is +Declared--Pershing Goes Abroad--First Troops Sail--War Measures--War +Operations + +Chapter VII. Negroes Respond to the Call. + +Swift and Unhalting Array--Few Permitted to Volunteer--Only National +Guard Accepted--No New Units Formed--Selective Draft Their +Opportunity--Partial Division of Guardsmen--Complete Division of +Selectives--Many in Training--Enter Many Branches of Service--Negro +Nurses Authorized--Negro Y.M.C.A. Workers--Negro War +Correspondent--Negro Assistant to Secretary of War--Training Camp for +Negro Officers First Time in Artillery--Complete Racial Segregation + +Chapter VIII. Recrudescence of South's Intolerance. + +Confronted by Racial Prejudice--Splendid Attitude of Negro Shamed +It--Kept out of Navy--Only One Percent of Navy Personnel +Negroes--Modified Marines Contemplated--Few Have Petty Officers' +Grades--Separate Ships Proposed--Negro Efficiency in Navy--Material for +"Black Ships"--Navy Opens Door to Negro Mechanics + +Chapter IX. Previous Wars in Which Negro Figured. + +Shot Heard Around the World--Crispus Attucks--Slave Leads Sons of +Freedom--The Boston Massacre--Anniversary Kept for Years--William Nell, +Historian--3,000 Negroes in Washington's Forces--A Stirring +History--Negro Woman Soldier--Border Indian Wars--Negro Heroes + +Chapter X. From Lexington to Carrizal. + +Negro in War of 1812--Incident of the Chesapeake--Battle of Lake +Erie--Perry's Fighters 10 Percent Negroes--Incident of the "Governor +Tompkins"--Colonists Form Negro Regiments--Defenders of New +Orleans--Andrew Jackson's Tribute--Negroes in Mexican and Civil Wars--In +the Spanish-American War--Negroes in the Philippines--Heroes of +Carrizal--General Butler's Tribute to Negroes--Wendell Phillips on +Toussaint L'Ouverture + +Chapter XI. Hour of His Nation's Peril. + +Negro's Patriotic Attitude--Selective Draft in Effect--Features and +Results--Bold Reliance on Faith in People--No Color Line +Drawn--Distribution of Registrants by States--Negro and White +Registrations Compared--Negro Percentages Higher--Claimed Fewer +Exemptions--Inductions by States--Better Physically than Whites--Tables, +Facts and Figures + +Chapter XII. Negro Slackers and Pacifists Unknown. + +Such Words not in his Vocabulary--Desertions Explained--General Crowder +Exonerates Negro--No Willful Delinquency--Strenuous Efforts to Meet +Regulations--No "Conscientious Objectors"--No Draft Evaders or +Resisters--Negro's Devotion Sublime--Justifies His Freedom--Forgets His +Sorrows--Rises Above His Wrongs--Testimony of Local Boards--German +Propaganda Wasted--A New Americanism + +Chapter XIII. Roster of Negro Officers. + +Commissioned at Fort Des Moines--Only Exclusive Negro Training +Camp--Mostly from Civilian Life--Names, Rank and Residence + +Chapter XIV. Across Dividing Seas. + +Black Thousands Assemble--Soldiers of Liberty--Severing Home Ties--Man's +Work Must be Done--First Negroes in France--Meeting with French +Colonials--Early History of 15th New York--They Sail Away--Become French +Fighting Men--Hold 20 Percent of American Lines--Terror to Germans--Only +Barrier Between Boche and Paris--Imperishable Record of New +Yorkers--Turning Point of War + +Chapter XV. Over There. + +Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts--The Tiger's Cubs--Negro First to Get +Palm--Johnson's Graphic Story--Smashes the Germans--Irvin Cobb's +Tribute--Christian and Mohammedan Negroes Pals--Valor of 93rd +Division--Laughter in Face of Death--Negro and Poilu Happy +Together--Butte de Mesnil--Valiant and Humorous Elmer McCowin--Winning +War Crosses--Verdict of the French--The Negro's Faith + +CHAPTER XVI. THROUGH HELL AND SUFFERING. + +COLORED OFFICERS MAKE GOOD--WONDERFUL RECORD OF THE 8TH ILLINOIS--"BLACK +DEVILS" WIN DECORATIONS GALORE--TRIBUTE OF FRENCH COMMANDER--HIS +FAREWELL TO PRAIRIE FIGHTERS--THEY FOUGHT AFTER WAR WAS OVER--HARD TO +STOP THEM--INDIVIDUAL DEEDS OF HEROISM--THEIR DEAD, THEIR WOUNDED AND +SUFFERING--A POEM + +CHAPTER XVII. NARRATIVE OF AN OFFICER. + +SPECIAL ARTICLE BY CAPTAIN JOHN H. PATTON, ADJUTANT OF 8TH +ILLINOIS--SUMMARIZES OPERATIONS OF THE REGIMENT--FROM FIRST CALL TO +MUSTERING OUT--AN EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT--IN TRAINING CAMPS, AT SEA, IN +FRANCE--SERVICE IN ARGONNE FOREST--MANY OTHER ENGAGEMENTS--A THRILLING +RECORD--BATTALION OPERATIONS IN DETAIL--SPECIAL MENTION OF COMPANIES AND +INDIVIDUALS + +CHAPTER XVIII. BLOOD OF BLACK AND WHITE IN ONE RIVULET. + +LINCOLN'S PROPHETIC WORDS--NEGROES ALONGSIDE BEST SOLDIERS IN THE +WORLD--HOLD THEIR OWN--THE 372ND REGIMENT--BRIGADED WITH VETERANS OF THE +MARNE--FAMOUS "RED HAND" DIVISION--OCCUPY HILL 304 AT VERDUN--NINE DAYS +BATTLE IN "BLOODY ARGONNE"--ADMIRATION OF THE FRENCH--CONSPICUOUS +COMPONENTS OF 372ND--CHRONOLOGY OF SERVICE + +CHAPTER XIX. COMRADES ON THE MARCH--BROTHERS IN THE SLEEP OF DEATH. + +POLICY OF SUBSTITUTING WHITE OFFICERS--INJUSTICE TO CAPABLE +NEGROES--DISAPPOINTMENT BUT NO OPEN RESENTMENT--SHOWED THEMSELVES +SOLDIERS--INTENSER FIGHTING SPIRIT AROUSED--RACE FORGOTTEN IN PERILS OF +WAR--BOTH WHITES AND BLACKS GENEROUS--AFFECTION BETWEEN OFFICERS AND +MEN--NEGROES PREFERRED DEATH TO CAPTIVITY--OUTSTANDING HEROES OF 371ST +AND 372ND--WINNERS OF CROSSES + +CHAPTER XX. MID SHOT AND SHELL. + +IN TRENCH AND VALLEY--THE OPEN PLAIN--ON MOUNTAIN TOP--IN NO MAN'S +LAND--TWO CLASSES OF NEGRO SOLDIERS CONSIDERED--TRAINED GUARDSMEN AND +SELECTIVES--GALLANT 92ND DIVISION--RACE CAN BE PROUD OF IT--HAD SIX +HUNDRED NEGRO OFFICERS--SETS AT REST ALL DOUBTS--OPERATIONS OF THE +DIVISION--AT PONT A MOUSSON--GREAT BATTLE OF METZ--SOME +REFLECTIONS--CASUALTIES CONSIDERED + +CHAPTER XXI. THE LONG, LONG TRAIL. + +OPERATIONS OF 368TH INFANTRY--NEGROES FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MARYLAND AND +SOUTH--IN ARGONNE HELL--DEFEAT IRON CROSS VETERANS--VALIANT PERSONAL +EXPLOITS--LIEUTENANT ROBERT CAMPBELL--PRIVATE JOHN BAKER--OPERATIONS OF +367TH INFANTRY--"MOSS'S BUFFALOES"--365TH AND 366TH REGIMENTS--THE GREAT +DIVIDE--THEIR SOULS ARE MARCHING ON--PRAISED BY PERSHING--SOME CITATIONS + +Chapter XXII. Glory That Wont Come Off. + +167th First Negro Artillery Brigade--"Like Veterans" said +Pershing--First Artillery to be Motorized--Record by Dates--Selected +for Lorraine Campaign--Best Educated Negroes in American Forces--Always +Stood by Their Guns--Chaplain's Estimate--Left Splendid +Impression--Testimony of French Mayors--Christian Behavior--Soldierly +Qualities + +Chapter XXIII. Nor Storied Urn, Nor Mounting Shaft. + +Glory not all Spectacular--Brave Forces Behind the Lines--325th Field +Signal Battalion--Composed of Young Negroes--See Real Fighting--Suffer +Casualties--An Exciting Incident--Colored Signal Battalion a +Success--Ralph Tyler's Stories--Burial of Negro Soldier at Sea--More +Incidents of Negro Valor--A Word from Charles M. Schwab + +Chapter XXIV. Those Who Never Will Return. + +A Study of War--Its Compensations and Benefits--Its Ravages and +Debasements--Burdens Fall upon the Weak--Toll of Disease--Negroes +Singularly Healthy--Negroes Killed in Battle--Deaths from Wounds and +Other Causes--Remarkable Physical Stamina of Race--Housekeeping in +Khaki--Healthiest War in History--Increased Regard for Mothers--An Ideal +for Child Minds--Morale and Propaganda + +Chapter XXV. Quiet Heroes of the Brawny Arm. + +Negro Stevedore, Pioneer and Labor Units--Swung the Axe and Turned the +Wheel--They were Indispensable--Everywhere in France--Hewers of Wood, +Drawers of Water--Numbers and Designations of Units--Acquired Splendid +Reputation--Contests and Awards--Pride in their Service--Measured up to +Military Standards--Lester Waltons Appreciation--Ella Wheeler Wilcox's +Poetic Tribute + +Chapter XXVI. Unselfish Workers in the Vineyard. + +Mitigated the Horrors of War--At the Front, Behind the Lines, at +Home--Circle for Negro War Relief--Addressed and Praised by Roosevelt--A +Notable Gathering--Colored Y.M.C.A. Work--Unsullied Record of +Achievement--How the "Y" Conducted Business--Secretaries all +Specialists--Negro Women in "Y" Work--Valor of a Non-combatant + +Chapter XXVII. Negro in Army Personnel. + +His Mechanical Ability Required--Skilled at Special Trades--Victory +Depends upon Technical Workers--Vast Range of Occupation--Negro Makes +Good Showing--Percentages of White and Colored--Figures for General +Service + +Chapter XXVIII. The Knockout Blow. + +Woodrow Wilson, an Estimate--His Place in History--Last of Great +Trio--Washington, Lincoln, Wilson--Upholds Decency, Humanity, +Liberty--Recapitulation of Year 1918--Closing Incidents of War + +Chapter XXIX. Homecoming Heroes. New York Greets Her Own--Ecstatic Day +for Old 15th--Whites and Blacks do Honors--A Monster Demonstration--Many +Dignitaries Review Troops--Parade of Martial Pomp--Cheers, Music, +Flowers and Feasting--"Hayward's Scrapping Babies"--Officers Share +Glory--Then Came Henry Johnson--Similar Scenes Elsewhere + +Chapter XXX. Reconstruction and the Negro. By Julius Rosenwald, +President Sears, Roebuck & Co, and Trustee of Tuskegee Institute--A Plea +for Industrial Opportunity for the Negro--Tribute to Negro as Soldier +and Civilian--Duty of Whites Pointed Out--Business Leader and +Philanthropist Sounds Keynote + +Chapter XXXI. The Other Fellow's Burden. An Emancipation Day Appeal for +Justice--By W. Allison Sweeney + +Chapter XXXII. An Interpolation. Held--By Distinguished Thinkers and +Writers, That the Negro Soldier Should be Given a Chance for Promotion +as Well as a Chance to Die. Why--White Officers over Negro Soldiers? + +Chapter XXXIII. The New Negro and the New America. The Old Order +Changeth, yielding place to new. Through the Arbitrament of war, behold +a new and better America! a new and girded negro! "The Watches of the +night have PASSED!" "The Watches Of the day BEGIN!" + +FOREWORD + +He was a red headed messenger boy and he handed me a letter in a NILE +GREEN ENVELOPE, and this is what I read: + +Dear Mr. Sweeney: + +When on the 25th of March the last instalment of the MSS of the "History +of the American Negro in the Great World War" was returned to us from +your hands, bearing the stamp of your approval as to its historic +accuracy; the wisdom and fairness of the reflections and recommendations +of the corps of compilers placed at your service, giving you full +authority to review the result of their labors, your obligation to the +publishers ceased. + +The transaction between us, a purely business one, had in every +particular upon your part been complied with. From thenceforward, as far +as you were obligated to the publishers, this History; what it is; what +it stands for; how it will be rated by the reading masses--should be, +and concretely, by your own people you so worthily represent and are +today their most fearless and eloquent champion, is, as far as any +obligation you may have been under to us, not required of you to say. + +Nevertheless, regardless of past business relations now at an end, have +you not an opinion directly of the finished work? A word to say; the +growth of which you have marked from its first instalment to its last? + +-The Publishers- + + * * * * * + +HAVE I-- + +A word to say? And of this fine book? + +THE BEST HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN NEGRO IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR, THAT AS +YET HAS BEEN WRITTEN OR WILL BE FOR YEARS TO COME? + + * * * * * + +DOES-- + +The rose in bud respond to the wooing breath of the mornings of June? + +IS-- + +The whistle of robin red breast clearer and more exultant, as its +watchful gaze, bearing in its inscrutable depths the mystery of all the +centuries; the Omniscience of DIVINITY, discovers a cherry tree bending +to-- + +"The green grass" + +from the weight of its blood red fruit? + + * * * * * + +DOES-- + +The nightingale respond to its mate; caroling its amatory challenge from +afar; across brake and dale and glen; beyond a + +"Dim old forest" the earth bathed in the silver light of the harvest +moon! + + * * * * * + +EVEN SO-- + +And for the same reason which the wisest of us cannot explain, that the +rose, the robin and nightingale respond to the lure that invites, the +zephyrs that caress, I find myself moved to say not only a word--a few, +but many, of praise and commendation of this book; the finished work, so +graciously and so quickly submitted for my inspection by the publishers. + +THERE ARE-- + +Books and books; histories and histories, treatise after treatise; +covering every realm of speculative investigation; every field of fact +and fancy; of inspiration and deed, past and present, that in this 20th +century of haste and bustle, of miraculous mechanical equipment, are +born daily and die as quickly. But there are also books, that like some +men marked before their birth for a place amongst the "Seats of the +MIGHTY"; an association with the IMMORTALS, that + + "Were not born to die." + +This book seems of that glorious company. + + * * * * * + +IN THE-- + +Spiritualized humanity that broadened the vision and inspired the pens +of the devoted corps of writers, responding to my suggestions and +oversight in its preparation; the getting together of data and facts, is +reflected the incoming of a NEW AND BROADER CHARITY--a stranger in our +midst--of glimpse and measurement of the Negro. Beyond the written word +of the text, the reader is gripped with a certain FELT but unprinted +power of suggestion, a sense of the nation's crime against him; the +Negro, stretching back through the centuries; the shame and humiliation +that is at last overtaking it, that has not been born of the "Print +Shops" since the sainted LINCOLN went his way, leaving behind him a +trail of glory, shining like the sun; in the path of which, freed +through the mandate of his great soul, MARCHED FOUR MILLION NEGROES, now +swollen to twelve, their story, the saddest epic of the ages, of whom +and in behalf of whom their children; the generation now and those to +come, this History was collated and arranged. It is an EVANGEL +proclaiming to the world, their unsullied patriotism; their rapid fire +loyalty, that through all the years of the nation's life, has never +flickered-- + + "Has burned and burned Forever the same", + +from Lexington to the cactus groves of Mexico; in the slaughter hells of +Europe; over fields and upon spots where, in the centuries gone, the +legions of Caesar, of Hannibal and Attila, of Charlemagne and Napoleon +had fought and bled, and perished! Striding "Breast forward" beneath the +Stars and Stripes as this History crowds them on your gaze, through the +dust of empires and kingdoms that; before the CHRIST walked the earth; +before Christianity had its birth, wielded the sceptres of power when +civilization was young, but which are now but vanishing traditions. + +You are thrilled! History nor story affords no picture more inspiring. + +MAKING DUE ALLOWANCE-- + +For its nearness to the living and dead, whose heroic and transcendant +achievements on the battle spots of the great war secured for them a +distinction and fame that will endure until-- + + "The records of valor decay", + +it is a most notable publication, quite worthy to be draped in the robes +that distinguishes History from narrative; from "a tale that is told"; a +story for the entertainment of the moment. + +AS INTERPOLATED-- + +By the writers of its text; read between the lines of their written +words; it is a History; not alone of the American Negro on the "tented +field"; the bloody trenches of France and Belgium, it is also a History +and an arraignment, a warning and a prophecy, looking backwards and +forward, the Negro being the objective focus, of many things. + +IT PRESENTS-- + +For the readers retrospection, as vividly as painted on a canvas, a +phantasmagoric procession of past events, and of those to come in the +travail of the Negro; commencing with the sailing of the first "Slaver's +Ship" for the shores of the "New World", jammed fore and aft, from deck +to hold, with its cargo of human beings, to the conclusion of the great +war in which, individually and in units he wrote his name in +imperishable characters, and high on the scroll on which are inscribed +the story of those, who, in their lives wrought for RIGHT and, passing, +died for MEN! For a flag; beneath and within its folds his welcome has +been measured and parsimonious;--a country; the construing and +application of its laws and remedies as applied to him, has inflicted +intolerable INJUSTICE: Has persecuted more often than blessed. And so +and thus, its perusal finished, its pages closed and laid aside, you are +shaken and swayed in your feelings, even as a tree, bent and riven +before the march and sweep of a mighty hurricane. + + * * * * * + +LOOKING BACKWARDS-- + +The spell of the book strong upon you, you see in your mind's eye, +thousands of plantations covering a fourth of a continent of a new and +virgin land. The toilers "Black Folk"; men, women and children--SLAVES! + + * * * * * + +YOU HEAR-- + +The crack of the "driver's" lash; the sullen bay of pursuing hounds. + + * * * * * + +JUST OVER YONDER-- + +Is the "Auction Block". You hear the moans and screams of mothers torn +from their offspring. You see them driven away, herded like cattle, +chained like convicts, sold to "master's" in the "low lands", to toil-- + +"Midst the cotton and the cane." + + +YOU LISTEN-- + +Sounding far off, faint at first, growing louder each second, you hear +the beat of drums; the bugle's blast, sounding to arms; You see great +armies, moving hitherward and thitherward. Over one flies the Stars and +Stripes, over the other the Stars and Bars; a nation in arms! Brother +against brother! + + * * * * * + +YOU LOOK-- + +And lo, swinging past are many Black men; garbed in "Blue", keeping step +to the music of the Union. You see them fall and die, at Fort Pillow, +Fort Wagner, Petersburg, the Wilderness, Honey Hill--SLAUGHTERED! Above +the din; the boom of cannon, the rattle of small arms, the groans of the +wounded and dying, you hear the shout of one, as shattered and maimed he +is being borne from the field; "BOYS, THE OLD FLAG NEVER TOUCHED THE +GROUND!" + + * * * * * + +THE SCENE SHIFTS-- + +Fifty years have passed. You hear the clamor, the murmur and shouts of +gathering mobs. You see Black men and women hanging by their necks to +lamp posts, from the limbs of trees; in lonely spots--DEAD! You see +smoke curling upwards from BURNING HOMES! There are piles of cinders +and--DEAD MENS BONES! + + * * * * * + +NEARING ITS END-- + +The procession sweeps on. Staring you in the face; hailing from East, +West, North and South are banners; held aloft by unseen hands, bearing +on them--the quintessence of AMERICA'S INGRATITUDE,--these devices: + + "For American Negroes: + JIM CROW steam and trolley cars; + JIM CROW resident districts; + JIM CROW amen corners; + JIM CROW seats in theatres; + JIM CROW corners in cemeteries." + +YOU MUTTER-- + +"Are these indignities to CONTINUE? Is God DEAD?" + + * * * * * + +COMES-- + +A voice. You listen! + + "WHEREFORE hear the word of the lord-- + "THE days of thy mourning shall be ended-- + "VIOLENCE shall no more be heard in the land-- + "NEITHER sorrow nor crying-- + "FOR the former things have passed away-- + "BEHOLD I make all things new-- + "ARISE, shine; for thy light has come. + + * * * * * + +HEREIN-- + +Lies the strength and worth of this unusual book, well and deservingly +named: A History of the American Negro in the Great World War. Beyond +merely recounting that story; than which there has been nothing finer or +more inspiring since the long away centuries when the chivalry of the +Middle Ages, in nodding plume and lance in rest, battled for the Holy +Sepulchre, it brings to the Negro of America a message of cheer and +reassurance. A sign, couched in flaming characters for all men to see, +appealing to the spiritualized divination of the age, proclaiming that +God is NOT DEAD! That a NEW day is dawning; HAS dawned for the Negro in +America. A NEW liberty; broader and BETTER. A NEW Justice, unshaded by +the spectre of: "Previous condition!" That the unpaid toil of thirty +decades of African slavery in America is at last to be liquidated. That +the dead of our people, upon behalf of this land that it might have a +BIRTH, and having it might not PERISH FROM THE EARTH, did not die in +vain. That, in their passage from earth, heroes--MARTYRS--in a +superlative sense they were seen and marked of the Father; were accorded +a place of record in the pages of the great WHITE BOOK with golden +seals, in the up worlds; above the stars and beyond the flaming suns. + +IT IS A HISTORY-- + +That will be read with instruction and benefit by thousands of whites, +but, and mark well this suggestion, it is one that should be OWNED AND +READ BY EVERY NEGRO IN THE LAND. + + * * * * * + +TYPOGRAPHICALLY-- + +Mechanically; that is to say, in those features that reflect the +finished artistic achievement of the Print, Picture and Binding art; as +seen in the bold clear type of its text, its striking and beautiful +illustrations, its illuminating title heads of division and chapter; +indicating at a glance the information to follow; the whole appealing to +the aesthetic; the sticklers for the rare and beautiful; not overlooking +its superb binding, it is most pleasing to the sight, and worthy of the +title it bears. + +[Illustration: signature] + +HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN NEGRO IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR + + + +CHAPTER I. + +SPIRITUAL EMANCIPATION OF NATIONS. + + +THE MARCH OF CIVILIZATION--WORLD SHOCKS TO STIR THE WORLD HEART--FALSE +DOCTRINES OF THE HUN--THE IRON HAND CONCEALED--THE WOBLD BEGINS TO +AWAKEN--GERMAN DESIGNS REVEALED--RUMBLINGS IN ADVANCE OF THE +STORM--TRAGEDY THAT HASTENED THE DAY--TOLSTOY'S PROPHECY--VINDICATION OF +NEGRO FAITH IN PROMISES OF THE LORD--DAWN OF FREEDOM FOR ALL RACES. + + +The march of civilization is attended by strange influences. Providence +which directs the advancement of mankind, moves in such mysterious ways +that none can sense its design or reason out its import. Frequently the +forces of evil are turned to account in defeating their own objects. +Great tragedies, cruel wars, cataclysms of woe, have acted as +enlightening and refining agents. Out of the famines of the past came +experiences which inculcated the thrift and fore-handedness of today. + +Out of man's sufferings have come knowledge and fortitude. Out of pain +and tribulation, the attribute of sympathy--the first spiritual +manifestation instrumental in elevating the human above the beast. +Things worth while are never obtained without payment of some kind. + +Individual shocks stir the individual heart and conscience. Great world +shocks are necessary to stir the world conscience and heart; to start +those movements to right the wrongs in the world. So long as peace +reigned commerce was uninterrupted, and the acquisition of wealth was +not obstructed, men cared little for the intrigues and ambitions of +royalty. If they sensed them at all, they lulled themselves into a +feeling of security through the belief that progress had attained too +far, civilization had secured too strong a hold, and democracy was too +firmly rooted for any ordinary menace to be considered. + +So insidious and far reaching had become the inculcation of false +philosophies summed up in the general term Kultur, that the subjects of +the autocratic-ridden empires believed they were being guided by benign +influences. Many enlightened men; at least it seems they must have been +enlightened, in Germany and Austria--men who possessed liberated +intellects and were not in the pay of the Kulturists--professed to +believe that despotism in the modern world could not be other than +benevolent. + +The satanic hand was concealed in the soft glove; the cloven hoof +artistically fitted into the military boot; the tail carefully tucked +inside the uniform or dress suit; fiendish eyes were taught to smile and +gleam in sympathy and humor, or were masked behind the heavy lenses of +professorial dignity; the serpent's hiss was trained to song, or drowned +in crashing chords and given to the world as a sublime harmony. + +Suddenly the world awoke! The wooing harmony had changed to a blast of +war; the conductor's baton had become a bayonet; the soft wind +instrument barked the rifle's tone; its notes were bullets that hissed +and screamed; tinkling cymbals sounded the wild blare of carnage, and +sweet-throated horns of silver and brass bellowed the cannon's deadly +roar. + +Civilization was so shocked that for long the exact sequence of events +was not comprehended. It required time and reflection to clear away the +brain benumbing vapors of the dream; to reach a realization that liberty +actually was tottering on her throne. German propagandists had been so +well organized, and so effectively did they spread their poison; +especially in the western world that great men; national leaders were +deceived, while men in general were slow to get the true perspective; +much later than those at the seat of government. + +A few far-seeing men had been alive to the German menace. Some English +statesmen felt it in a vague way, while in France where the experience +of 1870-71, had produced a wariness of all things German, a limited +number of men with penetrating, broadened vision, had beheld the fair +exterior of Kaiserism, even while they recognized in the background, the +slimy abode of the serpent. For years they had sounded the warning until +at last their feeble voices attracted attention. + +France, with her traditions of Napoleon, Moreau, Ney, Berthier and +others, with rare skill set about the work of perfecting an army under +the tutelage and direction of Joffre and Foch. The defense maintained by +its army in the earlier part of the struggle provided the breathing +space required by the other allies. All through the struggle the staying +power of the French provided example and created the necessary morale +for the co-operating Allied forces, until our own gallant soldiers could +be mustered and sent abroad for the knockout blow. + +As is usual where conspiracies to perform dark deeds are hatched a clew +or record is left behind. In spite of Germany's protestations of +innocence, her loud cries that the war was forced upon her, there is +ample evidence that for years she had been planning it; that she wanted +it and only awaited the opportune time to launch it. It was a gradual +unearthing and examination of this evidence that at length revealed to +the world the astounding plot. + +It is not necessary to touch more than briefly the evidence of Germany's +designs, and the intrigues through which she sought world domination and +the throttling of human liberty. The facts are now too well established +to need further confirmation. The ruthless manner in which the Kaiser's +forces prosecuted the war, abandoning all pretense of civilization and +relapsing into the most utter barbarism, is enough to convince anyone of +her definite and well prepared program, which she was determined to +execute by every foul means under the sun. + +She had skillfully been laying her lines and building her military +machine for more than forty years. As the time approached for the blow +she intended to strike, she found it difficult to conceal her purposes. +Noises from the armed camp--bayings of the dogs of war--occasionally +stirred the sleeping world; an awakening almost occurred over what is +known as the Morocco incident. + +On account of the weakness of the Moroccan government, intervention by +foreign powers had been frequent. Because of the heavy investment of +French capital and because the prevailing anarchy in Morocco threatened +her interests in Algeria, France came to be regarded as having special +interests in Morocco. In 1904 she gained the assent of Britain and the +cooperation of Spain in her policy. Germany made no protest; in fact, +the German Chancellor, von Bulow, declared that Germany was not +specially concerned with Moroccan affairs. But in 1905 Germany demanded +a reconsideration of the entire question. + +France was forced against the will of her minister of foreign affairs, +Delcasse, to attend a conference at Algeciras. That conference discussed +placing Morocco under international control, but because France was the +only power capable of dealing with the anarchy in the country, she was +left in charge, subject to certain Spanish rights, and allowed to +continue her work. The Germans again declared that they had no political +interests in Morocco. + +In 1909, Germany openly recognized the political interests of France in +Morocco. In 1911 France was compelled by disorders in the country to +penetrate farther into the interior. Germany under the pretext that her +merchants were not getting fair treatment in Morocco, reopened the +entire question and sent her gunboat Panther, to Agadir on the west +coast of Africa, as if to establish a port there, although she had no +interests in that part of the country. France protested vigorously and +Britain supported her. + +Matters came very close to war. But Germany was not yet ready to force +the issue. Her action had been simply a pretext to find out the extent +to which England and France were ready to make common cause. She +recalled her gunboat and as a concession to obtain peace, was permitted +to acquire some territory in the French Congo country. But German +newspapers and German political utterances showed much bitterness. +Growling and snarling grew apace in Germany, and to those who made a +close study of the situation it became evident that Germany sooner or +later intended to launch a war. + +One of the characteristic German utterances of the time, came from +Albrect Wirth, a German political writer of standing, in close touch +with the thought and aims of his nation. The utterance about to be +quoted may, in the light of later events, appear indiscreet, as Germany +wished to avoid an appearance of responsibility for the world war; but +the minds of the German people had to be prepared and this could not be +accomplished without some of the writers and public men letting the cat +out of the bag. Wirth said: + +"Morocco is easily worth a big war, or several. At best--and even +prudent Germany is getting to be convinced of this--war is only +postponed and not abandoned. Is such a postponement to our advantage? +They say we must wait for a better moment. Wait for the deepening of the +Kiel canal, for our navy laws to take full effect. It is not exactly +diplomatic to announce publicly to one's adversaries, 'To go to war now +does not tempt us, but three years hence we shall let loose a world +war'--No; if a war is really planned, not a word of it must be spoken; +one's designs must be enveloped in profound mystery; then brusquely, all +of a sudden, jump on the enemy like a robber in the darkness." The heavy +footed German had difficulty in moving with the stealth of a robber, but +the policy here recommended was followed. + +In 1914, the three years indicated by Wirth had expired. There began to +occur dark comings and goings; mysterious meetings and conferences on +the continent of Europe. The German emperor, accompanied by the princes +and leaders of the German states, began to cruise the border and +northern seas of the Fatherland, where they would be safe from listening +ears, prying eyes, newspapers, telephones and telegraphs. It became +known that the Kaiser was cultivating the weak-minded Russian czar in +an attempt to win his country from its alliance with England and France. +There were no open rumblings of war, but the air was charged with +electricity like that preceeding a storm. + +An unaccountable business depression affected pretty much the entire +world. Money, that most sensitive of all things, began to show +nervousness and a tendency to go into hiding. The bulk of the world was +still asleep to the real meaning of events, but it had begun to stir in +its dreams, as if some prescience, some premonition had begun to reach +it even in its slumbers. + +Finally the first big event occurred--the tragedy that was not intended +to accomplish as much, but which hastened the dawn of the day in which +began the Spiritual Emancipation of the governments of earth. The +Archduke Francis Ferdinand, nephew of the emperor of Austria, heir to +the throne of Austria-Hungary and commander in chief of its army, and +his wife the duchess of Hohenburg, were assassinated June 28, 1914, by a +Serbian student, Gavrio Prinzip. The assassination occurred at Sarajevo +in Bosnia, a dependency, or rather, a Slavic state that had been seized +by Austria. It was the lightning flash that preceeded the thunder's +mighty crash. + +Much has been written of the causes which led to the tragedy. Prinzip +may have been a fanatic, but he was undoubtedly aided in his act by a +number of others. The natural inference immediately formed was that the +murder was the outcome of years of ill feeling between Serbia and +Austria-Hungary, due to the belief of the people in the smaller state, +that their aspirations as a nation were hampered and blocked by the +German element in the Austrian empire. The countries had been on the +verge of war several years before over the seizure of Bosnia and +Herzegovina by Austria, and later over the disposition of Scutari and +certain Albanian territory conquered in the Balkan-Turkish struggle. + +Events are coming to light which may place a new construction on the +causes leading to the assassination at Sarajevo. It was undoubtedly the +pretext sought by Germany for starting the great war. Whether it may not +have been carefully planned to serve that object and the Serbian +Prinzip, employed as a tool to bring it about, is not so certain. + +Several years prior to the war, the celebrated Russian, Tolstoy, gave +utterance to a remarkable prophecy. Tolstoy was a mystic, and it was not +unusual for him to go into a semi-trance state in which he professed to +peer far into the future and obtain visions of things beyond the ken of +average men. The Russian czar was superstitious and it is said that the +German emperor had a strong leaning towards the mystic and psychic. In +fact, it has been stated that the Kaiser's claim to a partnership with +The Almighty was the result of delusions formed in his consultations +with mediums--the modern descendants of the soothsayers of olden times. + +Tolstoy stated that both the Czar and the Kaiser desired to consult with +him and test his powers of divination. The three had a memorable +sitting. Some time afterwards the results were given to the world. +Tolstoy predicted the great war, and he stated his belief that the torch +which would start the conflagration would be lighted in the Balkans +about 1913. + +Tolstoy was not a friend of either Russian or German autocracy, hence +his seance may have been but a clever ruse to discover what was in the +minds of the two rulers. Germany probably was not ready to start the war +in 1913, but there is abundant warrant for the belief that she was +trimming the torch at that time, and, who knows, the deluded Prinzip may +have been the torch. + +The old dotard Francis Joseph who occupied the throne of +Austria-Hungary, was completely under the domination of the Germans. He +could be relied upon to further any designs which the Kaiser and the +German war lords might have. + +The younger man, Francis Ferdinand, was not so easy to handle as his +aged uncle. Accounts agree that he was arrogant, ambitious and had a +will of his own. He was unpopular in his country and probably unpopular +with the Germans. Being of the disposition he was, it is very likely +that the Kaiser found it difficult to bend him completely to his will. +Being a stumbling block in the way of German aims, is it not reasonably +probable that Germany desired to get rid of him, thus leaving +Austria-Hungary completely in the power of its tool and puppet, Francis +Joseph, and in the event of his death, in the power of the young and +suppliant Karl; another instrument easily bent to the German will? + +The wife of the archduke, assassinated with him, was a Bohemian, her +maiden name being Sophie Chotek. She was not of noble blood as Bohemia +had no nobles. They had been driven out of the country centuries before +and their titles and estates conferred on indigent Spanish and Austrian +adventurers. Not being of noble birth, she was but the morgantic wife of +the Austrian heir. Titles were afterwards conferred upon her. She was +made a countess and then a duchess. Some say she had been an actress; +not unlikely, for actresses possessed an especial appeal to Austrian +royalty. The cruel Hapsburgs rendered dull witted and inefficient by +generations of inbreeding, were fascinated by the bright and handsome +women of the stage. At any rate, Sophie Chotek belonged to that virile, +practical race Bohemians, (also called Czechs) that gave to the world +John Huss, who lighted the fires of religious and civil liberty in +Central Europe, giving advent later to the work of Martin Luther. + +Bohemians had always been liberty-loving. They had been anxious for +three centuries to throw off the yoke of Austria. There is no record +that Sophie Chotek sympathized with the aims of her countrymen or that +she was not in complete accord with the views of her husband and the +political interests of the empire. But the experiences of the Germans +and Austrians had taught them that a Bohemian was likely to remain +always a Bohemian and that his freedom-loving people would not +countenance plans having in view the enslavement of other nations. The +Germans may have looked with suspicion upon the Bohemian wife of the +archduke and thought it advisable to remove her also. + +Prinzip was thrown into prison and kept there until he died. No +statement he may have made ever had a chance to reach the world. No one +knows whether he was a German or a Serbian tool. He does not seem to +have been an anarchist; neither does he seem to have been of the type +that would commit such a crime voluntarily, knowing full well the +consequences. It is not hard to believe that he was under pay and +promised full protection. + +Probably no Bohemian considers Sophie Chotek a martyr; indeed, the +evidence is strong that she was not. Her heart and soul probably were +with her royal spouse. But an interesting outcome is, that her +assassination, a contributing cause to the war, finally led to the +downfall of Germany, the wreck of Austria, the freedom of her native +country, and that Spiritual Emancipation of nations and races, then so +gloriously under way. + +Also, to the thoughtful and philosophic observer of maturing symptoms +transpiring continuously in the affairs of mankind; the fate of those +nations of earth that in their strength and arrogance mock the Master, +furnish a striking corroborative vindication of the Negro's faith in the +promises of the Lord; the glory and power of His coming. From the date, +reckoning from moment and second, that Gavrio Prinzip done to death the +heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary and his duchess, there commenced +not alone a new day, a new hope and Emancipation of the whites of earth; +empire kingdom, principality and tribe, but of the blacks; the Negro as +well, so mysteriously; bewilderingly, moves God His wonders to perform. + +It was that subliminated faith in the ubiquity and omniscience of God; +the unchangeableness of His word; than which the world has witnessed; +known nothing finer; the story of the concurrent causes that projected +the Negro into the World War, from whence he emerged covered with glory, +followed by the plaudits of mankind, that became the inspiration of this +work--his story of devotion, valor and patriotism; of unmurmuring +sacrifice; worthy the pens of the mighty, but which the historian, as +best he may will tell: "NOTHING extenuate, nor set down AUGHT in +malice." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +HANDWRITING ON THE WALL + + +Likened to Belshazzar--The Kaiser's Feasts--In His Heart Barbaric Pride +of the Potentates of Old--German Madness for War--Insolent +Demands--Forty-eight Hours to Prevent a World War--Comment of Statesmen +and Leaders--The War Starts--Italy Breaks Her Alliance--Germanic Powers +Weighed and Found Wanting--Spirit Wins Over Materialism--Civilization's +Lamp Dimmed but not Darkened. + + +Belshazzar of Babylon sat at a feast. Very much after the fashion of +modern kings they were good at feasting in those olden days. The +farthest limits of the kingdom had been searched for every delight and +delicacy. Honeyed wines, flamingo's tongues, game from the hills, fruits +from vine and tree, spices from grove and forest, vegetables from field +and garden, fish from stream and sea; every resource of Mother Earth +that could contribute to appetite or sensual pleasure was brought to the +king's table. Singers, minstrels, dancers, magicians, entertainers of +every description were summoned to the palace that they might contribute +to the vanity of the monarch, and impress the onlooking nations about +him. + +He desired to be known and feared as the greatest monarch on earth; +ruling as he did over the world's greatest city. His triumphs had been +many. He had come to believe that his power proceeded directly from the +god Bel, and that he was the chosen and anointed of that deity. + +This was the period of his prime; of Babylon's greatest glory; his +kingdom seemed so firmly established he had no thought it could be +shaken. But misleading are the dreams of kings; his kingdom was suddenly +menaced from without, by Cyrus of Persia, another great monarch. There +were also dangers from within, but courtiers and flatterers kept this +knowledge from him. Priests of rival gods had set themselves up within +the empire; spies from without and conspirators within were secretly +undermining the power of the intrenched despot. + +Such was Belshazzar in his pride; such his kingdom and empire. And, so +it was, this was to be an orgy that would set a record for all time to +come. + +Artists and artisans of the highest skill had been summoned to the work +of beautifying the enormous palace; its gardens and grounds, innumerable +slaves furnishing the labor. The gold and silver of the nation was +gathered and beaten into ornaments and woven into beautiful designs to +grace the occasion. There was a profusion of the most gorgeous plumage +and richest fabrics, while over all were sprinkled in unheard of +prodigality, the rarest gems and jewels. It was indeed to be a fitting +celebration of the glory of Bel, and the power and magnificence of his +earthly representative; heathen opulence, heathen pride and sensuality +were to outdo themselves. + +The revel started at a tremendous pace. No such wines and viands ever +before had been served. No such music ever had been heard and no such +dancers and entertainers ever before had appeared, but, fool that he +was, he had reckoned without his host; had made a covenant with Death +and Hell and had known it not, and the hour of atonement was upon him; +the handwriting on the wall of the true and outraged God, conveyed the +information; short and crisp, that he had been weighed; he and his +kingdom in the balance and found wanting; the hour--his hour, had +struck; the time of restitution and atonement long on the way, had come; +Babylon was to fall--FELL!--and for twenty-five centuries its glory and +its power has been a story that is told; its magnificence but heaps of +sand in the desert where night birds shriek and wild beasts find their +lair. + +In the Kaiser's heart was the same barbaric pride, the same ambition, +the same worship of a false god and the same belief that he was the +especial agent of that deity. + +His extravagances of vision and ambition were no less demoralizing to +humanity and civilization, than those that brought decay and ruin to the +potentates of old. He graced them with all the luxury and exuberance +that modern civilization, without arousing rebellious complaint among +his subjects, would permit. His gatherings appeared to be arranged for +the bringing together of the bright minds of the empire, that there +might be an exchange of thought and sentiment that would work to the +good of his country and the happiness of the world. Frequently +ministers, princes and statesmen from other countries were present, that +they might become acquainted with the German idea--its kultur--working +for the good of humanity. + +Here was The Beast mentioned in Revelations, in a different guise; +wearing the face of benevolence and clothed in the raiment of Heaven. +There were feasts of which the German people knew nothing, and to which +foreign ambassadors were not invited. At these feasts the wines were +furnished by Belial. They were occasions for the glorification of the +German god of war; of greed and conquest; ambition and vanity; without +pity, sympathy or honor. + +Ruthless, vain, arrogant minds met the same qualities in their leader. +Some knew and welcomed the fact that the devil was their guest of honor; +perhaps others did not know it. Deluded as they all were and blinded by +pride and self-seeking, the same handwriting that told Belshazzar of +disaster was on the wall, but they could not or would not see it. There +was no Daniel to interpret for them. + +German madness for war asserted itself in the ultimatum sent by Austria +to Serbia after the assassination at Sarajevo. Sufficient time had +hardly elapsed for an investigation of the crime and the fixing of the +responsibility, before Austria made a most insolent demand upon Serbia. + +The smaller nation avowed her innocence of any participation in the +murder; offered to make amends, and if it were discovered that the +conspiracy had been hatched on Serbian soil, to assist in bringing to +justice any confederates in the crime the assassin may have had. + +[Illustration: NEGRO SOLDIERS ON THE RIFLE RANGE AT CAMP GRANT, +ILLINOIS. BEING TAUGHT MARKSMANSHIP. AN IDEAL LOCATION RESEMBLING BATTLE +AREAS IN FRANCE.] + +[Illustration: MEDICAL DETACHMENT 365TH INFANTRY. A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP +OF MEDICAL OFFICERS AND THEIR FIELD ASSISTANTS. THIS BRANCH OF THE 92ND +DIVISION RENDERED MOST VALOROUS SERVICE.] + +[Illustration: BAYONET EXERCISES IN THE TRAINING CAMP.] + +[Illustration: SPORTS AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE IN THE TRAINING CAMP.] + +[Illustration: NEGRO TROOPS DRILLING. SCENE AT CAMP MEADE, MD., WHERE A +PORTION OF THE 93RD DIVISION AND OTHER EFFICIENT UNITS WERE TRAINED.] + +[Illustration: AN EQUINE BARBER SHOP NEAR THE CAMP. ONE OF THE DUTIES +INCIDENT TO THE TRAINING CAMP.] + +[Illustration: TROOPERS OF 10TH CAVALRY GOING INTO MEXICO. THESE HEROIC +NEGRO SOLDIERS WERE AMBUSHED NEAR CARRIZAL AND SUFFERED A LOSS OF HALF +THEIR NUMBER IN ONE OF THE BRAVEST FIGHTS ON RECORD.] + +[Illustration: TENTH CAVALRY SURVIVORS OF CARRIZAL. DESPOILED OF THEIR +UNIFORMS BY THE MEXICANS THEY ARRIVE AT EL PASO IN OVERALLS. LEM +SPILLSBURY, WHITE SCOUT IN CENTER. EACH SOLDIER HAS A BOUQUET OF +FLOWERS.] + +[Illustration: AMERICA'S WAR TIME PRESIDENT. THIS PHOTOGRAPH OF WOODROW +WILSON WAS ESPECIALLY POSED DURING THE WAR. IN HIS STUDY AT THE WHITE +HOUSE.] + +[Illustration: DR. J.E. MOORLAND, SENIOR SECRETARY OF COLORED MEN'S +DEPT., INTERNATIONAL Y.M.C.A. THE MAN LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCCESS OF +HIS RACE IN "Y" WORK.] + +[Illustration: A TYPICAL GROUP OF "Y" WORKERS, SECRETARY SNYDER AND +STAFF. Y.M.C.A. NO.7, CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS.] + +[Illustration: PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON (AT HEAD OF TABLE) AND HIS WAR +CABINET. LEFT--W.G. MCADOO SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY; THOMAS W. GREGORY, +ATTY. GENL.; JOSEPHUS DANIELS, SEC. OF NAVY; D.F. HOUSTON, SEC. OF +AGRICULTURE; WILLIAM B. WILSON, SEC. OF LABOR. RIGHT--ROBERT LANSING, +SEC. OF STATE; NEWTON D. BAKER, SEC. OF WAR; A.S. BURLESON, +POSTMASTER-GENERAL; FRANKLIN K. LANE, SEC. OF INTERIOR; WILLIAM C. +REDFIELD, SEC. OF COMMERCE.] + +With a war likely to involve the greater part of Europe hanging on the +issue, it was a time for cool judgment, sober statesmanship and careful +action on all sides. Months should have been devoted to an +investigation. + +But Germany and Austria did not want a sober investigation. They were +afraid that while it was proceeding the pretext for war might vanish. As +surmised above, they also may have feared that the responsibility for +the act would be placed in quarters that would be embarrassing to them. + +On July 23, 1914, just twenty-five days after the murder, Austria +delivered her demands upon Serbia and placed a time limit of forty-eight +hours for their acceptance. With the fate of a nation and the probable +embroiling of all Europe hanging on the outcome, forty-eight hours was a +time too brief for proper consideration. Serbia could hardly summon her +statesmen in that time. Nevertheless the little country, realizing the +awful peril that impended, and that she alone would not be the sufferer, +bravely put aside all selfish considerations and practically all +considerations of national pride and honor. + +The records show that every demand which Austria made on Serbia was +granted except one, which was only conditionally refused. Although this +demand involved the very sovereignty of Serbia--her existence as a +nation--the government offered to submit the matter to mediation or +arbitration. But Austria, cats-pawing for Germany, did not want her +demands accepted. The one clause was inserted purposely, because they +knew it could not be accepted. With Serbia meeting the situation +honestly and going over ninety percent of the way towards an amicable +adjustment, the diplomacy that could not obtain peace out of such a +situation, must have been imbecile or corrupt to the last degree. + +An American historian discussing causes in the early stages of the war, +said: + + "The German Imperial Chancellor pays no high compliment to the + intelligence of the American people when he asks them to believe + that 'the war is a life-and-death struggle between Germany and the + Muscovite races of Russia', and was due to the royal murders at + Sarajevo. + + "To say that all Europe had to be plunged into the most + devastating war of human history because an Austrian subject + murdered the heir to the Austrian throne on Austrian soil in a + conspiracy in which Serbians were implicated, is too absurd to be + treated seriously. Great wars do not follow from such causes, + although any pretext, however trivial, may be regarded as + sufficient when war is deliberately sought. + + "Nor is the Imperial Chancellor's declaration that 'the war is a + life-and-death struggle between Germany and the Muscovite races of + Russia' convincing in the slightest degree. So far as the Russian + menace to Germany is concerned, the Staats-Zeitung is much nearer + the truth when its editor, Mr. Ridder, boasts that 'no Russian army + ever waged a successful war against a first-class power.' + + "The life-and-death struggle between Germany and the Muscovite + races of Russia is a diplomatic fiction invented after German + Autocracy, taking advantage of the Serbian incident, set forth to + destroy France. It was through no fear of Russia that Germany + violated her solemn treaty obligations by invading the neutrality + of Belgium and Luxemburg. It was through no fear of Russia that + Germany had massed most of her army near the frontiers of France, + leaving only six army corps to hold Russia in check. Germany's + policy as it stands revealed by her military operations was to + crush France and then make terms with Russia. The policy has failed + because of the unexpected resistance of the Belgians and the + refusal of Great Britain to buy peace at the expense of her honor." + +A nearer and equally clear view is expressed for the French by M. +Clemenceau, who early in the war said: + + "For twenty-five years William II has made Europe live under the + weight of a horrible nightmare. He has found sheer delight in + keeping it in a state of perpetual anxiety over his boastful + utterances of power and the sharpened sword. + + "Five threats of war have been launched against us since 1875. At + the sixth he finds himself caught in the toils he had laid for us. + He threatened the very springs of England's power, though she was + more than pacific in her attitude toward him. + + "For many years, thanks to him, the Continent has had to join in a + giddy race of armaments, drying up the sources of economic + development and exposing our finances to a crisis which we shrank + from discussing. We must have done with this crowned comedian, + poet, musician, sailor, warrior, pastor; this commentator absorbed + in reconciling Hammurabi with the Bible, giving his opinion on + every problem of philosophy, speaking of everything, saying + nothing." M. Clemenceau summed up the Kaiser as "another Nero; but + Rome in flames is not sufficient for him--he demands the + destruction of the universe." + +The Socialist, Upton Sinclair, speaking at the time, blamed Russia as +well as Germany and Austria. He also inclined to the view that the +assassination at Sarajevo was instigated by Austria. He said: + + "I assert that never before in human history has there been a war + with less pretense of justification. It is the supreme crime of the + ages; a blow at the very throat of civilization. The three nations + which began it, Austria, Russia and Germany, are governed, the + first by a doddering imbecile, the second by a weak-minded + melancholic, and the third by an epileptic degenerate, drunk upon + the vision of himself as the war lord of Europe. Behind each of + These men is a little clique of blood-thirsty aristocrats. They + fall into a quarrel among themselves. The pretext is that Serbia + instigated the murder of the heir apparent to the Austrian throne. + There is good reason far believing that as a matter of fact this + murder was instigated by the war party in Austria, because the heir + apparent had democratic and anti-military tendencies. First they + murder him and then they use his death as a pretext for plunging + the whole of civilization into a murderous strife." + +Herman Ridder, editor of the Staats-Zeitung of New York contributed a +German-American view. Mr. Ridder saw the handwriting on the wall and he +very soundly deprecated war and pictured its horrors. But he could not +forget that he was appealing to a large class that held the German +viewpoint. He therefore found it necessary to soften his phrase with +some hyphenated sophistry. He dared not say that Germany was the culprit +and would be the principal sufferer. His article was: + + "Sooner or later the nations engaged in war will find themselves + spent and weary. There will be victory for some, defeat for others, + and profit for none. There can hardly be any lasting laurels for + any of the contending parties. To change the map of Europe is not + worth the price of a single human life. Patriotism should never + rise above humanity. + + "The history of war is merely a succession of blunders. Each treaty + of peace sows the seed of future strife. + + "War offends our intelligence and outrages our sympathies. We can + but stand aside and murmur 'The pity of it all. The pity of it + all.' + + "War breeds socialism. At night the opposing hosts rest on their + arms, searching the heavens for the riddle of life and death, and + wondering what their tomorrow will bring forth. Around a thousand + camp fires the steady conviction is being driven home that this + sacrifice of life might all be avoided. It seems difficult to + realize that millions of men, skilled by years of constant + application, have left the factory, the mill, or the desk to waste + not only their time but their very lives and possibly the lives of + those dependent on them to wage war, brother against brother. + + "The more reasonable it appears that peace must quickly come, the + more hopeless does it seem. I am convinced that an overwhelming + majority of the populations of Germany, England and France are + opposed to this war. The Governments of these states do not want + war. + + "War deals in human life as recklessly as the gambler in money. + + "Imagine the point of view of a commanding general who is + confronted with the task of taking a fortress; 'That position will + cost me five thousand lives; it will be cheap at the price, for it + must be taken.' + + "He discounts five thousand human lives as easily as the + manufacturer marks off five thousand dollars for depreciation. And + so five thousand homes are saddened that another flag may fly over + a few feet of fortified masonry. What a grim joke for Europe to + play upon humanity." + +There were not wanting those to point out to Mr. Ridder that the +sacrifice of life could have been avoided had Germany and its tool +Austria, played fair with Serbia and the balance of Europe. Also, his +statement that the government of Germany did not want the war has been +successfully challenged from a hundred different sources. + +H. G. Wells, the eminent English author, contributed a prophecy which +translated very plainly the handwriting on the wall. He said: + + "This war is not going to end in diplomacy; it is going to end + diplomacy. + + "It is quite a different sort of war from any that have gone before. + At the end there will be no conference of Europe on the old lines, + but a conference of the world. It will make a peace that will put an + end to Krupp, and the spirit of Krupp and Kruppism and the private + armament firms behind Krupp for evermore." + +Austria formally declared war against Serbia, July 28, 1914. During the +few days intervening between the dispatch of the ultimatum to Serbia and +the formal declaration of war, Serbia and Russia, seeing the inevitable, +had commenced to mobilize their armies. On the last day of July, Germany +as Austria's ally, issued an ultimatum with a twelve hour limit +demanding that Russia cease mobilization. They were fond of short term +ultimatums. They did not permit more than enough time for the dispatch +to be transmitted and received, much less considered, before the terms +of it had expired. Russia demanded assurances from Austria that war was +not forthcoming and it continued to mobilize. On August 1, Germany +declared war. France then began to mobilize. + +Germany invaded the duchy of Luxemburg and demanded free passage for its +troops across Belgium to attack France at that country's most vulnerable +point. King Albert of Belgium refused his consent on the ground that the +neutrality of his country had been guaranteed by the powers of Europe, +including Germany itself, and appealed for diplomatic help from Great +Britain. That country, which had sought through its foreign secretary, +Sir Edward Grey, to preserve the peace of Europe, was now aroused. +August 4, it sent an ultimatum to Germany demanding that the neutrality +of Belgium be respected. As the demand was not complied with, Britain +formally declared war against Germany. + +Italy at that time was joined with Germany and Austria in what was known +as the Triple Alliance. But Italy recognized the fact that the war was +one of aggression and held that it was not bound by its compact to +assist its allies. The sympathies of its people were with the French and +British. Afterwards Italy repudiated entirely its alliance and all +obligations to Germany and Austria and entered the war on the side of +the allies. Thus the country of Mazzini, of Garibaldi and Victor +Emmanuel, ranged itself on the side of emancipation and human rights. + +The refusal of Italy to enter a war of conquest was the first event to +set the balance of the world seriously thinking of the meaning of the +war. If Italy refused to join its old allies, it meant that Italy was +too honorable to assist their purposes; Italy knew the character of its +associates. When it finally repudiated them altogether and joined the +war on the other side, it was a terrific indictment of the Germanic +powers, for Italy had much more to gain in a material way from its old +alliance. It simply showed the world that spirit was above materialism; +that emancipation was in the air and that the lamp of civilization might +be dimmed but could not be darkened by the forces of evil. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +MILITARISM AND AUTOCRACY DOOMED. + + +GERMANY'S MACHINE--HER SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVOR TO MOLD SOLDIERS--INFLUENCE +ON THOUGHT AND LIVES OF THE PEOPLE--MILITARISM IN THE HOME--THE STATUS +OF WOMAN--FALSE THEORIES AND FALSE GODS--THE SYSTEM ORDAINED TO +PERISH--WAR'S SHOCKS--AMERICA INCLINES TO NEUTRALITY--GERMAN AND FRENCH +TREATMENT OF NEUTRALS CONTRASTED--EXPERIENCES OF AMERICANS ABROAD AND +ENROUTE HOME--STATUE OF LIBERTY TAKES ON NEW BEAUTY--BLOOD OF NEGRO AND +WHITE TO FLOW. + + +Those who had followed the Kaiser's attitudes and their reflections +preceeding the war in the German military party, were struck by a +strange blending of martial glory and Christian compunction. No one +prays more loudly than the hypocrite and none so smug as the devil when +a saint he would be. + +During long years the military machine had been under construction. +Human ingenuity had been reduced to a remarkable state of organization +and efficiency. One of the principal phases of Kultur was the +inauguration of a sort of scientific discipline which made the German +people not only soldiers in the field, but soldiers in the workshop, in +the laboratory and at the desk. The system extended to the schools and +universities and permeated the thought of the nation. It particularly +was reflected in the home; the domestic arrangements and customs of the +people. The German husband was the commander-in-chief of his household. +It was not that benevolent lordship which the man of the house assumes +toward his wife and family in other nations. The stern note of command +was always evident; that attitude of "attention!" "eyes front!" and +unquestioning obedience. + +German women always were subordinate to their husbands and the male +members of their families. It was not because the man made the living +and supported the woman. Frequently the German woman contributed as much +towards the support of the family as the males; it was because the +German male by the system which had been inculcated into him, regarded +himself as a superior being and his women as inferiors, made for +drudgery, for child-bearing, and for contributors to his comforts and +pleasures. His attitude was pretty much like that of the American Indian +towards his squaw. + +Germany was the only nation on earth pretending to civilization in which +women took the place of beasts of burden. They not only worked in the +fields, but frequently pulled the plow and other implements of +agriculture. It was not an uncommon sight in Germany to see a woman and +a large dog harnessed together drawing a milk cart. When it became +necessary to deliver the milk the woman slipped her part of the harness, +served the customer, resumed her harness and went on to the next stop. +In Belgium, in Holland and in France, women delivered the milk also, but +the cart always was drawn by one or two large dogs or other animals and +the woman was the driver. In Austria it was a strange sight to +foreigners, but occasioned no remark among the people, to see women +drawing carts and wagons in which were seated their lords and masters. +Not infrequently the boss wielded a whip. + +The pride of the German nation was in its efficient workmen. Friends of +the country and its system have pointed to the fact of universal labor +as its great virtue; because to work is good. Really, they were +compelled to work. Long hours and the last degree of efficiency were +necessary in order to meet the requirements of life and the tremendous +burdens of taxation caused by the army, the navy, the fortifications and +the military machine in general; to say nothing of the expense of +maintaining the autocratic pomp of the Kaiser, his sons and satellites. +Every member of the German family had his or her task, even to the +little three-year-old toddler whose business it was to look after the +brooms, dust rags and other household utensils. There was nothing of +cheerfulness or even of the dignity of labor about this. It was hard, +unceasing, grinding toil which crushed the spirits of the people. It was +part of the system to cause them to welcome war as a diversion. + +To the German mind everything had an aspect of seriousness. The people +took their pleasures seriously. On their holidays, mostly occasions on +which they celebrated an event in history or the birthday of a monarch +or military hero, or during the hours which they could devote to +relaxation, they gathered with serious, stolid faces in beer gardens. If +they danced it was mostly a cumbersome performance. Generally they +preferred to sit and blink behind great foaming tankards and listen to +intellectual music. No other nation had such music. It was so +intellectual in itself that it relieved the listeners of the necessity +of thinking. There was not much of melody in it; little of the dance +movement and very little of the lighter and gayer manifestations of +life. It has been described as a sort of harmonious discord, typifying +mysterious, tragic and awe-inspiring things. The people sat and ate +their heavy food and drank their beer, their ears engaged with the +strains of the orchestra, their eyes by the movements of the conductor, +while their tired brains rested and digestion proceeded. + +To the average German family a picnic or a day's outing was a serious +affair. The labor of preparation was considerable and then they covered +as much of the distance as possible by walking in order to save carfare. +In the parade was the tired, careworn wife usually carrying one, +sometimes two infants in her arms. The other children lugged the lunch +baskets, hammocks, umbrellas and other paraphernalia. At the head of the +procession majestically marched the lord of the outfit, smoking his +cigar or pipe; a suggestion of the goose-step in his stride, carrying +nothing, except his dignity and military deportment. With this kind of +start the reader can imagine the good time they all had. + +MILITARISM AND AUTOCRACY DOOMED Joy to the German mind in mass was an +unknown quantity. The literature on which they fed was heavier and more +somber than their music. When the average German tried to be gay and +playful he reminded one of an elephant trying to caper. Their humor in +the main, manifested itself in coarse and vulgar jests. + +For athletics they had their turn vereins in which men went through +hard, laborious exercises which made them muscle-bound. Their favorite +sports were hunting and fencing--the desire to kill or wound. They rowed +some but they knew nothing of baseball, boxing, tennis, golf or the +usual sports so popular with young men in England, France and America. +Aside from fencing, they had not a sport calculated to produce agility +or nimbleness of foot and brain. + +Their emotions expanded and their sentiments thrilled at the spectacle +of war. Uniforms, helmets and gold lace delighted their eyes. The +parade, the guard mount, the review were the finest things they knew. To +a people trained in such a school and purposely given great burdens that +they might attain fortitude, war was second nature. They welcomed it as +a sort of pastime. + +In the system on which Kultur was based, it was necessary to strike +deeply the religious note; no difference if it was a false note. The +German ear was so accustomed to discord it could not recognize the true +from the false. The Kaiser was heralded to his people as a deeply +religious man. In his public utterances he never failed to call upon God +to grant him aid and bless his works. + +One of the old traditions of the Fatherland was that the king, being +specially appointed by God, could do no wrong. To the thinking portion +of the nation this could have been nothing less than absurd fallacy, but +where the majority do not think; if a thing is asserted strongly and +often enough, they come to accept it. It becomes a belief. The people +had become so impressed with the devoutness of the Kaiser and his +assumption of Divine guidance, that the great majority of them believed +the kaiser was always right; that he could do no wrong. When the great +blow of war finally was struck the Kaiser asked his God to look down and +bless the sword that he had drawn; a prayer altogether consistent coming +from his lips, for the god he worshipped loved war, was a god of famine, +rapine and blood. From the moment of that appeal, military autocracy and +absolute monarchy were doomed. It took time, it took lives, it took more +treasure than a thousand men could count in a lifetime. But the assault +had been against civilization, on the very foundation of all that +humanity had gained through countless centuries. The forces of light +were too strong for it; would not permit it to triumph. + +The President of the United States, from the bedside of his dying wife, +appealed to the nations for some means of reaching peace for Europe. The +last thoughts of his dying helpmate, were of the great responsibility +resting upon her husband incident to the awful crisis in the lives of +the nations of earth, that was becoming more pronounced with each second +of time. + +The Pope was stricken to death by the great calamity to civilization. A +few minutes before the end came he said that the Almighty in His +infinite mercy was removing him from the world to spare him the anguish +of the awful war. + +The first inclination of America was to be neutral. She was far removed +from the scenes of strife and knew little of the hidden springs and +causes of the war. Excepting in the case of a few of her public men; her +editors, professors and scholars, European politics were as a sealed +book. The president of the United States declared for neutrality; that +individual and nation should avoid the inflaming touch of the war +passion. We kept that attitude as long as was consistent with national +patience and the larger claims of HUMANITY and universal JUSTICE. + +As an evidence of our lack of knowledge of the impending conflict, a +party of Christian men were on the sea with the humanitarian object in +view of attending a world's peace conference in Constance, +Germany--Germany of all places, then engaged in trying to burn up the +world. Arriving in Paris, the party received its first news that a great +European war was about to begin. Steamship offices were being stormed by +crowds of frantic American tourists. Martial law was declared. The +streets were alive with soldiers and weeping women. Shops were closed, +the clerks having been drafted into the army. The city hummed with +militarism. + +Underneath the excitement was the stern, stoic attitude of the French in +preparing to meet their old enemy, combined with their calmness in +refraining from outbreaks against German residents of Paris. One of the +party alluding to the incongruous position in which the peace delegates +found themselves, said: + + "It might be interesting to observe the unique and almost humorous + situation into which these peace delegates were thrown. Starting + out a week before with the largest hope and most enthusiastic + anticipation of effecting a closer tie between nations, and + swinging the churches of Christendom into a clearer alignment + against international martial attitudes, we were instantly + 'disarmed,' bound, and cast into chains of utter helplessness, not + even feeling free to express the feeblest sentiment against the + high rising tide of military activity. We were lost on a + tempestuous sea; the dove of peace had been beaten, broken winged + to shore, and the olive branch lost in its general fury." + +Describing conditions in Paris on August 12, he says: + + "We are in a state of tense expectation, so acute that it dulls the + senses; Paris is relapsing into the condition of an audience + assisting at a thrilling drama with intolerably long entr'acts, + during which it tries to think of its own personal affairs. + + "We know that pages of history are being rapidly engraved in steel, + written in blood, illuminated in the margin with glory on a + background of heroism and suffering, not more than a few score + miles away. + + "The shrieking camelots (peddlers) gallop through the streets + waving their news sheets, but it is almost always news of + twenty-four hours ago. The iron hand of the censor reduces the + press to a monotonous repetition of the same formula. Only + headlines give scope for originality. Of local news there is none. + There is nothing doing in Paris but steady preparation for meeting + contingencies by organizing ambulances and relief for the poor." + +From the thousands of tales brought back by American tourists caught in +Germany at the outbreak of the war, there is more than enough evidence +that they were not treated with that courtesy manifested towards them by +the French. They were arrested as spies, subjected to all sorts of +embarrassments and indignities; their persons searched, their baggage +and letters examined, and frequently were detained for long periods +without any explanation being offered. When finally taken to the +frontier, they were not merely put across--frequently they were in a +sense thrown across. + +Nor were the subjects of other nations, particularly those with which +Germany was at war, treated with that fine restraint which characterized +the French. Here is an account by a traveller of the treatment of +Russian subjects: + + "We left Berlin on the day Germany declared war against Russia. Within + seventy-five miles of the frontier, 1,000 Russians in the train by + which they were travelling were turned out of the carriage and + compelled to spend eighteen hours without food in an open field + surrounded by soldiers with fixed bayonets. + + "Then they were placed in dirty cattle wagons, about sixty men, women + and children to a wagon, and for twenty-eight hours were carried about + Prussia without food, drink or privacy. In Stettin they were lodged in + pig pens, and next morning were sent off by steamer to Rugen, whence + they made their way to Denmark and Sweden without money or luggage. + Sweden provided them with food and free passage to the Russian + frontier. Five of our fellow-passengers went mad." + +The steamship Philadelphia--note the name, signifying brotherly love, so +completely lost sight of in the conflict--was the first passenger liner +to reach America after the beginning of the European war. A more +remarkable crowd never arrived in New York City by steamship or train. +There were men of millions and persons of modest means who had slept +side by side on the journey over; voyagers with balances of tens of +thousands of dollars in banks and not a cent in their pocketbooks; men +able and eager to pay any price for the best accommodations to be had, +yet satisfied and happy sharing bunks in the steerage. + +There were women who had lost all baggage and had come alone, their +friends and relatives being unable to get accommodations on the vessel. +There were children who had come on board with their mothers, with +neither money nor reservations, who were happy because they had received +the very best treatment from all the steamship's officers and crew and +because they had enjoyed the most comfortable quarters to be had, +surrendered by men who were content to sleep in most humble +surroundings, or, if necessary, as happened in a few cases, to sleep on +the decks when the weather permitted. + +Wealthy, but without funds, many of the passengers gave jewelry to the +stewards and other employees of the steamship as the tips which they +assumed were expected even in times of stress. The crew took them +apologetically, some said they were content to take only the thanks of +the passengers. One woman of wealth and social position, without money, +and having lost her check book with her baggage, as had many others of +the passengers, gave a pair of valuable bracelets to her steward with +the request that he give them to his wife. She gave a hat--the only one +she managed to take with her on her flight from Switzerland--to her +stewardess. + +The statue of Liberty never looked so beautiful to a party of Americans +before. The strains of the Star Spangled Banner, as they echoed over the +waters of the bay, were never sweeter nor more inspiring. As the +Philadelphia approached quarrantine, the notes of the American anthem +swelled until, as she slowed down to await the coming of the physicians +and customs officials, it rose to a great crescendo which fell upon the +ears of all within many hundred yards and brought an answering chorus +from the throngs who waited to extend their hands to relatives and +friends. + +There was prophecy in the minds of men and women aboard that ship. Some +of them had been brought into actual contact with the war; others very +near it. In the minds of all was the vision that liberty, enlightenment +and all the fruits of progress were threatened; that if they were to be +saved, somehow, this land typified the spirit of succor; somehow the aid +was to proceed from here. + +Liberty never had a more cherished meaning to men of this Republic. In +the minds of many the conviction had taken root, that if autocracy and +absolute monarchy were to be overthrown; that "government of the people, +by the people, for the people" should "not perish from the earth," it +would eventually require from America that supreme sacrifice in devotion +and blood that at periods in the growth and development of nations, is +their last resort against the menace of external attack, and, regardless +of the reflections of theorists and philosophers, the best and surest +guarantee of their longevity; that the principles upon which they were +builded were something more than mere words, hollow platitudes, meaning +nothing, worthy of nothing, inspiring nothing. It was the dawning of a +day; new and strange in its requirements of America whose isolation and +policy, as bequeathed by the fathers, had kept it aloof from the +bickerings and quarrels of the nations that composed the "Armed Camp" of +Europe, during which, as subsequent events proved, the blood of the +Caucasian and the Negro would upon many a hard fought pass; many a +smoking trench in the battle zone of Europe, run together in one rivulet +of departing life, for the guarantee of liberty throughout all the +earth, and the establishment of justice at its uttermost bounds and +ends. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +AWAKENING OF AMERICA + + +PRESIDENT CLINGS TO NEUTRALITY--MONROE DOCTRINE AND WASHINGTON'S +WARNING--GERMAN CRIMES AND GERMAN VICTORIES--CARDINAL MERCIER'S +LETTER--MILITARY OPERATIONS--FIRST SUBMARINE ACTIVITIES--THE LUSITANIA +OUTRAGE--EXCHANGE OF NOTES--UNITED STATES AROUSED--ROLE OF PASSIVE +ONLOOKER BECOMES IRKSOME--FIRST MODIFICATION OF PRINCIPLES OF WASHINGTON +AND MONROE--OUR DESTINY LOOMS. + + +August 4,1914, President Wilson proclaimed the neutrality of the United +States. A more consistent attempt to maintain that attitude was never +made by a nation. In an appeal addressed to the American people on +August 18th, the president implored the citizens to refrain from "taking +sides." Part of his utterance on that occasion was: + + "We must be impartial in thought as well as in action, must put a + curb upon our sentiments as well as upon every transaction that + might be construed as a preference of one party to the struggle + before another. + + "My thought is of America. I am speaking, I feel sure, the earnest + wish and purpose of every thoughtful American that this great + country of ours, which is, of course, the first in our thoughts and + in our hearts, should show herself in this time of peculiar trial a + nation fit beyond others to exhibit the fine poise of undisturbed + judgment, the dignity of self-control, the efficiency of + dispassionate action; a nation that neither sits in judgment upon + others, nor is disturbed in her own counsels, and which keeps + herself fit and free to do what is honest and disinterested and + truly serviceable for the peace of the world." + +American poise had been somewhat disturbed over the treatment of +American tourists caught in Germany at the outbreak of the war. American +sentiment was openly agitated by the invasion of Belgium and the +insolent repudiation by Germany of her treaty obligations. The German +chancellor had referred to the treaty with Belgium as "a scrap of +paper." These things had created a suspicion in American minds, having +to do with what seemed Germany's real and ulterior object, but in the +main the people of this county accepted the president's appeal in the +spirit in which it was intended and tried to live up to it, which +attitude was kept to the very limit of human forbearance. + +A few editors and public men, mostly opposed to the president +politically, thought we were carrying the principle of neutrality too +far; that the violation of Belgium was a crime against humanity in +general and that if we did not at least protest against it, we would be +guilty of national stultification if not downright cowardice. Against +this view was invoked the time-honored principles of the Monroe Doctrine +and its great corollary, Washington's advice against becoming entangled +in European affairs. Our first president, in his farewell address, +established a precept of national conduct that up to the time we were +drawn into the European war, had become almost a principle of religion +with us. He said: + + "Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to + believe me, fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to + constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign + influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican + government--Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have + none or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in + frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign + to our concern. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to + implicate ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes + of her politics or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her + friendships or enmities." + +The Monroe Doctrine was a statement of principles made by President +Monroe in his famous message of December 2, 1823. The occasion of the +utterance was the threat by the so-called Holy Alliance to interfere +forcibly in South America with a view to reseating Spain in control of +her former colonies there. President Monroe, pointing to the fact that +it was a principle of American policy not to intermeddle in European +affairs, gave warning that any attempt by the monarchies of Europe "to +extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere" would be +considered by the United States "as dangerous to our peace and safety." +This warning fell in line with British policy at the time and so proved +efficacious. + +[Illustration: NEGRO SOLDIERS AND RED CROSS WORKERS IN FRONT OF CANTEEN, +HAMLET, N.C.] + +[Illustration: COLORED RED CROSS WORKERS FROM THE CANTEEN AT ATLANTA, +GA., FEEDING SOLDIERS AT RAILWAY STATION.] + +[Illustration: COLORED WOMEN IN HOSPITAL GARMENTS CLASS OF BRANCH NO. 6. +NEW ORLEANS CHAPTER, AMERICAN RED CROSS. LOUISE J. ROSS, DIRECTOR.] + +[Illustration: RED CROSS WORKERS. PROMINENT COLORED WOMEN OF ATLANTA, +GA., WHO ORGANIZED CANTEEN FOR RELIEF OF NEGRO SOLDIERS GOING TO AND +RETURNING FROM WAR.] + +[Illustration: THE GAME IS ON. A BASEBALL MATCH BETWEEN NEGRO AND WHITE +TROOPS IN ONE OF THE TRAINING AREAS IN FRANCE.] + +[Illustration: COL. WILLIAM HAYWARD OF 369TH INFANTRY PLAYING BASEBALL +WITH HIS NEGRO SOLDIERS AT ST. NAZAIRE, FRANCE.] + +[Illustration: JAZZ AND SOUTHERN MELODIES HASTEN CURE. NEGRO SAILOR +ENTERTAINING DISABLED NAVY MEN IN HOSPITAL FOR CONVALESCENTS.] + +[Illustration: ENJOYING A BIT OF CAKE BAKED AT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS +CANTEEN AT IS-SUR-TILLE, FRANCE.] + +[Illustration: CORPORAL FRED. McINTYRE OF 369TH INFANTRY, WITH PICTURE +OF THE KAISER WHICH HE CAPTURED FROM A GERMAN OFFICER.] + +[Illustration: LIEUT. ROBERT L. CAMPBELL, NEGRO OFFICER OF THE 368TH +INFANTRY WHO WON FAME AND THE D.S.C. IN ARGONNE FOREST. HE DEVISED A +CLEVER PIECE OF STRATEGY AND DISPLAYED GREAT HEROISM IN THE EXECUTION OF +IT.] + +[Illustration: EMMETT J. SCOTT, APPOINTED BY SECRETARY BAKER, AS SPECIAL +ASSISTANT DURING THE WORLD WAR. HE WAS FORMERLY CONFIDENTIAL SECRETARY +TO THE LATE BOOKER T. WASHINGTON.] + +[Illustration: (TOP)--GENERAL DIAZ, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ITALIAN ARMIES. +MARSHAL FOCH, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ALLIED FORCES. + +(CENTER)--GENERAL PERSHING, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AMERICAN ARMIES. ADMIRAL +SIMS, IN CHARGE OF AMERICAN NAVAL OPERATIONS OVERSEAS. + +(BOTTOM)--KING ALBERT, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF BELGIAN ARMY. FIELD MARSHAL +HAIG, HEAD OF BRITISH ARMIES.] + +In a later section of the same message the proposition was also advanced +that the American continent was no longer subject to colonization. This +clause of the doctrine was the work of Monroe's secretary of state, John +Quincy Adams, and its occasion was furnished by the fear that Russia was +planning to set up a colony at San Francisco, then the property of +Spain, whose natural heir on the North American continent, Adams held, +was the United States. It is this clause of the document that has +furnished much of the basis for its subsequent development. + +In 1902 Germany united with Great Britain and Italy to collect by force +certain claims against Venezuela. President Roosevelt demanded and +finally, after threatening to dispatch Admiral Dewey to the scene of +action, obtained a statement that she would not permanently occupy +Venezuelan territory. Of this statement one of the most experienced and +trusted American editors, avowedly friendly to Germany, remarked at the +time, that while he believed "it was and will remain true for some time +to come, I cannot, in view of the spirit now evidently dominant in the +mind of the emperor and among many who stand near him, express any +belief that such assurances will remain trustworthy for any great length +of time after Germany shall have developed a fleet larger than that of +the United States." He accordingly cautioned the United States "to bear +in mind probabilities and possibilities as to the future conduct of +Germany, and therefore increase gradually our naval strength." Bismarck +pronounced the Monroe Doctrine "an international impertinence," and this +has been the German view all along. + +Dr. Zorn, one of the most conservative of German authorities on +international affairs, concluded an article in Die Woche of September +13, 1913, with these words: "Considered in all its phases, the Monroe +Doctrine is in the end seen to be a question of might only and not of +right." + +The German government's efforts to check American influence in the Latin +American states had of late years been frequent and direct. They +comprised the encouragement of German emigration to certain regions, the +sending of agents to maintain close contact, presentation of German +flags in behalf of the Kaiser, the placing of the German Evangelical +churches in certain South American countries under the Prussian State +Church, annual grants for educational purposes from the imperial +treasury at Berlin, and the like. + +The "Lodge resolution," adopted by the senate in 1912, had in view the +activities of certain German corporations in Latin America, as well as +the episode that immediately occasioned it; nor can there be much doubt +that it was the secret interference by Germany at Copenhagen that +thwarted the sale of the Danish West Indies to the United States in +1903. + +In view of a report that a Japanese corporation, closely connected with +the Japanese government, was negotiating with the Mexican government for +a territorial concession off Magdalena Bay, in lower California, the +senate in 1912 adopted the following resolution, which was offered by +Senator Lodge of Massachusetts: + + "That when any harbor or other place in the American continent is + so situated that the occupation thereof for naval or military + purposes might threaten the communications or the safety of the + United States, the government of the United States could not see + without grave concern, the possession of such harbor or other place + by any corporation or association which has such a relation to + another government, not American, as to give that government + practical power of control for naval or military purposes." + +All of the above documents, arguments and events were of the greatest +importance in connection with the great European struggle. America was +rapidly awakening, and the role of a passive onlooker became +increasingly irksome. It was pointed out that Washington's message said +we must not implicate ourselves in the "ordinary vicissitudes" of +European politics. This case rapidly was assuming something decidedly +beyond the "ordinary." As the carnage increased and outrages piled up, +the finest sensibilities of mankind were shocked and we began to ask +ourselves if we were not criminally negligent in our attitude; if it was +not our duty to put forth a staying hand and use the extreme weight of +our influence to stop the holocaust. + +From August 4 to 26, Germany overran Belgium. Liege was occupied August +9; Brussels, August 20, and Namur, August 24. The stories of atrocities +committed on the civil population of that country have since been well +authenticated. At the time it was hard to believe them, so barbaric and +utterly wanton were they. Civilized people could not understand how a +nation which pretended to be not only civilized, but wished to impose +its culture on the remainder of the world, could be so ruthless to a +small adversary which had committed no crime and desired only to +preserve its nationality, integrity and treaty rights. + +Germany did not occupy Antwerp until October 9, owing to the stiff +resistance of the Belgians and engagements with the French and British +elsewhere. But German arms were uniformly victorious. August 21-23 +occurred the battle of Mons-Charleroi, a serious defeat for the French +and British, which resulted in a dogged retreat eventually to a line +along the Seine, Marne and Meuse rivers. + +The destruction of Louvain occurred August 26, and was one of the events +which inflamed anti-German sentiment throughout the world. The beautiful +cathedral, the historic cloth market, the library and other +architectural monuments for which the city was famed, were put to the +torch. The Belgian priesthood was in woe over these and other +atrocities. Cardinal Mercier called upon the Christian world to note and +protest against these crimes. In his pastoral letter of Christmas, 1914, +he thus pictures Belgium's woe and her Christian fortitude: + + "And there where lives were not taken, and there where the stones + of buildings were not thrown down, what anguish unrevealed! + Families hitherto living at ease, now in bitter want; all commerce + at an end, all careers ruined; industry at a standstill; thousands + upon thousands of workingmen without employment; working women; + shop girls, humble servant girls without the means of earning their + bread, and poor souls forlorn on the bed of sickness and fever + crying: 'O Lord, how long, how long?'--God will save Belgium, my + brethren; you can not doubt it. Nay, rather, He is saving + her--Which of us would have the heart to cancel this page of our + national history? Which of us does not exult in the brightness of + the glory of this shattered nation? When in her throes she brings + forth heroes, our mother country gives her own energy to the blood + of those sons of hers. Let us acknowledge that we needed a lesson + in patriotism--For down within us all is something deeper than + personal interests, than personal kinships, than party feeling, and + this is the need and the will to devote ourselves to that most + general interest which Rome termed the public thing, Res publica. + And this profound will within us is patriotism." + +Meanwhile there was a slight offset to the German successes. Russia had +overrun Galicia and the Allies had conquered the Germany colony of +Togoland in Africa. But on August 26 the Russians were severely defeated +in the battle of Tannenburg in East Prussia. This was offset by a +British naval victory in Helgoland Bight. (August 28.) + +So great had become the pressure of the German armies that on September +3 the French government removed from Paris to Bordeaux. The seriousness +of the situation was made manifest when two days later Great Britain, +France and Russia signed a treaty not to make peace separately. Then it +became evident to the nations of the earth that the struggle was not +only to be a long one, but in all probability the most gigantic in +history. + +The Germans reached the extreme point of their advance, culminating in +the Battle of the Marne, September 6-10. Here the generalship of Joffre +and the strategy of Foch overcame great odds. The Germans were driven +back from the Marne to the River Aisne. The battle line then remained +practically stationary for three years on a front of three hundred +miles. + +The Russians under General Rennenkampf were driven from East Prussia +September 16. Three British armored cruisers were sunk by a submarine +September 22. By September 27 General Botha had gained some successes +for the Allies, and had under way an invasion of German Southwest +Africa. By October 13 Belgium was so completely occupied by the Germans +that the government withdrew entirely from the country and established +itself at Le Havre in France. By the end of the year had occurred the +Battle of Yser in Belgium (October 16-28); the first Battle of Ypres +(decisive day October 31), in which the British, French and Belgians +saved the French channel ports; De Wet's rebellion against the British +in South Africa (October 28); German naval victory in the Pacific off +the coast of Chile (November 1); fall of Tsingtau, German possession in +China, to the Japanese (November 7); Austrian invasion of Serbia +(Belgrade taken December 2, recaptured by the Serbians December 14); +German commerce raider Emden caught and destroyed at Cocos Island +(November 10); British naval victory off the Falkland Islands (December +8); South African rebellion collapsed (December 8); French government +returned to Paris (December 9); German warships bombarded West +Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby on the coast of England (December +16). On December 24 the Germans showed their Christian spirit in an +inauguration of the birthday of Christ by the first air raid over +England. The latter part of the year 1914 saw no important action by the +United States excepting a proclamation by the president of the +neutrality of the Panama canal zone. + +The events of 1915 and succeeding years became of great importance to +the United States and it is with a record of those having the greatest +bearing on our country that this account principally will deal. + +On January 20 Secretary of State Bryan found it necessary to explain and +defend our policy of neutrality. January 28 the American merchantman +William P. Frye was sunk by the German cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich. On +February 10 the United States dispatched a note to the German government +holding it to a "strict accountability if any merchant vessel of the +United States is destroyed or any American citizens lose their lives." +Germany replied February 16 stating that her "war zone" act was an act +of self-defense against illegal methods employed by Great Britain in +preventing commerce between Germany and neutral countries. Two days +later the German official blockade of Great Britain commenced and the +German submarines began their campaign of piracy and pillage. + +The United States on February 20 sent an identic note to Germany and +Great Britain suggesting an agreement between them respecting the +conduct of naval warfare. The British steamship Falaba was sunk by a +submarine March 28, with a loss of 111 lives, one of which was an +American. April 8 the steamer Harpalyce, in the service of the American +commission for the aid of Belgium, was torpedoed with a loss of 15 +lives. On April 22 the German embassy in America sent out a warning +against embarkation on vessels belonging to Great Britain. The American +vessel Cushing was attacked by a German aeroplane April 28. On May 1 the +American steamship Gullflight was sunk by a German submarine and two +Americans were lost. That day the warning of the German embassy was +published in the daily papers. The Lusitania sailed at 12:20 noon. + +Five days later occurred the crime which almost brought America into the +second year of the war. The Cunard line steamship Lusitania was sunk by +a German submarine with a loss of 1,154 lives, of which 114 were +Americans. After the policy of frightfulness put into effect by the +Germans in Belgium and other invaded territories, the massacres of +civilians, the violation of women and killing of children; burning, +looting and pillage; the destruction of whole towns, acts for which no +military necessity could be pleaded, civilization should have been +prepared for the Lusitania crime. But it seems it was not. The burst of +indignation throughout the United States was terrible. Here was where +the terms German and Hun became synonomous, having in mind the methods +and ravages of the barbaric scourge Attilla, king of the Huns, who in +the fifth century sacked a considerable portion of Europe and introduced +some refinements in cruelty which have never been excelled. + +The Lusitania went down twenty-one minutes after the attack. The Berlin +government pleaded in extenuation of the sinking that the ship was +armed, and German agents in New York procured testimony which was +subsequently proven in court to have been perjured, to bolster up the +falsehood. In further justification, the German government adduced the +fact that the ship was carrying ammunition which it said was "destined +for the destruction of brave German soldiers." This contention our +government rightly brushed aside as irrelevant. + +The essence of the case was stated by our government in its note of June +9 as follows: + + "Whatever be the other facts regarding the Lusitania, the principal + fact is that a great steamer, primarily and chiefly a conveyance + for passengers, and carrying more than a thousand souls who had no + part or lot in the conduct of the war, was sunk without so much as + a challenge or a warning, and that men, women and children were + sent to their death in circumstances unparalleled in modern + warfare." + +Three notes were written to Germany regarding the Lusitania sinking. The +first dated May 13 advanced the idea that it was impossible to conduct +submarine warfare conformably with international law. In the second +dated June 9 occurs the statement that "the government of the United +States is contending for something much greater than mere rights of +property or privileges of commerce. It is contending for nothing less +high and sacred than the rights of humanity." In the third note dated +July 21, it is asserted that "the events of the past two months have +clearly indicated that it is possible and practicable to conduct +submarine operations within the so-called war zone in substantial accord +with the accepted practices of regulated warfare." The temper of the +American people and the president's notes had succeeded in securing a +modification of the submarine campaign. + +It required cool statesmanship to prevent a rushing into war over the +Lusitania incident and events which had preceeded it. There was a well +developed movement in favor of it, but the people were not unanimous on +the point. It would have lacked that cooperation necessary for +effectiveness; besides our country was but poorly prepared for engaging +in hostilities. It was our state of unpreparedness continuing for a long +time afterwards, which contributed, no doubt, to German arrogance. They +thought we would not fight. + +But the United States had become thoroughly awakened and the authorities +must have felt that if the conflict was to be unduly prolonged, we must +eventually be drawn into it. This is reflected in the modified +construction which the president and others began to place on the +Monroe Doctrine. The great underlying idea of the doctrine remained +vital, but in a message to congress delivered December 7, 1915, the +president said: + +"In the day in whose light we now stand there is no claim of +guardianship, but a full and honorable association as of partners +between ourselves and our neighbors in the interests of America." +Speaking before the League to Enforce Peace at Washington, May 27, 1916, +he said: "What affects mankind is inevitably our affair, as well as the +affair of the nations of Europe and of Asia." In his address to the +senate of January 22, 1917, he said: "I am proposing, as it were, that +the nations should with one accord adopt the doctrine of President +Monroe as the doctrine of the world--that no nation should seek to +extend its policy over any other nation or people, but that every people +should be left free to determine its own policy, its own way of +development, unhindered, unthreatened, unafraid, the little along with +the great and powerful." This was a modifying and enlarging of the +doctrine, as well as a departure from Washington's warning against +becoming entangled with the affairs of Europe. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +HUNS SWEEPING WESTWARD + + +TOWARD SHORES OF ATLANTIC--SPREAD RUIN AND DEVASTATION--CAPITALS OF +CIVILIZATION ALARMED--ACTIVITIES OF SPIES--APOLOGIES AND LIES--GERMAN +ARMS WINNING--GAIN TIME TO FORGE NEW WEAPONS--FEW VICTORIES FOR +ALLIES--ROUMANIA CRUSHED--INCIDENT OF U-53. + + +The powerful thrusts of the German armies toward the English channel and +the Atlantic ocean, the pitiless submarine policy, and the fact that +Germany and Austria had allied with them Bulgaria and Turkey, began to +spread alarm in the non-belligerent nations of the world. + +That Germany was playing a Machiavellian policy against the United +States soon became evident. After each submarine outrage would come an +apology, frequently a promise of reparation and an agreement not to +repeat the offense, with no intention, however, of keeping faith in any +respect. As a mask for their duplicity, the Germans even sent a message +of sympathy for the loss of American lives through the sinking of the +Lusitania; which but intensified the state of mind in this country. + +Less than three weeks after the Lusitania outrage the American steamship +Nebraskan was attacked (May 25) by a submarine. The American steamship +Leelanaw was sunk by submarines July 25. The White Star liner Arabic was +sunk by a submarine August 19; sixteen victims, two American. + +Our government received August 24 a note from the German ambassador +regarding the sinking of the Arabic. It stated that the loss of American +lives was contrary to the intention of the German government and was +deeply regretted. On September 1 Ambassador von Bernstorff supplemented +the note with a letter to Secretary Lansing giving assurance that German +submarines would sink no more liners. + +The Allan liner Hesperian was sunk September 4 by a German submarine; 26 +lives lost, one American. + +On October 5 the German government sent a communication regretting again +and disavowing the sinking of the Arabic, and stating its willingness to +pay indemnities. + +Meanwhile depression existed among the Allies and alarm among nations +outside the war over the German conquest of Russian Poland. They +captured Lublin, July 31; Warsaw, August 4; Ivangorod, August 5; Kovno, +August 17; Novogeorgievsk, August 19; Brest-Litovsk, August 25, and +Vilna, September 18. + +Activities of spies and plottings within the United States began to +divide attention with the war in Europe and the submarine situation. Dr. +Constantin Dumba, who was Austro-Hungarian ambassador to the United +States, in a letter to the Austrian minister of foreign affairs, dated +August 20, recommended "most warmly" to the favorable consideration of +the foreign office "proposals with respect to the preparation of +disturbances in the Bethlehem steel and munitions factory, as well as in +the middle west." + +He felt that "we could, if not entirely prevent the production of war +material in Bethlehem and in the middle west, at any rate strongly +disorganize it and hold it up for months." + +The letter was intrusted to an American newspaper correspondent named +Archibald, who was just setting out for Europe under the protection of +an American passport. Archibald's vessel was held up at Falmouth, +England, his papers seized and their contents cabled to the United +States. On September 8 Secretary Lansing instructed our ambassador at +Vienna to demand Dr. Dumba's recall and the demand was soon acceded to +by his government. + +On December 4 Captain Karl Boy-Ed, naval attache of the German embassy +in Washington, was dismissed by our government for "improper activity in +naval affairs." At the same time Captain Franz von Papen, military +attache of the embassy, was dismissed for "improper activity in military +matters." In an intercepted letter to a friend in Germany he referred to +our people as "those idiotic Yankees." + +As a fitting wind-up of the year and as showing what the German promise +to protect liners amounted to, the British passenger steamer Persia was +sunk in the Mediterranean by a submarine December 30, 1915. + +The opening of 1916 found the president struggling with the grave +perplexities of the submarine problem, exchanging notes with the German +government, taking fresh hope after each disappointment and endeavoring +by every means to avert the impending strife and find a basis for the +preservation of an honorable peace. + +It was now evident to most thinking people that the apparent concessions +of the Germans were granted merely to provide them time to complete a +larger program of submarine construction. This must have been evident to +the president; but he appears to have possessed an optimism that rose +above his convictions. + +Our government, January 18, put forth a declaration of principles +regarding submarine attacks and inquired whether the governments of the +allies would subscribe to such an agreement. This was one of the +president's "forlorn hope" movements to try and bring about an agreement +among the belligerents which would bring the submarine campaign within +the restrictions of international law. Could such an agreement have been +effected, it would have been of vast relief to this country and might +have kept us out of the war. The Allies were willing to subscribe to any +reasonable agreement provided there was assurance that it would be +maintained. They pointed out, however, the futility of treating on the +basis of promises alone with a nation which not only had shown a +contempt for its ordinary promises, but had repudiated its sacred +obligations. + +A ray of hope gleamed across our national horizon when Germany, on +February 16, sent a note acknowledging her liability in the Lusitania +affair. But the whole matter was soon complicated again by the "armed +ship" issue. Germany had sent a note to the neutral powers that an armed +merchant ship would be treated as a warship and would be sunk on sight. +Secretary Lansing made the statement for this government that by +international law commercial ships have a right to arm themselves for +self-defense. It was an additional emphasis on the position that the +submarine campaign as conducted by Germany was simply piracy and had no +standing in international law. President Wilson, in a letter to Senator +Stone February 24, said that American citizens had a right to travel on +armed merchant ships, and he refused to advise them against exercising +the right. + +March 24 the French steamer Sussex, engaged in passenger traffic across +the English channel, was torpedoed and sunk without warning. About +eighty passengers, including American citizens, were killed or wounded. + +Several notes passed between our government and Germany on the sinking +of the Sussex and other vessels. Our ambassador at Berlin was instructed +to take energetic action and to insist upon adequate attention to our +demands. April 18 our government delivered what was considered an +ultimatum to the effect that unless Germany abandoned her methods of +submarine warfare, the United States would sever diplomatic relations. +The president addressed congress on the matter the following day. + +Germany had not yet completed her program of submarine building and +thought it wise to temporize with the American government for a while +longer. May 4 she replied to the ultimatum of April 18, acknowledged the +sinking of the Sussex and in the main acceded to all the demands of the +United States. There were certain phases which indicated that Germany +wished to use this country as a medium for securing certain agreements +from the Allies. The president accepted the German conditions generally, +but made it clear in his reply that the conditions could not depend upon +any negotiations between this country and other belligerents. The +intimation was plain enough that the United States would not be a +catspaw for German aims. + +Up to this time in the year 1916 the advantage in arms had been greatly +on the side of Germany and her allies. In January the British had +evacuated the entire Gallipoli peninsula and the campaign in Turkey soon +came to grief. Cettinje, the capital of Montenegro, had also fallen to +the Teutonic allies, and that country practically was put out of the +war. + +The British had made important gains in the German colonies in Africa +and had conquered most of the Kamerun section there. Between February +and July the Germans had been battling at the important French position +of Verdun, with great losses and small results. Practically all the +ground lost was slowly regained by the French in the autumn. The +Russians had entered Persia in February, and April 17 had captured the +important city of Trebizond in Armenia from the Turks. But on April 29 +General Townshend surrendered his entire British force to the Turks at +Kut el Amara, after being besieged for 143 days and finally starved into +submission. + +Throughout the balance of the year the advantage was greatly on the side +of the Germans, for the latter part of the year saw the beginning of the +crushing of Roumania, which had entered the war August 27 on the side of +the Allies. Bucharest, the capital, fell to the Germans December 6; +Dobrudja, January 2, and Focsani, January 8 of the ensuing year, 1917. +The crushing of Roumania was accomplished almost entirely by treachery. +The Germans knew the plans of all the principal fortifications; the +strength and plans of the Roumanian forces, and every detail calculated +to be of benefit. The country had been honeycombed with their spies +prior to and during the war, very much as Russia had been. It is quite +evident that men high in the councils of the Roumanian government and in +full possession of the military secrets of the country were simply +disguised German agents. + +Between July and November had occurred the great battles of the Somme +during which the Allies had failed to break the German lines. The +Austrians in June had launched a great attack and made much progress +against the Italians in the Trentino. The principal offsets to the +German gains during the last seven months of the year 1916 were the +Russian offensive in Volhynia and Bukovina, and the counter drive of the +Italians against the Austrians. The Russians captured Czernovitz June +17, and by the end of the month had overrun the whole of Bukovina. The +Italians drove out the Austrians between August 6 and September 1, +winning August 9 the important city and fortress of Gorizia. + +Submarine incidents important to this government were not lacking during +the latter half of the year. The German submarine U-53 suddenly appeared +October 8 in the harbor at Newport, R.I. The commander delivered +letters for the German ambassador and immediately put to sea to begin +ravages on British shipping off the Nantucket coast. Among the five or +six vessels sunk was the steamer Stephano, which carried American +passengers. The passengers and crews of all the vessels were picked up +by American destroyers and no lives were lost. The episode, which was an +eight-day wonder, and resulted in a temporary tie-up of shipping in +eastern ports, started numerous rumors and several legal questions, none +of which, however, turned out finally to have been of much importance, +as U-53 vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, and its visit was not +succeeded by any like craft. It is not improbable that the purpose of +the German government in sending the boat to our shores was to convey a +hint of what we might expect if we should become involved with Germany. +October 28 the British steamer Marina was torpedoed with a loss of six +American lives. + +The straining of President Washington's advice and the Monroe Doctrine +were again evident throughout the year. President Wilson in an address +before the League to Enforce Peace, May 27, had said that the United +States was ready to join any practical league for preserving peace and +guaranteeing the political and territorial integrity of nations. +November 29 our government sent a protest to Germany against the +deportation of Belgians. + +Almost immediately upon the invasion of Belgium the German authorities, +in pursuance of their system of terrorization, shipped to Germany +considerable groups of the population. On October 12,1915, a general +order was issued by the German military government in Belgium providing +that persons who should "refuse work suitable to their occupation and in +the execution of which the military administration is interested," +should be subject to one year's imprisonment or to deportation to +Germany. Numerous sentences, both of men and women, were imposed under +that order. + +The wholesale deportation of Belgian workmen to Germany, which began +October 3, 1916, proceeded on different grounds, for, having stripped +large sections of the country of machinery and raw materials, the +military authorities now came forward with the plea that it was +necessary to send the labor after it. The number of workmen deported is +variously estimated at between one and three hundred thousand. + +"The rage, the terror, the despair" excited by this measure all over +Belgium, our minister, Brand Whitlock, reported, "were beyond anything +we had witnessed since the day the Germans poured into Brussels. I am +constantly in receipt of reports from all over Belgium that bear out the +stories of brutality and cruelty. + +"In tearing away from nearly every humble home in the land a husband and +a father or a son and brother, the Germans have lighted a fire of hatred +that will never go out. It is one of those deeds that make one despair +of the future of the human race, a deed coldly planned, studiously +matured, and deliberately and systematically executed, a deed so cruel +that German soldiers are said to have wept in its execution, and so +monstrous that even German officers are now said to be ashamed." Poland +and the occupied parts of France experienced similar treatment. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE HOUR AND THE MAN + + +A BEACON AMONG THE YEARS--TRYING PERIOD FOR PRESIDENT WILSON--GERMANY +CONTINUES DILATORY TACTICS--PEACE EFFORTS FAIL--ALL HONORABLE MEANS +EXHAUSTED--PATIENCE CEASES TO BE A VIRTUE--ENEMY ABANDONS ALL +SUBTERFUGE--UNRESTRICTED SUBMARINE WARFARE--GERMAN INTRIGUES WITH +MEXICO--THE ZIMMERMANN NOTE--AMERICA SEIZES THE SWORD--WAR IS +DECLARED--PERSHING GOES ABROAD--FIRST TROOPS SAIL--WAR MEASURES--WAR +OPERATIONS + + +An enormous beacon light in history will attach to the year 1917. The +outstanding feature of course was the entry of the United States into +the great war--the deciding factor in the struggle. It marked the +departure of America from the traditional policy of political isolation +from Europe. History will record that it was not a voluntary, but a +forced, departure, due to the utter disregard by Germany of our rights +on the seas, at home and elsewhere. + +The first thirty days of the year found the man at the head of our +government still hoping against hope, still struggling with all the odds +against him, still courageously engaged in efforts for peace. It was a +particularly trying time for President Wilson, as a large portion of his +own party and most of the nation was arrayed against him. The people in +general felt that the time for writing notes, for parleying had passed. + +On December 12, 1916, Germany, in a formal note, had offered to enter +into peace negotiations, but did not specify any terms. The note +referred in boastful language to the victorious German armies. It was +rejected by the Allies as empty and insincere. The president on December +18, 1916, had addressed all the beligerents asking them to indicate +precisely the terms on which, they would make peace. Germany's reply to +this note was no more satisfactory than before. The Allies replied +demanding restorations, reparation and indemnities. + +On the 22nd of January the president appeared before the senate in his +famous "peace without victory" address, in which he advocated a world +league for peace. His views were received sympathetically, though the +Allies pointed out that no peace based on the condition of things before +the war could be durable, and that as matters stood it would be a +virtual victory for Germany. It was the president's last effort to bring +peace to the world without resorting to armed force. + +The most biased historian is bound to affirm that Woodrow Wilson +exhausted every effort not only to keep the United States honorably at +peace, but to bring about a pacific attitude and understanding among the +belligerents. When finally he saw that no argument save that of the +sword would avail, when finally the hour struck, he became the man of +the hour courageously and nobly. + +After President Wilson's failure to bring about even a pacific attitude +among the warring nations, no peace appeal from any quarter calculated +to receive respectful attention was made, excepting that issued by Pope +Benedict August 15, four months after the United States had declared +war. The President summarized the Pope's proposals as follows: + + "His Holiness in substance proposes that we return to the status + existing before the war, and that then there be a general + condonation, disarmament, and a concert of nations based upon an + acceptance of the principle of arbitration; that by a similar + concert freedom of the seas be established; and that the + territorial claims of France and Italy, the perplexing problems of + the Balkan States and the restitution of Poland be left to such + conciliatory adjustments as may be possible in the new temper of + such a peace, due regard being paid to the aspirations of the + peoples whose political fortunes and affiliations will be + involved." + +The president's reply to the Pope forcibly stated the aim of the United +States to free the world from the menace of Prussian militarism +controlled by an arrogant and faithless autocracy. Distinguishing +between the German rulers and the people, President Wilson asserted that +the United States would willingly negotiate with a government subject to +the popular will. The note disavowed any intention to dismember +countries or to impose unfair economic conditions. In part the +President's language was: + + "Responsible statesmen must now everywhere see, if they never saw + before, that no peace can rest securely upon political or economic + restrictions meant to benefit some nations and cripple or embarrass + others, upon vindictive action of any sort, or any kind of revenge + or deliberate injury. The American people have suffered intolerable + wrongs at the hands of the Imperial German Government, but they + desire no reprisal upon the German people, who have themselves + suffered all things in this war, which they did not choose. They + believe that peace should rest upon the rights of peoples, not the + rights of governments--the rights of peoples great or small, weak + or powerful--their equal right to freedom and security and self + government and to a participation upon fair terms in the economic + opportunities of the world, the German people, of course, included, + if they will accept equality and not seek domination." + +About five weeks prior to the Pope's proposition, the Germans had again +put forth a peace feeler. On July 19, the German reichstag adopted +resolutions in favor of peace on the basis of mutual understanding and +lasting reconciliation among the nations. The resolutions sounded well +but they were accompanied by expressions to the effect that Germany in +the war was the victim of aggression and that it approved the acts of +its government. They referred to the "men who are defending the +Fatherland," to the necessity of assuring the freedom of the seas, and +to the impossibility of conquering a united German nation. There was no +doubt in the mind of any neutral or any belligerent opposing Germany +that the German government was the real aggressor and that the freedom +of the seas had never been restricted except by Germany herself, hence +there was no tendency to accept this as a serious bid for peace. The +resolutions figured largely in German internal politics but were without +effect elsewhere. + +Stockholm, Sweden was the scene of a number of peace conferences but as +they were engineered by socialists of an extreme type and others holding +views usually classed as anarchistic, no serious attention was paid to +them. The "pacifists" in the Allied and neutral countries were more or +less active, but received little encouragement. Their arguments did not +appeal to patriotism. + +Going back to the beginning of the year, within a week after the +President's "peace without victory" speech before the senate, Germany +replied to it by announcing that beginning February 1, it would begin +unrestricted submarine warfare in certain extensive zones around the +British Isles, France and Italy. It would, however, out of the kindness +of its heart, permit the United States to use a narrow track across the +sea with a landing at Falmouth, one ship a week, provided the American +ships were painted red and white and carried various kinds of +distinguishing marks. + +This of course was a direct repudiation by Germany of all the promises +she had made to the United States. The President saw the sword being +forced into his hands but he was not yet ready to seize it with all his +might. He preferred first to exhaust the expediency of an armed +neutrality. On February 3, he went before a joint session of the house +and senate and announced that Ambassador von Bernstorff had been given +his passports and all diplomatic relations with the Teuton empire +severed. On February 12, an attempt at negotiation came through the +Swiss minister who had been placed in charge of German diplomatic +interests in this country. The President promptly and emphatically +replied that no negotiations could be even considered until the +submarine order had been withdrawn. + +On February 26, the lower house of congress voted formal permission for +the arming of American merchant ships as a protection against submarine +attacks, and appropriated one hundred million dollars for the arming and +insuring of the ships. A similar measure in the senate was defeated by +Senator Robert M. LaFollette of Wisconsin, acting under a loose rule of +the senate which permitted filibustering and unlimited debate. The +session of congress expired March 4, and the President immediately +called an extra session of the senate which amended its rules so that +the measure was passed. + +Senator LaFollette's opposition to the war and some of his public +utterances outside the senate led to a demand for his expulsion from +that body. A committee of investigation was appointed which proceeded +perfunctorilly for about a year. The senator was never expelled but any +influence he may have had and any power to hamper the activities of the +government, were effectually killed for the duration of the war. The +suppression of the senator did not proceed so much from congress or the +White House, as from the press of the country. Without regard to views +or party, the newspapers of the nation voluntarily and patriotically +entered what has been termed a "conspiracy of silence" regarding the +activities of the Wisconsin senator. By refusing to print his name or +give him any sort of publicity he was effectively sidetracked and in a +short time the majority of the people of the country forgot his +existence. It was a striking demonstration that propaganda depends for +its effectiveness upon publicity, and has given rise to an order of +thought which contends that the newspapers should censor their own +columns and suppress movements that are detrimental or of evil tendency, +by ignoring them. Opposed to this is the view that the more publicity a +movement gets, and the fuller and franker the discussion it evokes, the +more quickly will its merits or demerits become apparent. + +If any evidence was lacking of German duplicity, violation of promises +and general double-dealing, it came to light in the famous document +known as the "Zimmermann Note" which came into the hands of the American +state department and was revealed February 28. It was a confidential +communication from Dr. Alfred Zimmermann, German Foreign Minister, +addressed to the German Minister in Mexico and proposed an alliance of +Germany, Mexico and Japan against the United States. Its text follows: + + "On the 1st of February we intend to begin submarine warfare + unrestricted. In spite of this it is our intention to endeavor to + keep neutral the United States of America. If this attempt is not + successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with + Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We + shall give general financial support, and it is understood that + Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas and + Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement. You are + instructed to inform the president of Mexico of the above in the + greatest confidence as soon as it is certain there will be an + outbreak of war with the United States, and suggest that the + president of Mexico on his own initiative, should communicate with + Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time + offer to mediate between Germany and Japan. Please call to the + attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of + ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make + peace in a few months." + +The American steamers City of Memphis, Vigilancia and Illinois had been +sunk and fifteen lives lost in pursuance of the German submarine policy +to torpedo without warning and without any regard to the safety of crews +or passengers, all ships found within the barred zones. The President +could no longer postpone drawing the sword. Being convinced that the +inevitable hour had struck, he proved himself the man of the hour and +acted with energy. A special session of congress was called for April 2. +The day is bound to stand out in history for in the afternoon the +President delivered his famous message asking that war be declared +against Germany. He said that armed neutrality had been found wanting +and in the end would only draw the country into war without its having +the status of a belligerent. One of the striking paragraphs of the +message follows: + + "With a profound sense of the solemn and even tragical character of + the step I am taking, and of the grave responsibility which it + involves, but in unhesitating obedience to what I deem my + constitutional duty, I advise that the congress declare the recent + course of the imperial German government to be in fact nothing less + than war against the government and people of the United States; + that it formally accept the status of belligerent which has thus + been thrust upon it and that it take immediate steps not only to + put the country in a more thorough state of defence, but also to + exert all its power and employ all its resources to bring the + government of the German empire to terms and end the war." + +Congress voted a declaration of war April 6. Only six senators out of a +total of 96, and fifty representatives out of a total of 435, voted +against it. Congress also, at the request of the President, voted for +the creation of a national army and the raising to war strength of the +National Guard, the Marine corps and the Navy. Laws were passed dealing +with espionage, trading with the enemy and the unlawful manufacture and +use of explosives. Provision was made for the insurance of soldiers and +sailors, for priority of shipments, for the seizure and use of enemy +ships in American harbors, for conserving and controlling the food and +fuel supply of the country, for stimulating agriculture, for enlarging +the aviation branch of the service, for extending credit to foreign +governments, for issuing bonds and for providing additional revenues by +increasing old and creating new taxes. + +The extra session of congress lasted a few days over six months. In that +time it passed all the above measures and others of less importance. It +authorized the expenditure of over nineteen billions of dollars +($19,321,225,208). Including the amount appropriated at the second +session of the preceeding congress, the amount reached the unheard of +total of over twenty-one billions of dollars ($21,390,730,940). + +German intrigues and German ruthlessness created an additional stench in +the nostrils of civilization when on September 8, the United States made +public the celebrated "Spurlos Versenkt" telegram which had come into +its possession. It is a German phrase meaning "sunk without leaving a +trace" and was contained in a telegram from Luxburg, the German minister +at Buenos Aires. The telegram (of May 19, 1917) advised that Argentine +steamers "be spared if possible or else sunk without a trace being +left." The advice was repeated July 9. The Swedish minister at Buenos +Aires sent these messages in code as though they were his own private +dispatches. + +On August 26, the British Admiralty had communicated to the +International Conference of Merchant Seaman, a statement of the facts in +twelve cases of sinkings during the previous seven months in which it +was shown how "spurlos versenkt" was applied. It was shown that in these +cases the submarine commanders had deliberately opened fire on the crews +of the vessels after they had taken to their small boats or had +attempted to dispose of them in some other way. + +Within six weeks after the declaration of war our government was +preparing to send troops to France. An expeditionary force comprising +about one division of Regulars was announced May 14. General Pershing +who was to command arrived in England June 8, and in France June 13. The +first body of our troops reached France June 27 and the second a little +later. The safe passage of these troops was remarkable, as their +departure had been made known to Germany through her spies, and +submarines laid in wait for the transports. The vigilance of our +convoying agencies continued throughout the war and was one of the high +spots of excellence reached in our part of the struggle. Of a total of +over 2,000,000 soldiers transported to France and many thousands +returned on account of sickness and furloughs, only 661 were lost as a +direct result of German submarine operations. + +On December 7, the United States declared war against Austria-Hungary. +This was largely on the insistence of Italy and was valuable and +gratifying to that ally. + +President Wilson on December 26, issued a proclamation taking over the +railroads of the country, W.G. McAdoo was appointed director general. +The proclamation went into effect two days later and the entire rail +transportation system, for the first time in the history of the nation, +passed under the control and management of the government. + +Excepting the revolution in Russia which led to the abdication of Czar +Nicholas II (March 11-15) and so disorganized the country that it never +figured effectively in the war afterwards, the year was one of distinct +advantage to the Allies. + +Kut el Amara was retaken by the British February 24. Bagdad fell to the +same forces March 11. From March 17th to 19th the Germans retired to the +"Hindenburg Line" evacuating a strip of territory in France 100 miles +long and averaging 13 miles in width, from Arras to Soissons. Between +April 9 and May 14, the British had important successes in the Battle of +Arras, capturing Vimy Ridge April 9. Between April 16 and May 6 the +French made gains in the Battle of the Aisne, between Soissons and +Reims. Between May 15 and September 15 occurred an Italian offensive in +which General Cadorna inflicted severe defeats on the Austrians on the +Carso and Bainsizza plateaus. + +The British blew up Messines Ridge, south of Ypres, June 7 and captured +7,500 German prisoners. June 12 King Constantine of Greece was forced to +abdicate and on June 29, Greece entered the war on the side of the +Allies. A mutiny in the German fleet at Wilhelmshaven and Kiel occurred +July 30 and a second mutiny September 2. + +August 20-24 the French recaptured high ground at Verdun, lost in 1916. +October 23-26 a French drive north of the Aisne won important positions +including Malmaison fort. The Germans retreated from the Chemin de +Dames, north of the Aisne, November 2. Between November 22 and December +13 occurred the Battle of Cambrai in which the British employed "tanks" +to break down the wire entanglements instead of the usual artillery +preparations. Bourlon Wood dominating Cambrai was taken November 26. A +surprise counterattack by the Germans December 2, compelled the British +to give up one-fourth of the ground gained. Jerusalem was captured by +the British December 9. + +The British national labor conference on December 29, approved a +continuation of the war for aims similar to those defined by President +Wilson. + +Aside from the collapse of Russia, culminating in an armistice between +Germany and the Bolsheviki government of Russia at Brest-Litovsk, +December 15, the most important Teutonic success was in the big +German-Austrian counterdrive in Italy, October 24 to December 1. The +Italians suffered a loss of territory gained during the summer and their +line was shifted to the Piave river, Asiago plateau and Brenta river. + +Brazil declared war on Germany October 26. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +NEGROES RESPOND TO THE CALL. + + +SWIFT AND UNHALTING ARRAY--FEW PERMITTED TO VOLUNTEER--ONLY NATIONAL +GUARD ACCEPTED--NO NEW UNITS FORMED--SELECTIVE DRAFT THEIR +OPPORTUNITY--PARTIAL DIVISION OF GUARDSMEN--COMPLETE DIVISION OF +SELECTIVES--MANY IN TRAINING--ENTER MANY BRANCHES OF SERVICE--NEGRO +NURSES AUTHORIZED--NEGRO Y.M.C.A. WORKERS--NEGRO WAR +CORRESPONDENT--NEGRO ASSISTANT TO SECRETARY OF WAR--TRAINING CAMP FOR +NEGRO OFFICERS--FIRST TIME IN ARTILLERY--COMPLETE RACIAL SEGREGATION. + + +When the call to war was sounded by President Wilson, no response was +more swift and unhalting than that of the Negro in America. Before our +country was embroiled the black men of Africa had already contributed +their share in pushing back the Hun. When civilization was tottering and +all but overthrown, France and England were glad to avail themselves of +the aid of their Senegalese, Algerian, Soudanese and other troops from +the tribes of Africa. The story of their valor is written on the +battlefields of France in imperishable glory. + +Considering the splendid service of the--in many cases--half wild blacks +from the region of the equator, it seems strange that our government did +not hasten sooner and without demur to enlist the loyal Blacks of this +country with their glowing record in former wars, their unquestioned +mental attainments, their industry, stamina and self reliance. Yet at +the beginning of America's participation in the war, it was plain that +the old feeling of intolerance; the disposition to treat the Negro +unfairly, was yet abroad in the land. + +He was willing; anxious to volunteer and offered himself in large +numbers at every recruiting station, without avail. True, he was +accepted in numerous instances, but the condition precedent, that of +filling up and rounding out the few Negro Regular and National Guard +organizations below war strength, was chafing and humiliating. Had the +response to the call for volunteers been as ardent among all classes of +our people; especially the foreign born, as it was from the American +Negro, it is fair to say that the selective draft would not necessarily +have been so extensive. + +It was not until the selective draft was authorized and the organization +of the National Army began, that the Negro was given his full +opportunity. His willingness and eagerness to serve were again +demonstrated. Some figures dealing with the matter, taken from the +official report of the Provost Marshall General (General E.H. Crowder) +will be cited later on. + +Of the four colored regiments in the Regular Army, the 24th infantry had +been on the Mexican border since 1916; the 25th infantry in Hawaii all +the years of the war; the Ninth cavalry in the Philippines since 1916, +and the 10th cavalry had been doing patrol and garrison duty on the +Mexican border and elsewhere in the west since early in 1917. These four +regiments were all sterling organizations dating their foundation back +to the days immediately following the Civil war. Their record was and is +an enviable one. It is no reflection on them that they were not chosen +for overseas duty. The country needed a dependable force on the Mexican +border, in Hawaii, the Philippines, and in different garrisons at home. + +A number of good white Regular Army regiments were kept on this side for +the same reasons; not however, overlooking or minimizing the fact not to +the honor of the nation in its final resolve, that there has always been +fostered a spirit in the counsels and orders of the Department of War, +as in all the other great government departments, to restrain rather +than to encourage the patriotic and civic zeal of their faithful and +qualified Negro aids and servants. That is to say, to draw before them +a certain imaginary line; beyond and over which the personal ambitions +of members of the race; smarting for honorable renown and promotion; +predicated on service and achievement, they were not permitted to go. A +virtual "Dead Line"; its parent and wet nurse being that strange thing +known as American Prejudice, unknown of anywhere else on earth, which +was at once a crime against its marked and selected victims, and a +burden of shame which still clings to it; upon the otherwise great +nation, that it has condoned and still remains silent in its presence. + +Negro National Guard organizations had grown since the Spanish-American +war, but they still were far from being numerous in 1917. The ones +accepted by the war department were the Eighth Illinois Infantry, a +regiment manned and officered entirely by Negroes, the 15th New York +Infantry all Negroes with five Negro officers, all the senior officers +being white; the Ninth Ohio, a battalion manned and officered by +Negroes; the 1st Separate Battalion of the District of Columbia, an +infantry organization manned and officered by Negroes; and Negro +companies from the states of Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts and +Tennessee. Massachusetts also had a company known as the 101st +Headquarters company and Military Police. The Eighth Illinois became the +370th Infantry in the United States army; the 15th New York became the +369th Infantry; the Ninth Ohio battalion and the companies from +Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts and Tennessee, as well as the +District of Columbia battalion, were all consolidated into the 372nd +Infantry. + +When the above organizations had been recruited up to war strength there +were between 12,000 and 14,000 colored men representing the National +Guard of the country. With a population of 12,000,000 Negroes to draw +from; the majority of those suitable for military service anxious to +enlist, it readily can be seen what a force could have been added to +this branch of the service had there been any encouragement of it. There +was not lacking a great number of the race, many of them college +graduates, competent to act as officers of National Guard units. Many of +those commissioned during the Spanish-American war had the experience +and age to fit them for senior regimental commands. The 8th Illinois was +commanded by Colonel Franklin A. Denison, a prominent colored attorney +of Chicago and a seasoned military man. He was the only colored man of +the rank of Colonel who was permitted to go to France in the combatant +or any other branch of the service. After a brief period in the earlier +campaigns he was invalided home very much against his will. + +The 15th New York was commanded by Colonel William Hayward, a white man. +He was devoted to his black soldiers and they were very fond of him. +Officers immediately subordinate to him were white men. The District of +Columbia battalion might have retained its colored commander, Major +James E. Walker, as he was a fine soldierly figure and possessed of the +requisite ability, but he was removed by death while his unit was still +training near Washington. Some of the Negro officers of National Guard +organizations retained their commands, but the majority were superseded +or transferred before sailing or soon after arrival in France. + +The 369th, the 370th and the 372nd infantry regiments in the United +States army, mentioned as having been formed from the colored National +Guard units, became a part of the 93rd division. Another regiment, the +371st, formed from the draft forces was also part of the same division. +This division was brigaded with the French from the start and saw +service through the war alongside the French poilus with whom they +became great friends. There grew up a spirit of which, side by side, +they faced and smashed the savage Hun, never wavered or changed. Besides +the soldiers from Illinois, New York, Ohio, District of Columbia, +Connecticut, Maryland and Tennessee, there were Negro contingents from +Mississippi and South Carolina in the 93rd division. One of the +regiments of this division, the 369th (15th New York) was of the first +of the American forces to reach France, following mutual admiration +between these two widely different representatives of the human family, +that during the period in the expeditionary force of Regulars which +reached France June 13, 1917; being among the first 100,000 that went +abroad. However, the 93rd division, exclusively Negro, had not been +fully formed then and the regiment did not see much real fighting until +the spring and summer of 1918. + +[Illustration: NEGRO NURSES CARRYING BANNER OF FAMOUS NEGRO REGIMENT. +MARCHING DOWN FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK. IN GREAT PARADE WHICH OPENED RED +CROSS DRIVE.] + +The 92nd division was another exclusively Negro division. There were +many more Negro troops in training in France and large numbers at +training camps in this country, but the 92nd and 93rd, being the earlier +formed and trained divisions, saw practically all the fighting. Units +belonging to one or both divisions fought with special distinction in +the Forest of Argonne, near Chateau Thierry, Belleau Wood, St. Mihiel +district, Champagne sector, at Metz and in the Vosges mountains. + +In the 92nd division was the 325th Field Signal battalion, the only +Negro signal unit in the American army. The division also contained the +349th, 350th and 351st Artillery regiments, each containing a machine +gun battalion; the 317th Trench Mortar battery; the balance being made +up of Negro engineers, hospital units, etc., and the 365th, 366th, 367th +and 368th Infantry regiments. + +Enlisted, drafted and assigned to active service, upwards of 400,000 +Negroes participated in the war. The number serving abroad amounted to +about 200,000. They were inducted into the cavalry, infantry, field and +coast artillery, radio (wireless telegraphy, etc.), medical corps, +ambulance and hospital corps, sanitary and ammunition trains, stevedore +regiments, labor battalions, depot brigades and engineers. They also +served as regimental clerks, surveyors and draftsmen. + +Sixty served as chaplains and over 350 as Y.M.C.A. secretaries, there +being a special and highly efficient Negro branch of the Y.M.C.A. +Numerous others were attached to the War Camp Community Service in +cities adjacent to the army camps. + +Negro nurses were authorized by the war department for service in base +hospitals at six army camps--Funston, Sherman, Grant, Dix, Taylor and +Dodge. Race women also served as canteen workers in France and in charge +of hostess houses in this country. + +One Negro, Ralph W. Tyler, served as an accredited war correspondent, +attached to the staff of General Pershing, Dr. R.R. Moton, who +succeeded the late Booker T. Washington as head of the Tuskegee +Institute, was sent on a special mission to France by President Wilson +and Secretary Baker. + +A race woman, Mrs. Alice Dunbar Nelson of Wilmington, Delaware, was +named as a field worker to mobilize the Negro women of the country for +war work. Her activities were conducted in connection with the Women's +Committee of the Council of National Defense. + +The most conspicuous honor paid to a Negro by the administration and the +war department, was in the appointment, October 1, 1917, of Emmett J. +Scott as special assistant to the Secretary of War. This was done that +the administration might not be accused of failing to grant full +protection to the Negroes, and that a thorough examination might be made +into all matters affecting their relation to the war and its many +agencies. + +Having been for 18 years confidential secretary to Booker T. Washington, +and being at the time of his appointment secretary of the Tuskegee +Normal and Industrial Institute for Negroes, Mr. Scott was peculiarly +fitted to render necessary advice to the war department with respect to +the Negroes of the various states, to look after all matters affecting +the interests of Negro selectives and enlisted men, and to inquire into +the treatment accorded them by the various officials connected with the +war department. In the position occupied by him, he was thus enabled to +obtain a proper perspective both of the attitude of selective service +officials to the Negro, and of the Negro to the war, especially to the +draft. In a memorandum on the subject addressed to the Provost Marshall +General, December 12, 1918, he wrote: + +"The attitude of the Negro was one of complete acceptance of the draft, +in fact of an eagerness to accept its terms. There was a deep +resentment in many quarters that he was not permitted to volunteer, as +white men by the thousands were permitted to do in connection with +National Guard units and other branches of military service which were +closed to colored men. One of the brightest chapters in the whole +history of the war is the Negro's eager acceptance of the draft and his +splendid willingness to fight. His only resentment was due to the +limited extent to which he was allowed to join and participate in +combatant or 'fighting' units. The number of colored draftees accepted +for military duty, and the comparatively small number of them claiming +exemptions, as compared with the total number of white and colored men +called and drafted, presents an interesting study and reflects much +credit upon this racial group." + +Over 1,200 Negro officers, many of them college graduates, were +commissioned during the war. The only training camp exclusively for +Negro officers was at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. This camp ran from June 15, +1917, to October 15, 1917. A total of 638 officers was graduated and +commissioned from the camp. Negro Regulars and Negro National Army men +who had passed the tests for admission to officers training camps were +sent mainly to the training schools for machine gun officers at Camp +Hancock, Augusta, Georgia; the infantry officers training school at Camp +Pike, Little Rock, Arkansas, and the artillery officers training school +at Camp Taylor, Louisville, Kentucky. They were trained along with the +white officers. The graduates from these camps along with a few National +Guardsmen who had taken the officers' examinations, and others trained +in France, made up the balance of the 1,200 commissioned. + +In connection with the artillery training an interesting fact developed. +It had been charged that Negroes could not develop into artilleryman. A +strong prejudice against inducting them into that branch of the service +had always existed in the army. It was especially affirmed that the +Negro did not possess the mathematical ability necessary to qualify as +an expert artillery officer. Nevertheless, out of a number of Negro +aspirants, very small in comparison with the white men in training for +officers' commissions at the camp, five of the Negroes stood alongside +their white brothers at the head of the class. The remainder were +sprinkled down the line about in the same proportion and occupying the +same relative positions as the whites. The prejudice against the Negro +as an artilleryman was further and effectually dispelled in the record +made by the 349th, 350th and 351st artillery regiments and their machine +gun battalions in the 92nd division. + +With the exception of the training camp for officers at Des Moines, +Iowa, no important attempt was made to establish separate Negro training +camps. In the draft quotas from each state were whites and blacks and +all with few exceptions, were sent to the most convenient camp. +Arrangements existed, however, at the different camps for the separate +housing and training of the Negro troops. This was in line with the +military policy of the Government, as well as in deference to the +judgment of both white and black officers. It undoubtedly was necessary +to separate the two races. Furthermore, as the military policy called +for regiments, battalions and, divisions made up entirely of Negroes, it +was proper to commence the organization at the training camps. Companies +formed in this manner thus became homogeneous, accustomed to one another +individually and to their officers. + +The situation was different from the Spanish-American war, where Negro +units, at least in one case, served in white regiments. Racial strife +and rivalry were eliminated. The only rivalry that existed was the +good-natured and healthy one of emulation between members of the same +race. On the field of battle there was rivalry and emulation between the +whites and blacks, but it was the rivalry of organizations and not of +races. The whole was tempered by that splendid admiration and +fellow-feeling which comes to men of all races when engaged as partners +in danger or near death; in the defense and promotion of a great cause; +the eternal verities of Justice and Humanity. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +RECRUDESCENCE OF SOUTH'S INTOLERANCE + + +CONFRONTED BY RACIAL PEEJUDICE--- SPLENDID ATTITUDE OF NEGRO SHAMED +IT--KEPT OUT OF NAVY--ONLY ONE PER CENT OF NAVY PERSONNEL +NEGROES--MODIFIED MARINES CONTEMPLATED--FEW HAVE PETTY OFFICERS' +GRADES--SEPARATE SHIPS PROPOSED--NEGRO EFFICIENCY IN NAVY--MATERIAL FOR +"BLACK SHIPS"--NAVY OPENS DOOR TO NEGRO MECHANICS. + + +Old feelings of race prejudice and intolerance, appearing mainly in the +South, confronted the Negro at the beginning of the war. The splendid +attitude of the Negro shamed and overcame this feeling in other sections +of the country, and was beginning to have its effect even in the South. +It is true that men of the race were not accepted for voluntary +enlistment in numbers of consequence in any section, but had the +voluntary system continued in vogue, the willingness and desire of the +race to serve, coupled with the very necessities of the case, would have +altered the condition. + +No new Negro volunteer units were authorized, but the demand for men +would soon have made it imperative. It would have been combatted by a +certain element in the South, but the friends of the few volunteer units +which did exist in that section were firm in their championship and were +winning adherents to their view that the number should be increased. The +selective draft with its firm dictum that all men within certain ages +should be called and the fit ones chosen, put an end to all contention. +The act was not passed without bitter opposition which developed in its +greatest intensity among the Southern senators and representatives; +feelings that were inspired entirely by opposition to the Negro. + +It would have been a bad thing for the country and would have prolonged +the war, and possibly might have lost it, if the selective draft had +been delayed. But it would have been interesting to see how far the +country, especially the South, would have progressed in the matter of +raising a volunteer army without accepting Negroes. Undoubtedly they +soon would have been glad to recruit them, even in the South. + +Unfortunately for the Negro, the draft was not able to prevent their +being kept out of the Navy. It is a very desirable branch of the service +vitiated and clouded, however, with many disgusting and aristocratic +traditions. When the Navy was young and the service more arduous; when +its vessels were merely armed merchantmen, many of them simply tubs and +death traps and not the floating castles of today, the services of +Negroes were not disdained; but times and national ideals had changed, +and, the shame of it, not to the credit of a Commonwealth, for whose +birth a Negro had shed the first blood, and a Washington had faced the +rigors of a Valley Forge, a Lincoln the bullet of an assassin. + +The annual report of the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, rendered to +the Secretary of the Navy and covering the fiscal year ending June 30, +1918, showed that in the United States Navy, the United States Naval +Reserve Force and the National Naval Volunteers, there was a total of +435,398 men. Of that great number only 5,328 were Negroes, a trifle over +one percent. Between June and November 1918, the Navy was recruited to a +total force somewhat in excess of 500,000 men. Carrying out the same +percentage, it is apparent that the aggregate number of Negroes serving, +in the Navy at the close of the war, could not have been much in excess +of 6,000. + +Some extra enlistments of Negroes were contemplated, as the Navy had in +process of establishment just prior to the armistice, a new service for +Negro recruits. It was to be somewhat similar to the Pioneer units of +the army, partaking in some degree of the character of Marines, just as +the Pioneers partake of the character of infantry, but in general +respects resembling more the engineer and stevedore units. About 600 men +had been selected for this service when the project was abandoned on +account of the ending of the war. + +With the exception of a very limited number who have been permitted to +attain the rank of petty officer, Negroes in the Navy were confined to +menial occupations. They were attached to the firing forces as coal +passers, while others served as cooks assistants, mess attendants and in +similar duties. Quite a number were full rated cooks. A few were water +tenders, electricians and gunners' mates, each of which occupations +entitled them to the aforesaid rank of petty officer. Among the petty +officers some had by sheer merit attained the rank of chief petty +officer, which is about equal to the rank of sergeant in the army. + +The idea of separate ships for the Negro might to some degree ameliorate +the sting incident to race prohibition in that arm of government +service. The query is advanced that if we can have black colonels, +majors, captains and lieutenants in the army, why cannot we have black +commanders, lieutenants, ensigns and such in the Navy? + +Negroes have often and in divers ways displayed their intelligence and +efficiency in the Navy. Take, for instance, the case of John Jordan, a +Negro of Virginia, who was chief gunner's mate on Admiral Dewey's +flagship the "Olympia" during the Spanish-American war, and was the man +who fired the first shot at the enemy at Manila Bay. A Negro chief +electrician, Salisbury Brooks, was the originator of inventions which +were adopted without reservation by the Navy designers and changed the +construction of modern battle ships. + +One of the principal instructors on the U.S.S. Essex, the government +training ship at Norfolk, is Matthew Anderson, a Negro. He has trained +thousands of men, many of them now officers, in the art and duties of +seamanship. Scores of Negroes; men of the type of these in the Navy, +would furnish the nucleus for officers and crews of separate Negro +ships. + +In a recent issue of "Our Navy" a magazine devoted entirely to naval +affairs, especially as regards the enlisted man, a writer reflects the +opinion of these men in the following article: + + "Whether you like the black man or not, whether you believe in a + square deal for him or not, you can't point an accusing finger at + his patriotism, his Americanism or his fighting ability. It is fair + to neither the white man nor the black man to have the black man + compete with the white man in the Navy. True, we have black petty + officers here and there in the Navy, and in some cases black chief + petty officers. It stands to reason that they must have been mighty + good men to advance. They surely must know their business--every + inch of it--to advance to these ratings. Yet they are not wanted in + these ratings because they involve the black man having charge of + white men under him. Outside of the messman branch you will find + comparatively few Negroes in the Navy today. + + "There should be 'black ships' assigned to be manned by American + Negroes. These are days of democracy, equality and freedom," + continues the writer. "If a man is good enough to go over the top + and die for these principles, he is good enough to promote in the + Navy. Why not try it? Put the black men on their own ships. Promote + them, rate them, just the same as the white man. But above all keep + them on their own ships. It is fair to them and fair to the white + men. The Brazilian and Argentine navies have 'black ships.'" + +Recruiting officers of the Navy have recently opened the doors to +discharged Negro soldiers, and some civilians. If physically fit they +are permitted to enlist as machinists and electricians. The Navy has +opened a school for machinists at Charleston, S.C., and a school for +electricians at Hampton Roads, Va. + +Men for the machinists' school are enlisted as firemen 3rd class. While +in training they are paid $30 a month. They also receive their clothing +allotment, their food, dry comfortable quarters in which to live, and +all text books and practical working tools. In return for this chance to +become proficient in a very necessary trade, all that is required of +those enlisting is a knowledge of common fractions, ambition to learn +the trade, energy and a strict attention to the instruction given them. + +Subjects taught in the course are arithmetic, note book sketching, +practical engineering, theoretical engineering, clipping and filing, +drilling, pipe fitting, repair work, rebabbiting, brazing, tin smithing, +lathes, shapers, milling machines and grinders. It will be seen that +they get a vast amount of mechanical knowledge and practically two +trades, machinists and engineering. + +In the electrical school the course is equally thorough. The men get a +high grade of instruction, regardless of cost of material and tools. The +best text books that can be had are available for their use. + +This liberality in order to get machinists and electricians in the Navy, +argues that some change of attitude towards the Negro is contemplated. + +It may evolve into the establishment of "black ships." The Negro sailor +has been pleading for years that his color has been a bar to him. With a +ship of his own, would come his chance. He would strive; do all within +his power to make it a success and would succeed. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +PREVIOUS WARS IN WHICH THE NEGRO FIGURED. + + +SHOT HEARD AROUND THE WORLD--CRISPUS ATTTUCKS--SLAVE LEADS SONS OF +FREEDOM--THE BOSTON MASSACRE--ANNIVERSARY KEPT FOR YEARS--WILLIAM NELL, +HISTORIAN--3,000 NEGROES IN WASHINGTON'S FORCES--A STIRRING +HISTORY--NEGRO WOMAN SOLDIER--BORDER INDIAN WARS--NEGRO HEROES + + +Our American school histories teach us that the "shot which was heard +around the world",--the opening gun of the Revolutionary war, was fired +at Lexington in 1775. The phrase embodies a precious sentiment; time has +molded many leaders, the inspiration for almost a century and a half of +the patriotic youth of our land. This is as it should be. All honor and +all praise to the deathless heroes of that time and occasion. + +But why has not history been more just; at least, more explicit? Why not +say that the shot which started the Revolution--that first great +movement for human liberty and the emancipation of nations--was fired +five years earlier; was fired not by, but at, a Negro, Crispus Attucks? +The leader of the citizens in that event of March 5, 1770, known as the +Boston Massacre, he was the first man upon whom the British soldiers +fired and the first to fall; the pioneer martyr for American +independence. + +It is perhaps fitting; a manifestation of the inscrutable ways of +Providence, that the first life given in behalf of a nation about to +throw off a yoke of bondage, was that of a representative of a race; +despised, oppressed and enslaved. + +Botta the historian, in speaking of the scenes of the 5th of March says: + + "The people were greatly exasperated. The multitude ran towards + King street, crying, 'Let us drive out these ribalds; they have no + business here.' The rioters rushed furiously towards the Custom + House; they approached the sentinel, crying 'Kill him, kill him!' + They assaulted him with snowballs, pieces of ice, and whatever they + could lay their hands upon. + + "The guard were then called, and in marching to the Custom House, + they encountered a band of the populace, led by a mulatto named + Attucks, who brandished their clubs and pelted them with snowballs. + The maledictions, the imprecations, the execrations of the + multitude, were horrible. In the midst of a torrent of invective + from every quarter, the military were challenged to fire. The + populace advanced to the points of their bayonets. + + "The soldiers appeared like statues; the cries, the howlings, the + menaces, the violent din of bells still sounding the alarm, + increased the confusion and the horrors of these moments; at length + the mulatto Attucks and twelve of his companions, pressing forward, + environed the soldiers and striking their muskets with their clubs, + cried to the multitude: 'Be not afraid, they dare not fire; why do + you hesitate, why do you not kill them, why not crush them at + once?' + + "The mulatto lifted his arms against Captain Preston, and having + turned one of the muskets, he seized the bayonet with his left + hand, as if he intended to execute his threat At this moment, + confused cries were heard: 'The wretches dare not fire!' Firing + succeeds. Attucks is slain. Other discharges follow. Three were + killed, five severely wounded and several others slightly." + +Attucks was killed by Montgomery, one of Captain Preston's soldiers. He +had been foremost in resisting and was first slain. As proof of a front +engagement, he received two balls, one in each breast. The white men +killed with Attucks were Samuel Maverick, Samuel Gray and Jonas +Caldwell. + +John Adams, afterwards President of the United States, was counsel for +the soldiers in the investigation which followed. He admitted that +Attucks appeared to have been the hero of the occasion and the leader of +the people. Attucks and Caldwell, not being residents of Boston, were +buried from Faneuil Hall, the cradle of liberty. The citizens generally +participated in the solemnities. + +If the outrages against the American colonists had not been so flagrant, +and so well imbedded as indisputable records of our history; if the +action of the military authorities had not been so arbitrary, the +uprising of Attucks and his followers might be looked upon as a common, +reprehensible riot and the participants as a band of misguided +incendiaries. Subsequent reverence for the occasion, disproves any such +view. Judge Dawes, a prominent jurist of the time, as well as a +brilliant exponent of the people, alluding in 1775 to the event, said: + + "The provocation of that night must be numbered among the + master-springs which gave the first motion to a vast machinery--a + noble and comprehensive system of national independence." + +Ramsey's History of the American Revolution, says: + + "The anniversary of the 5th of March was observed with great + solemnity; eloquent orators were successively employed to preserve + the remembrance of it fresh in the mind. On these occasions the + blessings of liberty, the horrors of slavery, and the danger of a + standing army, were presented to the public view. These annual + orations administered fuel to the fire of liberty and kept it + burning with an irresistible flame." + +The 5th of March continued to be celebrated for the above reasons until +the anniversary of the Declaration of American Independence was +substituted in its place; and its orators were expected to honor the +feelings and principles of the former as having given birth to the +latter. On the 5th of March 1776, Washington repaired to the +intrenchments. "Remember" said he, "It is the 5th of March, and avenge +the death of your brethren." + +In the introduction to a book entitled "The Colored Patriots of the +American Revolution" by William C. Nell, a Negro historian, Harriet +Beecher Stowe said in 1855: + + "The colored race have been generally considered by their enemies, + and sometimes even by their friends, as deficient in energy and + courage. Their virtues have been supposed to be principally + negative ones." Speaking of the incidents in Mr. Nell's collection + she says: "They will redeem the character of the race from this + misconception and show how much injustice there may often be in a + generally accepted idea". Continuing, she says: + + "In considering the services of the colored patriots of the + Revolution, we are to reflect upon them as far more magnanimous, + because rendered to a nation which did not acknowledge them as + citizens and equals, and in whose interests and prosperity they had + less at stake. It was not for their own land they fought, not even + for a land which had adopted them, but for a land which had + enslaved them, and whose laws, even in freedom, oftener oppressed + than protected. Bravery, under such circumstances, has a peculiar + beauty and merit. + + "And their white brothers--may remember that generosity, + disinterested courage and bravery, are of no particular race and + complexion, and that the image of the Heavenly Father may be + reflected alike by all. Each record of worth in this oppressed and + despised people should be pondered, for it is by many such that the + cruel and unjust public sentiment, which has so long proscribed + them, may be reversed, and full opportunities given them to take + rank among the nations of the earth." + +Estimates from competent sources state that not less than 3,000 Negro +soldiers did service in the American army during the Revolution. Rhode +Island first made her slaves free men and then called on them to fight. +A black regiment was raised there, of which Colonel Christopher Green +was made commander. Connecticut furnished a black battalion under +command of Colonel David Humphrey. + +Prior to the Revolution, two Virginia Negroes, Israel Titus and Samuel +Jenkins, had fought under Braddock and Washington in the French and +Indian war. + +It has been said that one of the men killed when Major Pitcairn +commanding the British advance on Concord and Lexington, April 19, 1775, +ordered his troops to fire on the Americans, was a Negro bearing arms. +Peter Salem a Negro did service during the Revolution, and is said to +have killed this same Major Pitcairn, at the battle of Bunker Hill. In +some old engravings of the battle, Salem is pictured as occupying a +prominent position. These pictures were carried on some of the currency +of the Monumental bank of Charlestown, Massachusetts and the Freeman's +bank of Boston. Other black men fought at Bunker Hill, of whom we have +the names of Salem Poor, Titus Coburn, Alexander Ames, Barzillai Lew and +Gato Howe. After the war these men were pensioned. + +Prince, a Negro soldier, was Colonel Barton's chief assistant in +capturing the British officer, Major General Prescott at Newport, R.I. +Primus Babcock received an honorable discharge from the army signed by +General Washington. Lambo Latham and Jordan Freeman fell with Ledyard at +the storming of Fort Griswold. Freeman is said to have killed Major +Montgomery, a British officer who was leading an attack on Americans in +a previous fight. History does not record whether or not this was the +same or a related Montgomery to the one who killed Crispus Attucks at +Boston. + +Hamet, one of General Washington's Negroes, was drawing a pension as a +revolutionary soldier as late as 1839, Oliver Cromwell served six years +and nine months in Col. Israel Shreve's regiment of New Jersey troops +under Washington's immediate command. Charles Bowles became an American +soldier at the age of sixteen years and served to the end of the +Revolution. Seymour Burr and Jeremy Jonah were Negro soldiers in a +Connecticut regiment. + +A Negro whose name is not known obtained the countersign by which Mad +Anthony Wayne was enabled to take Stony Point, and guided and helped him +to do so. + +Jack Grove was a Negro steward on board an American vessel which the +British captured. He figured out that the vessel could be retaken if +sufficient courage were shown. He insisted and at length prevailed upon +his captain to make the attempt, which was successful. + +There was in Massachusetts during those Revolutionary days one company +of Negro men bearing a special designation, "The Bucks." It was a +notable body of men. At the close of the war its fame and services were +recognized by John Hancock presenting to it a beautiful banner. + +The European struggle recently ended furnished a remarkable example of +female heroism and devotion to country in the case of the Russian woman +who enlisted as a common soldier in the army of the Czar, served with +distinction and finally organized an effective unit of female soldiers +known as the "Battalion of Death." More resourceful and no less +remarkable and heroic, is the case of Deborah Gannet, a Negro woman +soldier of the Revolution, which may be summed up in the following +resolution passed by the General Court of Massachusetts during the +session of 1791:-- + + "XXIII--Whereas, it appears to this court that the said Deborah + Gannett enlisted, under the name of Robert Shurtliff, in Capt + Webb's company, in the Fourth Massachusetts regiment, on May 20, + 1782, and did actually perform the duties of a soldier, in the late + army of the United States to the 23rd day of October, 1783, for + which she has received no compensation; and, whereas, it further + appears that the said Deborah exhibited an extraordinary instance + of female heroism by discharging the duties of a faithful, gallant + soldier, and at the same time preserving the virtue and chastity of + her sex unsuspected and unblemished, and was discharged from the + service with a fair and honorable character, therefore, + + "Resolved, that the Treasurer of this Commonwealth be, and he + hereby is, directed to issue his note to the said Deborah for the + sum of thirty-four pounds, bearing interest from October 23, 1783." + +There is not lacking evidence that Negroes distinguished themselves in +the struggles of the pioneer settlers against the Indians. This was +particularly true of the early history of Kentucky. The following +incidents are recorded in Thompson's "Young People's History of +Kentucky:" + + "Ben Stockton was a slave in the family of Major George Stockton of + Fleming county. He was a regular Negro, and though a slave, was + devoted to his master. He hated an Indian and loved to moralize + over a dead one; getting into a towering rage and swearing + magnificently when a horse was stolen; handled his rifle well, + though somewhat foppishly, and hopped, danced and showed his teeth + when a prospect offered to chase 'the yaller varmints'. His master + had confidence in his resolution and prudence, while he was a great + favorite with all the hunters, and added much to their fun on dull + expeditions. On one occasion, when a party of white men in pursuit + of Indians who had stolen their horses called at Stockton's station + for reinforcements, Ben, among others, volunteered. They overtook + the savages at Kirk's Springs in Lewis county, and dismounted to + fight; but as they advanced, they could see only eight or ten, who + disappeared over the mountain. Pressing on, they discovered on + descending the mountain such indications as convinced them that the + few they had seen were but decoys to lead them into an ambuscade at + the base, and a retreat was ordered. Ben was told of it by a man + near him; but he was so intent on getting a shot that he did not + hear, and the order was repeated in a louder tone, whereupon he + turned upon his monitor a reproving look, grimaced and gesticulated + ludicrously, and motioned to the man to be silent. He then set off + rapidly down the mountain. His white comrade, unwilling to leave + him, ran after him, and reached his side just as he leveled his gun + at a big Indian standing tiptoe on a log and peering into the thick + woods. At the crack of Ben's rifle the savage bounded into the air + and fell. The others set up a fierce yell, and, as the fearless + Negro said, 'skipped from tree to tree like grasshoppers.' He + bawled out: 'Take dat to 'member Ben--de black white man!' and the + two beat a hasty retreat. + + "In the family of Capt. James Estill, who established a station + about fifteen miles south of Boonesborough, was a Negro slave, + Monk, who was intelligent, bold as a lion, and as faithful to his + pioneer friends as though he were a free white settler defending + his own rights. About daylight, March 20, 1782, when all the men of + the fort except four were absent on an Indian trail, a body of the + savages came upon Miss Jennie Glass, who was outside, but near the + station, milking--Monk being with her. They killed and scalped Miss + Glass and captured Monk. When questioned as to the force inside the + walls, the shrewd and self-possessed Negro represented it as much + greater than it was and told of preparations for defense. The + Indians were deceived, and after killing the cattle, they + retreated across the river. When the battle of Little Mountain + opened two days later, Monk, who was still a prisoner with the + Indians cried out: 'Don't give way, Mas' Jim! There's only about + twenty-five redskins and you can whip 'em!' This was valuable and + encouraging information to the whites. When the Indians began to + advance on Lieutenant Miller, when he was sent to prevent a flank + movement and guard the horse-holders, Monk called also to him to + hold his ground and the white men would win. Instead of being + instantly killed as was to be apprehended, even though the savages + might not understand his English, he made his escape before the + fight closed and got back to his friends. On their return to the + station, twenty-five miles, without sufficient horses for the + wounded, he carried on his back, most of the way, James Berry, + whose thigh was broken. He had learned to make gunpowder, and + obtaining saltpetre from Peyton's Cave, in Madison county, he + frequently furnished this indispensable article to Estill's Station + and Boonesborough. He has been described as being five feet five + inches high and weighing two hundred pounds. He was a respected + member of the Baptist church, when whites and blacks worshipped + together. He was held in high esteem by the settlers and his young + master, Wallace Estill, gave him his freedom and clothed and fed + him as long as he lived thereafter--till about 1835. + + "A year or two after the close of the Revolutionary war, a Mr. + Woods was living near Crab Orchard, Kentucky, with his wife, one + daughter (said to be ten years old), and a lame Negro man. Early + one morning, her husband being away, Mrs. Woods when a short + distance from the house, discovered seven or eight Indians in + ambush. She ran back into the house, so closely pursued that before + she could fasten the door one of the savages forced his way in. The + Negro instantly seized him. In the scuffle the Indian threw him, + falling on top. The Negro held him in a strong grasp and called to + the girl to take an axe which was in the room and kill him. This + she did by two well-aimed blows; and the Negro then asked Mrs. + Woods to let in another that he with the axe might dispatch him as + he came and so, one by one, kill them all. By this time, however, + some men from the station nearby, having discovered that the house + was attacked, had come up and opened fire on the savages, by which + one was killed and the others put to flight." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +FROM LEXINGTON TO CARRIZAL. + + +NEGRO IN WAR OF 1812--INCIDENT OF THE CHESAPEAKE--BATTLE OF LAKE +ERIE--PERRY'S FIGHTERS 10 PERCENT NEGROES--INCIDENT OF THE "GOVERNOR +TOMPKINS"--COLONISTS FORM NEGRO REGIMENTS--DEFENSE OF NEW +ORLEANS--ANDREW JACKSON'S TRIBUTE--NEGROES IN MEXICAN AND CIVIL WARS--IN +THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR--NEGROES IN THE PHILIPPINES--HEROES OF +CARRIZAL--GENERAL BUTLER'S TRIBUTE TO NEGROES--WENDELL PHILLIPS ON +TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE. + + +Prior to the actual war of 1812 and one of the most conspicuous causes +leading to it, was the attack on the Chesapeake, an American war vessel. +Here the Negro in the Navy figured in a most remarkable degree. The +vessel was hailed, fired upon and forced to strike her colors by the +British. She was boarded, searched and four persons taken from the crew +charged with desertion from the English navy. Three of these were +Negroes and one white. The charge against the Negroes could not have +been very strong, for they were dismissed, while the white man was +hanged. + +The naval history of our second war with Great Britain is replete with +incidents concerning the participation of the Negro. Mackenzie's history +of the life of Commodore Perry states that at the famed battle of Lake +Erie, fully ten percent of the American crews were blacks. Perry spoke +highly of their bravery and good conduct. He said they seemed to be +absolutely insensible to danger. His fighters were a motley collection +of blacks, soldiers and boys. Nearly all had been afflicted with +sickness. Mackenzie says that when the defeated British commander was +brought aboard the "Niagara" and beheld the sickly and parti-colored +beings around him, an expression of chagrin escaped him at having been +conquered by such men. + +The following extract is from a letter written by Commodore Nathaniel +Shaler of the armed schooner "Governor Tompkins", dated January 1, 1813. +Speaking of a fight with a British frigate, he said: + + "The name of one of my poor fellows who was killed ought to be + registered in the book of fame and remembered with reverence as + long as bravery is considered a virtue. He was a black man by the + name of John Johnson. A twenty-four-pound shot struck him in the + hip and tore away all the lower part of his body. In this state the + poor brave fellow lay on the deck and several times exclaimed to + his shipmates: 'Fire away, boys; don't haul the colors down.' + Another black man by the name of John Davis was struck in much the + same way. He fell near me and several times requested to be thrown + overboard, saying he was only in the way of the others. When + America has such tars, she has little to fear from the tyrants of + the ocean." + +With the history fresh in mind of the successful Negro insurrection in +St. Domingo, bringing out so conspicuous a military and administrative +genius as Toussaint L'Ouverture, it is not surprising that the services +of Negroes as soldiers were not only welcomed, but solicited by various +states during the War of 1812. Excepting the battle of New Orleans, +almost all the martial glory of the struggle was on the water. New York, +however, passed a special act of the legislature and organized two +regiments of Negro troops, while there was heavy recruiting in other +states. + +When in 1814 New Orleans was in danger, the free colored people of +Louisiana were called into the field with the whites. General Andrew +Jackson's commendatory address read to his colored troops December 18, +1814, is one of the highest compliments ever paid by a commander to his +troops. He said: + + "Soldiers!--when, on the banks of the Mobile, I called you to take + up arms, inviting you to partake of the perils and glory of your + white fellow-citizens, I expected much from you; for I was not + ignorant that you possessed qualities most formidable to an + invading enemy. I knew with what fortitude you could endure hunger + and thirst, and all the fatigues of a campaign. I knew well how you + loved your native country, and that you, as well as ourselves had + to defend what man holds most dear--his parents, wife, children and + property. You have done more than I expected. In addition to the + previous qualities I before knew you to possess, I found among you + a noble enthusiasm, which leads to the performance of great things. + + "Soldiers! The President of the United States shall hear how + praiseworthy was your conduct in the hour of danger, and the + representatives of the American people will give you the praise + your exploits entitle you to. Your General anticipates them in + applauding your noble ardor." + +Many incidents are on record of the gallantry of Negro soldiers and +servants also serving as soldiers, in the war with Mexico. Colonel Clay, +a son of Henry Clay, was accompanied into the thick of the battle of +Buena Vista, by his Negro servant. He remained by his side in the fatal +charge and saw Clay stricken from his horse. Although surrounded by the +murderous Mexicans he succeeded in carrying the mangled body of his +master from the field. + +It has been stated and the evidence seems strong, that a Negro saved the +life of General Zachary Taylor at the battle of Monterey. The story is +that a Mexican was aiming a deadly blow at the General, when the Negro +sprang between them, slew the Mexican and received a deep wound from a +lance. The Negro was a slave at the time, but was afterwards emancipated +by President Taylor. + +Upwards of 200,000 colored soldiers were regularly enlisted in the +Federal army and navy during the Civil war. President Lincoln +commissioned eight Negro surgeons for field and hospital duty. Losses +sustained by the Negro troops amounting to upwards of 37,000 men, are +shown to have been as heavy in proportion to the numbers engaged, as +those of the white forces. + +The record of the Negro troops in the Civil war is one of uniform +excellence. Numerous official documents attest this fact, aside from the +spoken and written commendations of many high officers. Their bravery +was everywhere recognized; many distinguished themselves and several +attained to the rank of regularly commissioned officers. Conspicuous in +Negro annals of that time is the case of Charles E. Nash, afterwards a +member of congress. He received a primary education in the schools of +New Orleans, but had educated himself largely by his own efforts. In +1863 he enlisted in the 83rd regiment, United States Chasseurs d'Afrique +and became acting sergeant-major of that command. At the storming of +Fort Blakely he lost a leg and was honorably discharged. + +Another, William Hannibal Thomas, afterwards became prominent as an +author, teacher, lawyer and legislator. His best known book was +entitled, "The American Negro: What he was, what he is, and what he may +become." He served as a soldier during the Civil War and lost an arm in +the service. + +The exploit of Robert Smalls was so brilliant that no amount of +unfairness or prejudice has been able to shadow it. It is well known to +all students of the War of the Rebellion and is recorded in the +imperishable pages of history. + +Smalls was born a slave at Beaufort, South Carolina, but managed to +secure some education. Having led a sea-faring life to some extent, the +early part of the war found him employed as pilot of the Rebel transport +Planter. He was thoroughly familiar with the harbors and inlets of the +South Atlantic coast. On May 31, 1862, the Planter was in Charleston +harbor. All the white officers and crew went ashore, leaving on board a +colored crew of eight men in charge of Smalls. He summoned aboard his +wife and three children and at 2 o'clock in the morning steamed out of +the harbor, passed the Confederate forts by giving the proper signals, +and when fairly out of reach, ran up the Stars and Stripes and headed a +course for the Union fleet, into whose hands he soon surrendered the +ship. He was appointed a pilot in the United States navy and served as +such on the monitor Keokuk in the attack on Fort Sumter; was promoted to +captain for gallant and meritorious conduct, December 1, 1863, and +placed in command of the Planter, a position which he held until the +vessel was taken out of commission in 1866. He was a member of the South +Carolina Constitutional Convention, 1868; elected same year to the +legislature, to the state senate 1870 and 1872, and was a member of the +Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses. + +Among the most inspiring pages of Civil War history written by the +Negro, were the campaigns of Port Hudson, Louisiana; Fort Wagner, South +Carolina and Fort Pillow, Kentucky. Negro troops participated in the +siege of the former place by the Federal forces under General Banks, +which began in May 1863, and ended in the surrender of the fort July 8, +1863. Fort Wagner was one of the defenses of Charleston. It was reduced +by General Gilmore, September 6,1863 and Negro troops contributed in a +glorious and heroic manner to the result. Fort Pillow had been taken by +the Federals and was garrisoned by a Negro regiment and a detachment of +cavalry. It was recaptured April 12, 1864 by the Confederates under +General Forrest. Practically the entire garrison was massacred, an act +that will stain forever the name of Forrest, and the cause for which he +struggled. + +By the close of the Civil war, the value and fitness of the Negro as a +soldier had been so completely demonstrated that the government decided +to enlarge the Regular army and form fifty percent of the increase from +colored men. In 1866 eight new infantry regiments were authorized of +which four were to be Negroes and four new cavalry regiments of which +two were to be Negroes. The Negro infantry regiments were numbered the +38th 39th, 40th and 41st. The cavalry regiments were known as the 9th +and 10th. + +In 1869 there was a general reduction in the infantry forces of the +Regular army and the 38th and 41st were consolidated into one regiment +numbered the 24th and the 39th and 40th into one regiment numbered the +25th. The strength and numerical titles of the cavalry were not changed. +For over forty years the colored American was represented in our Regular +Army by those four regiments. They have borne more than their +proportionate share of hard service, including many Indian campaigns. +The men have conducted themselves so worthily as to call forth the best +praise of the highest military authorities. General Miles and General +Merritt, actively identified with the Indian wars, were unstinting in +their commendation of the valor and skill of Negro fighters. + +Between 1869 and 1889, three colored men were regularly graduated and +commissioned from the United States military academy at West Point and +served in the Regular Army as officers. They were John H. Alexander, +Charles Young and H.O. Flipper. The latter was dismissed. All served in +the cavalry. Alexander died shortly before the Spanish-American war and +up to the time of his demise, enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his +associates, white and black. Young became major in the volunteer service +during the Spanish-American war and was placed in command of the Ninth +Battalion of Ohio volunteers. After the Spanish-American war he returned +to the Regular Army with a reduced rank, but ultimately became a Major +in that service. Upon America's entry into the European war he was +elevated to the rank of Colonel. + +At the breaking out of the Spanish-American war in 1898, Negro military +organizations existed principally in the Regular Army. These were soon +filled to their maximum strength and the desire of Negroes north and +south to enlist, seemed likely to meet with disappointment. Congress, to +meet the insistence of colored men for service, authorized the raising +of ten Negro volunteer regiments of "immunes"--men who had lived in +sections where the yellow fever and other malignant or malarial +visitations had occurred, and who had suffered from them or shown +evidences that they in all probability would be immune from the +diseases. The plan to place white men in all commands above the grade of +second lieutenant, prevented Negroes from enlisting as they otherwise +would have done. Four immune regiments were organized--the 7th, 8th, 9th +and 10th. + +Several of the states appreciating the value of the Negro as a soldier +and in response to his intense desire to enlist, placed volunteer Negro +organizations at the disposal of the government. There were the Third +Alabama and Sixth Virginia Infantry; Eighth Illinois Infantry; Companies +A and B Indiana Infantry; Thirty-third Kansas Infantry, and a battalion +of the Ninth Ohio Infantry. The Eighth Illinois was officered by colored +men throughout. J.R. Marshall its first colonel commanded the regiment +during the Spanish-American war and did garrison duty in Santiago +province for some time after the war; being for a while military +governor of San Luis. + +Gov. Russell of North Carolina, called out a Negro regiment, the Third +Infantry, officered by colored men throughout. Colonel Charles Young +commanding. It was not mustered into the service. + +Company L. Sixth Massachusetts Infantry, was a Negro company serving in +a white regiment. John L. Waller, deceased, a Negro formerly United +States Consul to Madagascar, was a captain in the Kansas regiment. + +About one hundred Negro second-lieutenants were commissioned in the +volunteer force during the Spanish-American war. There was a Negro +paymaster, Major John R. Lynch of Mississippi, and two Negro chaplains, +the Rev. C.T. Walker of Georgia and the Rev. Richard Carroll of South +Carolina. + +Owing to the briefness of the campaign in Cuba, most of the service of +Negro troops devolved upon the Regulars who were fit and ready. But all +troops were at mobilization or training bases and willing and anxious to +serve. No pages in the history of this country are more replete with the +record of good fighting, military efficiency and soldierly conduct, than +those recording the story of Negro troops in Cuba. Colonel Roosevelt +said that the conduct of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry reflected honor +upon the whole American people, especially on their own race. He could +hardly say otherwise in view of the splendid support given by those two +regiments that--such is, and will continue to be the verdict of history, +saved him and his "Rough Riders" from annihilation at San Juan Hill. + +Cuba, in her struggles for freedom, had among her own people two +splendid Negro leaders, Antonio and Jose Maceo. + +Following the Cuban campaign, Negro troops saw distinguished service in +the Philippine Islands uprisings. They have from time to time since +garrisoned and preserved order in those possessions. A very limited +number of Negro officers have been attached to their racial contingents +in the Philippines, and there will be found but a few of competent +military authority in this country, who will deny that educated, +intelligent and qualified Negroes, are fitted for positions of +leadership and command. + +The Negro of this country is primarily and essentially concerned with +the destiny and problems of his race. His work encouraged as it must be, +by the laws and spirit of the age, will determine his future and mark +the commencement of the elimination of the shameful prejudice against +him in the land, for which, from Lexington to the bloody trenches of +France, he has given of his blood to preserve. + +Before leaving the subject of the Negro in previous wars, it is highly +fitting to review the heroic incident of June 21, 1916, at Carrizal, +Mexico. Here is a tale of daring that to duplicate, would tax the +imagination of war fiction writers, and among incidents of fact will +range along with the Texans' defense of the Alamo, where men fought and +perished against great odds. + +The occasion was the celebrated expedition conducted by General J.J. +Pershing into Mexico in pursuit of the bandit leader Villa. A picked +detachment consisting of portions of Troops C and K of the colored Tenth +Cavalry, was dispatched from Pershing's main force towards the town of +Villa Ahumada. The force was commanded by Captain Charles T. Boyd of +Troop C and Captain Lewis Morey of Troop K. Lieutenant Adair was second +in command in Troop C to Captain Boyd. Including officers and civilian +scouts, the force numbered about 80 men. + +Early on the morning of June 21, the detachment wishing to pass through +the garrisoned town of Carrizal, sought the permission of the Mexican +commander. Amidst a show of force, the officers were invited into the +town by the commander, ostensibly for a parley. Fearing a trap they +refused the invitation and invited the Mexicans to a parley outside the +town. The Mexican commander came out with his entire force and began to +dispose them in positions which were very threatening to the Americans. +Captain Boyd informed the Mexican that his orders were to proceed +eastward to Ahumada and protested against the menacing position of the +Mexican forces. The Mexican replied that his orders were to prevent the +Americans from proceeding in any direction excepting northward, the +direction from which they had just come. + +Captain Boyd refused to retreat, but ordered his men not to fire until +they were attacked. The Mexican commander retired to the flank and +almost immediately opened with machine gun fire from a concealed trench. +This was quickly followed by rifle fire from the remainder of the force. +The Mexicans outnumbered the troopers nearly two to one and their most +effective force was intrenched. The Americans were on a flat plain, +unprotected by anything larger than bunches of cactus or sage brush. +They dismounted, laid flat on the ground and responded to the attack as +best they could. The horses were mostly stampeded by the early firing. + +The spray of lead from the machine gun had become so galling that +Captain Boyd decided to charge the position. Not a man wavered in the +charge. They took the gun, the Captain falling dead across the barrel of +it just as the last Mexican was killed or put to flight. Lieutenant +Adair was also killed. The Mexicans returned in force and recaptured the +position. + +Captain Morey had been concerned in warding off a flank attack. His men +fought no less bravely than the others. They finally were driven to seek +refuge in an adobe house, that is; all who were able to reach it. Here +they kept the Mexicans at bay for hours firing through windows and holes +in the walls. Captain Morey seriously wounded, with a few of his +survivors, finally escaped from the house and hid for nearly two days in +a hole. The soldiers refused to leave their officer. When they finally +were able to leave their place of concealment, the several that were +left assisted their Captain on the road towards the main force. Arriving +at a point where reinforcements could be summoned, the Captain wrote a +report to his commander and sent his men to headquarters with it. They +arrived in record time and a party was sent out, reaching the wounded +officer in time to save his life. + +About half of the American force was wiped out and most of the others +were taken prisoners. They inflicted a much heavier loss on the +Mexicans. Among the killed was the Mexican commander who had ordered the +treacherous attack. + +It may be that "someone had blundered." This was not the concern of the +black troopers; in the face of odds they fought by the cactus and lay +dead under the Mexican stars. + +In closing this outline of the Negro's participation in former wars, it +is highly appropriate to quote the tributes of two eminent men. One, +General Benjamin F. Butler, a conspicuous military leader on the Union +side in the Civil War, and Wendell Phillips, considered by many the +greatest orator America ever produced, and who devoted his life to the +abolition movement looking to the freedom of the slave in the United +States. Said General Butler on the occasion of the debate in the +National House of Representatives on the Civil Rights bill; ten years +after the bloody battle of New Market Heights; speaking to the bill, and +referring to the gallantry of the black soldiers on that field of +strife: + + "It became my painful duty to follow in the track of that charging + column, and there, in a space not wider than the clerk's desk and + three hundred yards long, lay the dead bodies of 543 of my colored + comrades, fallen in defense of their country, who had offered their + lives to uphold its flag and its honor, as a willing sacrifice; and + as I rode along among them, guiding my horse this way and that way, + lest he should profane with his hoofs what seemed to me the sacred + dead, and as I looked on their bronzed faces upturned in the + shining sun, as if in mute appeal against the wrongs of the country + whose flag had only been to them a flag of stripes, on which no + star of glory had ever shone for them--feeling I had wronged them + in the past and believing what was the future of my country to + them--among my dead comrades there I swore to myself a solemn oath, + 'May my right hand forget its cunning and my tongue cleave to the + roof of my mouth, if I ever fail to defend the rights of those men + who have given their blood for me and my country this day, and for + their race forever,' and, God helping me, I will keep that oath." + +Mr. Phillips in his great oration on Toussaint L'Ouverture, the Black of +St. Domingo; statesman, warrior and LIBEEATOR,--delivered in New York +City, March 11, 1863, said among other things, a constellation of +linguistic brilliants not surpassed since the impassioned appeals of +Cicero swept the Roman Senate to its feet, or Demosthenes fired his +listeners with the flame of his matchless eloquence; + + "You remember that Macaulay says, comparing Cromwell with Napoleon, + that Cromwell showed the greater military genius, if we consider + that he never saw an army till he was forty; while Napoleon was + educated from a boy in the best military schools in Europe. + Cromwell manufactured his own army; Napoleon at the age of + twenty-seven was placed at the head of the best troops Europe ever + saw. They were both successful; but, says Macaulay, with such + disadvantages, the Englishman showed the greater genius. Whether + you allow the inference or not, you will at least grant that it is + a fair mode of measurement. + + "Apply it to Toussaint. Cromwell never saw an army until he was + forty; this man never saw a soldier till he was fifty. Cromwell + manufactured his own army--out of what? Englishmen--the best blood + in Europe. Out of the middle class of Englishmen, the best blood of + the island. And with it he conquered what? Englishmen--their + equals. This man manufactured his army out of what? Out of what you + call the despicable race of Negroes, debased, demoralized by two + hundred years of slavery, 100,000 of them imported into the island + within four years, unable to speak a dialect intelligible even to + each other. Yet out of this mixed, and, as you say, despicable + mass, he forged a thunderbolt, and hurled it at what? At the + proudest blood in Europe, the Spaniard, and sent him home + conquered; at the most warlike blood in Europe, the French, and put + them under his feet; at the pluckiest blood in Europe, the English, + and they skulked home to Jamaica." + + +The world is acquainted with the treacherous infamy inspired by the +great Napoleon, that inveigled the Black Chieftain and liberator of his +people on shipboard, the voyage to France, and his subsequent +death--STARVED!--in the dungeon of the prison castle of St. Joux. + +Whittier, the poet evangelist, whose inspired verse contributed much to +the crystallization of the sentiment and spirit that finally doomed +African slavery in America, thus referred to the heartless tragedy and +the splendid Black who was its victim: + + "Sleep calmy in thy dungeon-tomb, + Beneath Besancon's alien sky, + Dark Haytien!--for the time shall come, + Yea, even now is nigh-- + When, everywhere, thy name shall be + Redeemed from color's infamy; + And men shall learn to speak of thee, + As one of earth's great spirits, born + In servitude, and nursed in scorn, + Casting aside the weary weight + And fetters of its low estate, + In that strong majesty of soul, + Which knows no color, tongue or clime, + Which still hath spurned the base control + Of tyrants through all time!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +HOUR OF HIS NATION'S PERIL. + + +NEGRO'S PARTRIOTIC ATTITUDE--SELECTIVE DRAFT IN EFFECT--FEATURES AND +RESULTS--BOLD RELIANCE ON FAITH IN A PEOPLE--NO COLOR LINE +DRAWN--DISTRIBUTION OF REGISTRANTS BY STATES--NEGRO AND WHITE +REGISTRATIONS COMPARED--NEGRO PERCENTAGES HIGHER--CLAIMED FEWER +EXEMPTIONS--INDUCTIONS BY STATES--BETTER PHYSICALLY THAN WHITES--TABLES, +FACTS AND FIGURES. + + +As stated in a previous chapter, the Negro's real opportunity to show +his patriotic attitude did not come until the passage of the compulsory +service law; selective draft, was the name attached to it later and by +which it was generally known. + +On May 18, 1917, the day the law was enacted by congress, no advocate of +preparedness could with confidence have forecasted the success of it. +There were many who feared the total failure of it. The history of the +United States disclosed a popular adherence to the principle of +voluntary enlistment, if not a repudiation of the principle of selection +or compulsory military service. + +It was to be expected that many people would look upon the law as highly +experimental; as an act that, if it did not produce grave disorders in +the country, would fall short of the results for which it was intended. +It was fortunate for the country at this time, that the military +establishment possessed in the person of General Crowder, one who had +made a special study of selective drafts and other forms of compulsory +service, not alone in this country, but throughout the nations of the +world and back to the beginning of recorded history. He had become as +familiar with all phases of it as though it had been a personal hobby +and lifetime pursuit. + +The law was extremely plain and permitted of no guessing or legal +quibbling over its terms. It boldly recited the military obligations of +citizenship. It vested the president with the most complete power of +prescribing regulations calculated to strike a balance between the +industrial, agricultural and economic needs of the nation on the one +hand and the military need on the other. + +Within 18 days between May 18, when the law was approved, and June 5, +the day the president had fixed as registration day, a great, +administrative machine was built. Practically the entire male +citizenship of the United States within the age limits fixed by law, +twenty-one to thirty years inclusive, presented itself at the 4,000 +enrollment booths with a registered result of nearly 10,000,000 names. +The project had been so systematized that within 48 hours almost +complete registration returns had been assembled by telegraph in +Washington. + +The order in which the ten-million registrants were to be called was +accomplished on July 20 by a great central lottery in Washington. + +The boards proceeded promptly to call, to examine physically and to +consider claims for exemption of over one and one half million men, a +sufficient number to fill the first national quota of 687,000. Thus in +less than three and one-half months the nation had accepted and +vigorously executed a compulsory service law. + +On June 5, 1918, 753,834 men were added to the rolls. On August 24, +1918, that number was increased by 159,161; finally on September 12, +1918, under the provision of the act of August 31, 1918, 13,228,762 were +added to the lists of those available for military service, which, +including interim and other accessions, amounted to a grand total of +24,234,021 enrolled and subject to the terms of the Selective Service +law. This tremendous exhibition of man power struck terror to the heart +of the Hun and hastened him to, if possible, deliver a telling blow +against the Allies before the wonderful strength and resources of the +American nation could be brought to bear against him. + +Commenting on the facility with which the selective draft was put into +effect, the report of the Provost Marshall General stated in part: + + "The expedition and smoothness with which the law was executed + emphasized the remarkable flexibility, adaptability and efficiency + of our system of government and the devotion of our people. Here + was a gigantic project in which success was staked not on reliance + in the efficiency of a man, or an hierarchy of men, or, primarily, + on a system. Here was a bold reliance on faith in a people. Most + exacting duties were laid with perfect confidence on the officials + of every locality in the nation, from the governors of states to + the registrars of elections, and upon private citizens of every + condition, from men foremost in the industrial and political life + of the nation to those who had never before been called upon to + participate in the functions of government. By all administrative + tokens, the accomplishment of their task was magic." + +No distinction regarding color or race was made in the selective draft +law, except so far as non-citizen Indians were exempt from the draft. +But the organization of the army placed Negro soldiers in separate +units; and the several calls for mobilization, were, therefore, affected +by this circumstance, in that no calls could be issued for Negro +registrants until the organizations were ready for them. Figures of +total registration given previously in this chapter include interim +accessions and some that automatically went on the rolls after September +12, 1918. Inasmuch as the tables prepared by the Provost Marshall +General's department deal only with those placed on the rolls on regular +registration days and do not include the accessions mentioned, +comparisons which follow will be based on those tables. They show the +total registration as 23,779,997, of which 21,489,470 were white and +2,290,527 were black. Following is a table showing the distribution of +colored and white registrants by states: + + Colored + Total registrants + Colored June 5, 1917 Colored Total + and white Colored registrants colored + registrants. to Sept 11, Sept 12, registrants. + 1918. 1918. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +United States 23,779,097 1,078,331 1,212,196 2,290,527 + ===================================================== +Alabama 444,692 81,963 81,410 163,373 +Arizona 93,078 295 680 975 +Arkansas 365,754 51,176 53,659 104,835 +California 787,676 3,308 6,404 9,712 +Colorado 215,178 1,103 1,867 2,970 +Connecticut 373,676 3,524 4,659 8,183 +Delaware 55,215 3,798 4,448 8,246 +District of Columbia 89,808 11,045 15,433 26,478 +Florida 208,931 39,013 43,019 82,032 +Georgia 549,020 112,593 108,183 220,781 +Idaho 103,740 254 255 509 +Illinois 1,571,717 21,816 35,597 57,413 +Indiana 639,431 11,289 16,549 27,838 +Iowa 523,957 2,959 3,022 5,981 +Kansas 381,315 5,575 7,448 13,023 +Kentucky 486,599 25,850 30,182 56,032 +Louisiana . 391,654 76,223 82,256 158,479 +Maine 159,350 163 179 342 +Maryland 313,255 26,435 32,736 59,171 +Massachusetts 884,030 6,044 8,056 14,100 +Michigan 871,410 6,979 8,950 15,929 +Minnesota 540,003 1,541 1,809 3,350 +Mississippi 344,506 81,548 91,534 173,082 +Missouri 764,428 22,796 31,524 54,320 +Montana 196,999 320 494 814 +Nebraska 286,147 1,614 2,417 4,031 +Nevada 29,465 69 112 172 +New Hampshire 95,035 77 98 175 +New Jersey 761,238 14,056 19,340 33,396 +New Mexico 80,158 235 350 595 +New York 2,503,290 25,974 35,299 61,273 +North Carolina 480,901 73,357 69,168 142,525 +North Dakota 159,391 65 165 230 +Ohio 1,387,830 28,831 35,156 63,987 +Oklahoma 423,864 14,305 23,253 37,563 +Oregon 176,010 144 534 678 +Pennsylvania 2,067,023 39,363 51,111 90,474 +Rhode Island 134,232 1,573 1,913 3,486 +South Carolina 307,229 74,265 74,912 149,177 +South Dakota 142,783 144 171 315 +Tennessee 474,253 43,735 51,059 94,794 +Texas 989,571 83,671 82,775 166,446 +Utah 100,038 169 392 561 +Vermont 71,464 63 89 152 +Virginia 464,903 64,358 75,816 140,174 +Washington 319,337 373 1,353 1,726 +West Virginia 324,975 13,292 14,652 27,944 +Wisconsin 584,639 718 1,117 1,835 +Wyoming 58,700 280 570 850 + + + White + registrants White Total + Percent of June 5, 1917 registrants white Percent + total to Sept 11 Sept 12, registrants. of total + registrants. 1918. 1918. registrants. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +United States 9.83 9,562,515 11,926,955 21,480,470 90.37 + =================================================================== +Alabama 36.74 124,247 157,072 281,319 63.26 +Arizona 1.05 39,884 52,219 92,103 98.95 +Arkansas 28.66 117,111 143,808 260,919 71.34 +California 1.23 312,994 464,970 777,964 98.77 +Colorado 1.38 90,453 121,755 212,208 98.62 +Connecticut . 2.19 171,296 194,197 365,493 97.81 +Delaware 14.93 20,761 26,208 46,969 85.07 +District of Columbia 29.45 25,625 37,795 63,420 70.56 +Florida 39.26 55,572 71,327 126,899 60.74 +Georgia 40.22 147,604 180,635 328,239 59.78 +Idaho 0.49 45,224 58,007 103,231 99.51 +Illinois 3.65 685,254 829,050 1,514,304 96.35 +Indiana 4.35 272,442 339,151 611,593 95.65 +Iowa 1.14 237,744 280,232 517,976 98.86 +Kansas 3.41 161,691 206,602 368,293 96.59 +Kentucky 11.52 190,060 240,507 430,567 88.43 +Louisiana 40.46 103,718 129,467 233,185 59.54 +Maine 0.22 67,941 91,067 159,008 99.73 +Maryland 18.89 110,066 144,018 254,084 81.11 +Massachusetts 1.60 391,654 478,276 869,930 93.40 +Michigan 1.83 404,040 451,441 855,481 98.17 +Minnesota 0.62 247,750 288,903 538,653 99.38 +Mississippi 50.24 75,977 95,447 171,424 49.76 +Missouri 7.11 372,106 398,002 710,108 92.89 +Montana 0.41 96,753 101,432 198,185 99.59 +Nebraska 1.42 130,493 151,623 282,116 98.58 +Nevada 0.58 12,581 16,712 29,293 99.42 +New Hampshire 0.18 41,617 53,243 94,860 99.82 +New Jersey 4.39 18,615 409,225 727,840 95.61 +New Mexico 0.74 36,776 42,787 79,563 99.26 +New York 2.44 1,092,061 1,349,956 2,442,617 97.56 +North Carolina 29.63 155,102 183,274 338,376 70.37 +North Dakota 0.15 72,837 85,324 159,161 98.85 +Ohio 4.61 588,170 735,673 1,323,843 95.39 +Oklahoma 8.86 173,851 212,450 386,301 91.15 +Oregon 0.38 69,376 105,956 175,332 99.62 +Pennsylvania 4.38 353,106 1,113,443 1,976,549 95.62 +Rhode Island 2.59 57,433 73,313 130,746 12 +South Carolina 48.56 70,395 87,657 158,052 51.44 +South Dakota 0.23 64,896 77,572 142,468 99.77 +Tennessee 19.99 169,674 209,785 379,459 80.01 +Texas 16.82 376,385 446,740 823,125 83.18 +Utah 0.56 45,930 53,547 99,477 99.44 +Vermont 0.21 30,819 40,493 71,312 99.79 +Virginia 30.15 141,714 183,015 324,727 69.85 +Washington 0.54 123,752 193,859 317,611 99.46 +West Virginia 8.60 128,852 168,179 297,031 91.40 +Wisconsin 0.31 265,501 317,303 582,804 99.69 +Wyoming 1.45 24,612 33,238 57,850 98.56 + +Results of the classification of December 15, 1917 to September 11, +1918, in respect to colored and white registrants are shown in the +following table: + +Colored and white classification compared. Number. Percent Percent + of total of + classified. classified. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Total colored and white registered: + June 5, 1917, to Sept. 11, 1918 10,640,846 100.00 ----- + Total colored registered 1,078,331 10.13 100.00 + Class I 556,917 ----- 51.65 + Deferred classes 521,414 ----- ----- + Total white registered 9,562,515 89.87 100.00 + Class I 3,110,659 ----- 32.53 + Deferred classes 6,451,856 ----- ----- +Percentage accepted for service on calls before Dec. 15, 1917 (report for 1917). + Colored ----- ----- 36.23 + White ----- ----- 24.75 + +It will be seen that a much higher percentage of Negroes were accepted +for service than of white men. It is true that enlistments which were +permitted white men but denied Negroes, depleted the whites eligible to +Class I to some extent. Probably there were more Negro delinquents in +proportion to their numbers in the south than white delinquents. The +conditions under which they lived would account for that. Delinquents, +under the regulations, were placed in Class 1. Then there is the +undoubted fact that the Negro sought and was granted fewer exemptions on +the ground of dependency. Many Negroes in the south, where the rate of +pay was low, were put in Class I on the ground that their allotment and +allowances while in the army, would furnish an equivalent support to +their dependents. But whatever the reason, the great fact stands out +that a much greater percentage of colored were accepted for service than +white men. The following table gives the colored and white inductions by +states: + + Total colored Colored Colored Per + and white registrants, Percentage inducted Percent of + registrants, June 5, of colored June 5, colored + June 5, 1917, 1917, to and white 1917, to registrants. + to Sept. 11, Sept. 11, registrants. Nov. 11, + 1918. 1918. 1918. +---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +United States 10,640,846 1,078,331 10.13 367,710 34.10 + =================================================================== +Alabama 206,210 81,963 39.75 25,874 31.57 +Arizona 40,179 295 .73 77 26.10 +Arkansas 168,287 51,176 30.4l 17,544 34.28 +California 316,302 3,308 1.05 919 27.78 +Colorado 91,556 1,103 1.20 317 28.74 +Connecticut 174,820 3,524 2.02 941 26.70 +Delaware 24,559 3,798 15.46 1,365 35.93 +District of Columbia 36,670 11,045 30.12 4,000 36.22 +Florida 94,585 39,013 41.25 12,904 33.08 +Georgia 260,197 112,593 43.27 34,303 30.47 +Idaho 45,478 254 .56 95 37.40 +Illinois 707,070 21,816 3.09 8,754 40.13 +Indiana 283,731 11,289 3.98 4,579 40.56 +Iowa 240,703 2,959 1.23 929 31.40 +Kansas 167,266 5,575 3.33 2,127 38.15 +Kentucky 215,910 25,850 11.98 11,320 43.79 +Louisiana 179,941 76,223 42.36 28,711 37.67 +Maine 68,104 163 .24 50 30.67 +Maryland 136,501 26,435 19.37 9,212 34.85 +Massachusetts 397,698 6,044 1.52 1,200 19.85 +Michigan 411,019 6,979 1.70 2,395 34.32 +Minnesota 249,291 1,541 .62 511 53.16 +Mississippi 157,525 81,548 51.77 24,066 29.51 +Missouri 334,902 22,796 6.81 9,219 40.44 +Montana 97,073 320 .33 198 61.87 +Nebraska 132,107 1,614 1.22 642 39.78 +Nevada 12,640 59 .47 26 44.07 +New Hampshire 41,694 77 .18 27 35.07 +New Jersey 332,671 14,056 4.23 4,863 34.60 +New Mexico 37,011 235 .63 51 21.70 +New York 1,118,035 25,974 2. 6,193 23.84 +North Carolina 228,459 73,357 32.11 20,082 27.38 +North Dakota 72,902 65 .09 87 ----- +Ohio 617,001 28,831 4.67 7,861 27.27 +Oklahoma 188,156 14,305 7.60 5,694 39.80 +Oregon 69,520 144 .21 68 47.22 +Pennsylvania 902,469 39,363 4.36 15,392 39.10 +Rhode Island 59,006 1,573 2.67 291 18.50 +South Carolina 144,660 74,265 51.34 25,798 34.74 +South Dakota 65,040 144 .22 62 43.06 +Tennessee 213,409 43,735 20.59 17,774 40.64 +Texas 460,056 83,671 18.19 31,506 37.65 +Utah 46,099 169 .37 77 45.56 +Vermont 30,882 63 .20 22 34.92 +Virginia 206,072 64,358 31.23 23,541 36.57 +Washington 124,125 373 .30 173 46.38 +West Virginia 142,144 13,292 9.35 5,492 41.32 +Wisconsin 266,219 718 .27 224 31.20 +Wyoming 24,892 280 1.12 95 23.93 +Alaska 5 +Hawaii +Porto Rico + + + + White Percent of White + registrants, colored inductions, Percent + June 5, and June 5, of white + 1917, to white 1917, to registrants. + Sept. 11, registrants. Nov. 11, + 1918. 1918. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +United States 9,562,515 89.87 2,299,157 24.04 + ===================================================== +Alabama 124,247 60.25 33,881 27.27 +Arizona 39,884 99.27 8,036 20.15 +Arkansas 117,111 69.59 31,768 27.13 +California 312,994 98.95 60,148 21.13 +Colorado 90,453 98.80 22,487 24.86 +Connecticut 171,296 97.98 31,598 18.45 +Delaware 20,761 84.54 3,628 17.48 +District of Columbia 25,625 69.88 5,631 21.97 +Florida 55,572 58.75 12,012 21.62 +Georgia 147,604 56.73 32,538 32.04 +Idaho 45,224 99.44 12,471 27.58 +Illinois 685,254 96.91 68,729 24.62 +Indiana 272,442 96.02 65,170 23.92 +Iowa 237,744 98.77 65,935 27.73 +Kansas 161,691 96.67 39,778 21.60 +Kentucky 190,060 88.02 47,010 24.60 +Louisiana 103,718 57.64 27,494 26.51 +Maine 67,941 99.76 15,216 22.40 +Maryland 110,066 80.63 24,655 22.40 +Massachusetts 391,654 98.48 75,367 19.24 +Michigan 404,040 98.30 94,085 23.29 +Minnesota 247,750 99.38 73,169 29.53 +Mississippi 75,977 48.23 19,296 25.40 +Missouri 312,106 93.19 83,624 26.79 +Montana 96,753 99.67 27,142 28.O5 +Nebraska 130,493 98.78 29,165 22.35 +Nevada 12,581 99.53 8,138 24.94 +New Hampshire 41,617 99.82 8,377 20.13 +New Jersey 318,615 95.77 66,527 20.88 +New Mexico 36,776 99.37 8,811 23.96 +New York 1,092,061 97.68 247,396 22.65 +North Carolina 155,102 67.89 38,359 24.73 +North Dakota 72,837 99.91 18,508 25.41 +Ohio 568,170 95.83 130,287 22.15 +Oklahoma 173,851 92.40 59,247 34.08 +Oregon 69,376 99.79 16,090 23.19 +Pennsylvania 863,106 95.64 185,819 21.53 +Rhode Island 57,433 97.33 10,885 18.95 +South Carolina 70,395 48.66 18,261 25.94 +South Dakota 64,896 99.78 21,193 32.66 +Tennessee 169,674 79.51 42,104 24.81 +Texas 376,385 81.81 85,889 22.82 +Utah 45,93O 99.63 10,711 23.32 +Vermont 30,819 99.80 6,607 21.44 +Virginia 141,714 68.77 34,796 24.55 +Washington 123,752 99.70 28,513 23.04 +West Virginia l28,852 90.65 39,863 30.94 +Wisconsin 265,501 99.73 70,758 26.65 +Wyoming 24,612 98.88 7,828 31.81 +Alaska 1,957 +Hawaii 5,406 +Porto Rico 15,734 + +Further light on the question of more Negroes in proportion to their +numbers being selected for service than white men, is found in a +comparison of the Negroes and whites rejected for physical reasons. The +following table gives the figures for the period between December 15, +1917 and September 11, 1918: + +Colored and white physical rejections compared. Number. Percent of Percent of + examined partial + disqualifications. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Total, colored and white examined Dec. 15, 1917, + to Sept. 11, 1918 3,208,446 100.00 ----- + Group A 2,259,027 70.41 ----- + Disqualified partly or totally 949,419 ----- 100.00 + Group B 88,436 2.76 9.31 + Group C 339,377 10.58 35.75 + Group D 521,606 16.25 54.94 +Total, colored examined 458,838 100.00 ----- + Group A 342,277 74.60 ----- + Disqualified partly or totally 116,561 ----- 100.00 + Group B 9,605 2.09 8.24 + Group C 27,474 5.99 23.57 + Group D 79,482 17.32 68.19 +Total white examined 2,749,608 100.00 ----- + Group A 1,916,750 69.71 ----- + Disqualified partly or totally 832,858 ----- 100.00 + Group B 78,831 2.87 9.47 + Group C 311,903 11.34 37.45 + Group D 442,124 16.08 53.08 + +The percentage of Negroes unqualifiedly accepted for service, was 74.60% +of the number examined; the white men accepted numbered 69.71% of the +number examined. The Negroes it will be seen rated about 5% higher +physically than the whites. No better refutation could be desired of the +charge, having its inspiration in the vanquished, but unrepentant +defenders of Negro slavery, mourning about its dead carcass, that the +Negro is deteriorating physically, or that the so-called degenerative +influences of civilization affect him in greater degree than they do the +white man. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +NEGRO SLACKERS AND PACIFISTS UNKNOWN + + +SUCH WORDS NOT IN HIS VOCABULARY--DESERTIONS EXPLAINED--GENERAL CROWDER +EXONERATES NEGRO--NO WILLFUL DELINQUENCY--STRENUOUS EFFORTS TO MEET +REGULATIONS--NO "CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS"--NO DRAFT EVADERS OR +RESISTERS--NEGRO'S DEVOTION SUBLIME--JUSTIFIES HIS FREEDOM--FORGETS HIS +SORROWS--RISES ABOVE HIS WRONGS--TESTIMONY OF LOCAL BOARDS--GERMAN +PROPAGANDA WASTED--A NEW AMERICANISM. + + +The only phase of the selective draft in which the Negro seemed to be +discredited in comparison with his white brother, was in the matter of +desertions. At first glance and without proper analysis, the record +appeared to be against the Negro. Upon detailed study, however, the case +takes on a different aspect. The records of the Provost Marshall General +show that out of 474,861 reported deserters, 369,030 were white +registrants, and 105,831 colored, the ratio of white reported deserters +to white registrants being 3.86, and the ratio of colored reported +deserters to colored registrants being 9.81. Everyone knows now that +many, yes, the bulk of the reported desertions among both whites and +blacks, were not desertions at all. Circumstances simply prevented the +men from keeping in touch with their local boards or from reporting when +called. + +Desertions among white registrants might have shown a greater percentage +had they not availed themselves of the exemption feature of the law. +Negroes did not understand this clause in the act so well. Besides, as +previously stated, many Negroes were placed in Class 1, even where they +had dependants, because their rate of pay in the army would enable them +to contribute as much to the support of their dependants as would their +earnings outside of army service. + +This was a policy with many draft boards, but it is not exactly clear +in view of the increased earning power of the Negroes through wartime +demands for their labor. Following are the complete figures on so-called +desertions, the variances in the several states being given: + + Total + white + and colored + registrants, + June 5, + 1917, to Total Reported Percent of Percent of + Sept. 11, white desertions, total white + 1918. registrants. white. registrants. registrants. +---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +United States 10,640,846 9,562,515 380,030 3.47 3.86 +======================================================================================== +Alabama 206,210 194,247 3,672 1.78 2.96 +Arizona 40,179 39,884 6,930 17.36 17.40 +Arkansas 168,287 117,111 2,476 1.47 2.11 +California 316,302 313,994 15,323 4.84 4.90 +Colorado 91,556 90,463 4,910 5.38 5.43 +Connecticut 174,820 171,296 12,416 7.10 7.25 +Delaware 24,559 20,761 686 2.79 3.30 +District of Columbia 36,670 25,625 390 1.06 1.52 +Florida 94,585 55,572 1,823 1.93 3.28 +Georgia 260,197 147,001 4,499 1.73 3.05 +Idaho 45,478 45,224 2,242 4.93 4.96 +Illinois 707,070 685,254 21,673 3.07 3.16 +Indiana 283,731 272,442 5,252 1.85 1.93 +Iowa 240,703 237,744 5,283 2.19 2.21 +Kansas 167,266 161,691 3,172 1.90 1.96 +Kentucky 215,910 190,060 2,830 1.03 1.23 +Louisiana 179,941 103,718 2,250 1.25 2.17 +Maine 68,104 67,941 2,553 3.74 3.76 +Maryland 136,501 110,066 3,831 2.81 3.48 +Massachusetts 397,698 391,654 19,841 4.99 5.07 +Michigan 411,019 404,040 17,222 4.19 4.26 +Minnesota 249,291 247,750 10,108 4.05 4.08 +Mississippi 157,525 75,977 1,713 1.09 2.25 +Missouri 334,902 312,106 10,549 3.14 3.38 +Montana 97,073 96,753 7,835 8.13 8.16 +Nebraska 132,107 130,493 2,608 1.97 2.00 +Nevada 12,640 12,581 1,392 1.10 11.06 +New Hampshire 41,694 41,617 1,428 3.42 3.43 +New Jersey 332,671 318,815 15,114 4.54 4.74 +New Mexico 37,011 36,776 3,217 8.69 8.75 +New York 1,118,035 1,092,061 57,021 5.10 5.22 +North Carolina 228,459 155,102 1,175 5.14 .76 +North Dakota 72,902 72,837 2,520 3.46 3.46 +Ohio 617,001 588,170 22,846 3.70 3.88 +Oklahoma 188,156 173,851 5,860 3.11 3.37 +Oregon 69,520 69,376 2,023 2.91 2.92 +Pennsylvania 902,469 863,106 31,739 3.52 3.68 +Rhode Island 59,006 57,433 2,340 3.97 4.07 +South Carolina 144,660 70,395 1,107 .77 1.57 +South Dakota 65,040 64,896 1,243 1.91 1.92 +Tennessee 213,409 169,674 4,389 2.05 2.58 +Texas 460,056 376,385 19,209 4.18 5.10 +Utah 46,099 45,930 1,735 3.76 3.78 +Vermont 30,882 30,819 690 2.23 2.71 +Virginia 206,072 141,714 3,090 1.50 2.18 +Washington 124,125 123,752 7,261 5.85 5.87 +West Virginia 142,144 128,852 4,803 3.38 3.73 +Wisconsin 266,219 265,501 4,663 1.75 1.76 +Wyoming 24,892 24,612 1,734 6.96 7.05 +Alaska 601 +Hawaii 184 +Porto Rico 15 + + + Total Reported Percent Percent + colored desertions, of total of colored + registrants. colored. registrants. registrants. +---------------------------------------------------------------------------- +United States 1,078,331 105,831 .99 9.81 +============================================================================ +Alabama 81,963 10,835 5.25 13.22 +Arizona 295 64 .16 21.69 +Arkansas 51,176 4,770 2.83 9.32 +California 3,303 268 .08 8.10 +Colorado 1,103 91 .10 8.25 +Connecticut 3,524 682 .39 19.35 +Delaware 3,798 303 1.23 7.98 +District of Columbia 11,045 616 1.68 5.58 +Florida 39,013 8,319 8.71 21.32 +Georgia 112,593 8,969 3.45 7.97 +Idaho 254 108 .23 42.51 +Illinois 21,816 2,911 .41 13.34 +Indiana 11,289 1,199 .42 10.62 +Iowa 2,959 517 .21 17.47 +Kansas 5,575 255 .15 4.57 +Kentucky 25,850 1,524 .71 5.90 +Louisiana 76,223 5,962 3.31 7.82 +Maine 163 29 .04 17.79 +Maryland 26,435 2,410 1.77 9.12 +Massachusetts 6,044 665 1.67 11.00 +Michigan 6,979 1,015 .25 14.54 +Minnesota 1,541 621 .25 40.30 +Mississippi 81,548 8,112 5.15 9.95 +Missouri 22,796 1,791 .53 7.86 +Montana 320 114 .12 35.63 +Nebraska 1,614 229 .17 14.19 +Nevada 59 3 .02 6.08 +New Hampshire 77 3 .01 3.90 +New Jersey 14,056 1,535 .46 10.92 +New Mexico 235 40 .11 17.02 +New York 25,974 4,062 .36 15.64 +North Carolina 73,357 4,937 2.16 6.73 +North Dakota 65 19 .03 29.23 +Ohio 28,831 4,048 .66 14.04 +Oklahoma 14,305 1,223 .65 8.56 +Oregon 144 18 .03 12.59 +Pennsylvania 39,363 6,599 .73 16.76 +Rhode Island 1,573 251 .43 15.96 +South Carolina 74,265 4,589 3.14 6.18 +South Dakota 144 27 .04 18.75 +Tennessee 43,735 3,573 1.67 8.17 +Texas 83,671 5,388 1.17 6.44 +Utah 169 11 .02 6.51 +Vermont 63 4 .01 6.35 +Virginia 64,358 4,935 2.39 7.67 +Washington 373 30 .02 8.04 +West Virginia 13,292 2,013 1.41 15.14 +Wisconsin 718 73 .03 10.17 +Wyoming 280 63 .25 22.50 + +[Illustration: NEGRO TROOPS NEWLY ARRIVED IN FRANCE, LINED UP FOR +INSPECTION.] + +[Illustration: NEGRO TROOPS ON A PRACTICE RUN NEAR THEIR CAMP IN +FRANCE.] + +[Illustration: PRESENTATION OF BANNER TO NEGRO STEVEDORES FOR WINNING +FIRST WEEK'S "RACE TO BERLIN", MARSEILLES, FRANCE.] + +[Illustration: NEGRO WINNERS IN STEVEDORE CONTEST BEING ENTERTAINED BY +134TH INFANTRY QUARTET AND BAND AT MARSEILLES, FRANCE.] + +[Illustration: GOING TO FIGHT FOR UNCLE SAM. TYPICAL GROUP OF NEGRO +SELECTIVE SERVICE MEN LEAVING FOR THE TRAINING CAMP.] + +[Illustration: NEGRO TROOPS ARRIVING IN FRANCE. A COMPARISON WITH THE +UPPER PICTURE SHOWS THE RAPID TRANSFORMATION FROM CIVILIANS TO FIGHTING +MEN.] + +[Illustration: "MOSS'S BUFFALOES" (367TH INFANTRY), SERENADING FAMOUS +MILITARY CHIEFTAINS IN FRANCE. IN WINDOW AT LEFT STANDS GENERAL JOHN J. +PERSHING, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES; AT RIGHT +GENERAL GOURAUD, COMMANDER OF THE FOURTH FRENCH ARMY.] + +[Illustration: HEROES OF THE BRAWNY ARM WHOSE SERVICE WAS NO LESS +EFFECTIVE THAN THAT OF THE COMBATANTS. A DETAIL OF NEGRO RAILWAY +BUILDERS ENGAGED ON THE LINE FROM BREST TO TOURS.] + +[Illustration: NEGRO ENGINEERS BUILDING ROADS IN FRANCE. AN +INDISPENSABLE FEATURE OF THE SERVICE OF SUPPLY.] + +[Illustration: NEGRO TROOPS IN FRANCE ENJOY AN OLD-FASHIONED MEAL.] + +[Illustration: NEGRO MACHINE GUNNERS ON THE ROAD NEAR MAFFRECOURT, +FRANCE. PART OF 369TH INFANTRY.] + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN HINTON AND OFFICERS OF 1ST BATTALION. 369TH NEGRO +INFANTRY ON ROAD NEAR MAFFRECOURT, FRANCE.] + +[Illustration: AUTO HORN WARNS AMERICANS OF COMING GAS ATTACK. SOLDIERS +DON MASKS AND SOUND THE ALARM. INSERT, LEFT CORNER, MACHINE GUNNERS.] + +No elaborate defense of the Negro will be attempted in the matter of +the desertion record. It is not necessary. The words of Provost Marshall +General Crowder, the man who knew all about the selective draft and who +engineered it through its wonderfully successful course, completely +absolved the Negro in this connection. The following quotation in +reference to the above figures is taken verbatim from the report of +General Crowder to the Secretary of War, dated December 20, 1918. + + "These figures of reported desertions, however, lose their + significance when the facts behind them are studied. There is in + the files of this office, a series of letters from governors and + draft executives of southern states, called forth by inquiry for an + explanation of the large percentage of Negroes among the reported + deserters and delinquents. With striking unanimity the draft + authorities replied that this was due to two causes; first, + ignorance and illiteracy; especially in the rural regions, to which + may be added a certain shiftlessness in ignoring civic obligations; + and secondly, the tendency of the Negroes to shift from place to + place. The natural inclination to roam from one employment to + another has been accentuated by unusual demands for labor incident + to the war, resulting in a considerable flow of colored men to the + north and to various munition centers. This shifting reached its + height in the summer of 1917, shortly after the first registration, + and resulted in the failure of many men to keep in touch with their + local boards, so that questionnaires and notices to report did not + reach them. + + "With equal unanimity the draft executives report that the amount + of willful delinquency or desertion has been almost nil. Several + describe the strenuous efforts of the Negroes to comply with the + regulations, when the requirements were explained to them, many + registrants travelling long distances to report in person to the + adjutant general of the state. 'The conviction resulting from these + reports' says General Crowder, 'is that the colored men as a whole + responded readily and gladly to their military obligations once + their duties were understood." + +So far as the records show, there were neither "slackers" nor +"pacifists" among the Negroes. Hon. Emmett J. Scott, Special Assistant +to the Secretary of War, said that the war department had heard of only +two colored "conscientious objectors". When those two were +cross-examined it was revealed that they had misinterpreted their +motives and that their objections proceeded from a source very remote +from their consciences. + +Pacifists and conscientious objectors came principally from the class +who held religious scruples against war or the taking up of arms. The +law permitted these to enter a special so-called non-combatant +classification. + +It is a well known fact that Negro religionists are members of the +church militant, so they could not be included in the self-declared +conscientious pacifistic sects. + +Neither was the Negro represented in that class known as draft resisters +or draft evaders. A very good reason exists in the fact that opposition +to the draft came from a class which did not admit the Negro to +membership. Practically all draft resistance was traceable to the +activities of radicals, whose fantastic dreams enchanted and seduced the +ignorant and artless folk who came under their influence. + +The resisters were all poor whites led by professional agitators. +Negroes had no such organizations nor leaders. + +The part played by the Negro in the great world drama upon which the +curtain has fallen, was not approached in sublime devotion by that +displayed by any other class of America's heterogeneous mixture of tribe +and race, hailing from all the ends of the earth, that composes its +great and wonderful population. Blind in a sense; unreasoning as a child +in the sacredness and consecration of his fealty; clamoring with the +fervor of an ancient crusader; his eye on heaven, his steps turned +towards the Holy Sepulchre, for a chance to go; a time and place to die, +HIS was a distinct and marked patriotism; quite alone in "splendid +isolation" but shining like the sun; unstreaked with doubt; unmixed with +cavil or question, which, finally given reign on many a spot of strife +in "Sunny France"; the Stars and Stripes above him; a prayer in his +heart; a song upon his lips, spelt death, but death glorious; where he +fell--HOLY GROUND! + + "The fittest place where man can DIE Is where he dies for man!" + +A product of slavery, ushered into a sphere of civil and political +activity, clouded and challenged by the sullen resentment of his former +masters; his soul still embittered by defeat; slowly working his way +through many hindrances toward the achievement of success that would +enable both him and the world to justify the new life of freedom that +had come to him; faced at every hand by the prejudice born of +tradition; enduring wrongs that "would stir a fever in the blood of +age"; still the slave to a large extent of superstition fed by +ignorance, is it to be wondered at that some doubt was felt and +expressed by the best friends of the Negro, when the call came for a +draft upon the man power of the nation; whether, in the face of the +great wrongs heaped upon him; the persecutions he had passed through and +was still enduring, he would be able to forgive and forget; could and +would so rise above his sorrows as to reach to the height and the full +duty of citizenship; would give to the Stars and Stripes the response +that was due? On the part of many leaders among the Negroes, there was +apprehension that the sense of fair play and fair dealing, which is so +essentially an American characteristic, when white men are involved, +would not be meted out to the members of their race. + +How groundless such fears, may be seen from the statistical record of +the draft with relation to the Negro. His race furnished its quota +uncomplainingly and cheerfully. History, indeed, will be unable to +record the fullness and grandeur of his spirit in the war, for the +reason that opportunities, especially for enlistment, as heretofore +mentioned, were not opened to him to the same extent as to the whites. +But enough can be gathered from the records to show that he was filled +not only with patriotism, but of a brand, all things considered, than +which there was no other like it. + +That the men of the Negro race were as ready to serve as the white is +amply proved by the reports of local boards. A Pennsylvania board, +remarking upon the eagerness of its Negro registrants to be inducted, +illustrated it by the action of one registrant, who, upon learning that +his employer had had him placed upon the Emergency Fleet list, quit his +job. Another registrant who was believed by the board to be above draft +age insisted that he was not, and in stating that he was not married, +explained that he "wanted only one war at a time." + +The following descriptions from Oklahoma and Arkansas boards are +typical, the first serving to perpetuate one of the best epigrams of +the war: + + "We tried to treat the Negroes with exactly the same consideration + shown the whites. We had the same speakers to address them. The + Rotary Club presented them with small silk flags, as they did the + whites. The band turned out to escort them to the train; and the + Negroes went to camp with as cheerful a spirit as did the whites. + One of them when asked if he were going to France, replied: 'No, + sir; I'm not going "to France". I am going "through France".'" + + "In dealing with the Negroes," the Arkansas board report says, "the + southern boards gained a richness of experience that is without + parallel. No other class of citizens was more loyal to the + government or more ready to answer the country's call. The only + blot upon their military record was the great number of delinquents + among the more ignorant; but in the majority of cases this was + traced to an ignorance of the regulations, or to the withholding of + mail by the landlord, often himself an aristocratic slacker, in + order to retain the man's labor." + +Many influences were brought to bear upon the Negro to cause him to +evade his duty to the government. Some effort in certain sections of the +country was made to induce them not to register. That the attempt to +spread German propaganda among them was a miserable failure may be seen +from the statement of the Chief of the Bureau of Investigation of the +Department of Justice, made to the United States Senate committee: + + "The Negroes didn't take to these stories, however, as they were + too loyal. Money spent in the south for propaganda was thrown + away." + +Then too, these evil influences were more than offset by the various +publicity and "promotion of morale" measures carried on through the +office of the special assistant to the Secretary of War, the Hon. Emmet +J. Scott, and his assistants. Correspondence was kept up with +influential Negroes all over the country. Letters, circulars and news +items for the purpose of effecting and encouraging continued loyalty of +Negro citizens, were regularly issued to the various papers comprising +both the white and Negro press. A special committee of 100 colored +speakers was appointed to deliver public patriotic addresses all over +the country, under the auspices of the Committee on Public Information, +stating the war aims of the government and seeking to keep unbroken the +spirit of loyalty of Negro American citizens. A special conference of +Negro editors was summoned to Washington in June, 1918 by the same +committee in order to gather and disseminate the thought and public +opinion of the various leaders of the Negro race. Such was only a part +of the work of the department of the special assistant to the Secretary +of War in marshalling the man power of the nation. + +[Illustration: NEGRO TROOPS OF U.S. ARMY RECEIVING HOLY BAPTISM WHILE +IN TRAINING FOR OVERSEAS DUTY AT NORCROSS RIFLE RANGE. CAMP CORDON, GA.] + +It is only fair to quote the opinion and appreciation of this +representative of the Negro race of the selective service +administration, especially as it affected the Negro and in reference to +occasional complaints received. The extract is from a memorandum +addressed to the office of the Provost Marshal General on September 12, +1918 and is copied from the report of that official to the Secretary of +War: + + "Throughout my tenure here I have keenly appreciated the prompt and + cordial cooperation of the Provost Marshall General's office with + that particular section of the office of the Secretary of War + especially referred to herein. The Provost Marshall General's + office has carefully investigated and has furnished full and + complete reports in each and every complaint or case referred to it + for attention, involving discrimination, race prejudice, erroneous + classification of draftees, etc., and has rectified these + complaints whenever it was found upon investigation that there was + just ground for same. Especially in the matter of applying and + carrying out the selective service regulations, the Provost + Marshall General's office has kept a watchful eye upon certain + local exemption boards which seemed disinclined to treat the Negro + draftees on the same basis as other Americans subject to the draft + law. It is an actual fact that in a number of instances where + flagrant violations have occurred in the application of the draft + law, to Negro men in certain sections of the country, local + exemption boards have been removed bodily and new boards have been + appointed to supplant them. In several instances these new boards + so appointed have been ordered by the Provost Marshall General to + reclassify colored men who had been unlawfully conscripted into the + army or who had been wrongfully classified; as a result of this + action hundreds of colored men have had their complaints remedied + and have been properly reclassified." + +It is also valuable to note the opinion of this representative of his +race as to the results of the negroes' participation in the war: + + "In a word, I believe the Negro's participation in the war, his + eagerness to serve, and his great courage and demonstrated valor + across the seas, have given him a new idea of Americanism and + likewise have given to the white people of our country a new idea + of his citizenship, his real character and capabilities, and his + 100 per cent Americanism. Incidentally the Negro has been helped in + many ways physically and mentally and has been made into an even + more satisfactory asset to the nation." + +Of the Negroes inducted into service, nearly all were assigned to some +department of the army or to special work in connection with the army. +Of the few who were permitted to enlist, a very small percentage was +permitted to enlist in the Navy. Of this small number only a few were +allowed the regular training and opportunities of combatants, to the +DISCREDIT of our nation, not as yet, grown to that moral vision and all +around greatness, NOT to be small. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +ROSTER OF NEGRO OFFICERS. + + +COMMISSIONED AT FORT DES MOINES--ONLY EXCLUSIVE NEGRO TRAINING +CAMP--MOSTLY FROM CIVILIAN LIFE--NAMES, RANK AND RESIDENCE. + + +Fort Des Moines, Iowa, was the only training camp established in the +United States exclusively for Negro officers. A few were trained and +commissioned at Camps Hancock, Pike and Taylor, and a few received +commissions at officers' training camps in France, but the War +Department records do not specify which were white and which Negro. The +Fort Des Moines camp lasted from June until October 1917. Following is +the roster of Negro officers commissioned. With the exception of those +specified as from the United States Army or the National Guard, all came +from civilian life: + +Cleve L. Abbott, first lieutenant, Watertown, S.D. +Joseph L. Abernethy, first lieutenant, Prairie View, Tex. +Ewart G. Abner, second lieutenant, Conroe, Tex. +Charles J. Adams, first lieutenant, Selma, Ala. +Aurelious P. Alberga, first lieutenant, San Francisco, Calif. +Ira L. Aldridge, second lieutenant, New York, N.Y. +Edward I. Alexander, first lieutenant, Jacksonville, Fla. +Fritz W. Alexander, second lieutenant, Donaldsville, Ga. +Lucien V. Alexis, first lieutenant, Cambridge, Mass. +John H. Allen, captain, U.S. Army. +Levi Alexander, Jr., first lieutenant, Ocala, Fla. +Clarence W. Allen, second lieutenant, Mobile, Ala. +Richard S. Allen, second lieutenant, Atlantic City, N.J. +James W. Alston, first lieutenant, Raleigh, N.C. +Benjamin E. Ammons, first lieutenant, Kansas City, Mo. +Leon M. Anderson, first lieutenant, Washing ton, D.C. +Levi Anderson, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Robert Anderson, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +David W. Anthony, Jr., first lieutenant, St. Louis, Mo. +James C. Arnold, first lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Russell C. Atkins, second lieutenant, Winston-Salem, N.C. +Henry O. Atwood, captain, Washington, D.C. +Charles H. Austin, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +George J. Austin, first lieutenant. New York, N.Y. +Herbert Avery, captain, U.S. Army. +Robert S. Bamfield, second lieutenant, Wilmington, N.C. +Julian C. Banks, second lieutenant, Kansas City, Mo. +Charles H. Barbour, captain, U.S. Army. +Walter B. Barnes, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +William I. Barnes, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Stephen B. Barrows, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Thomas J. Batey, first lieutenant, Oakland, Cal. +Wilfrid Bazil, second lieutenant, Brooklyn, N.Y. +James E. Beard, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Ether Beattie, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +William H. Benson, first lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Albert P. Bentley, first lieutenant, Memphis, Tenn. +Benjamin Bettis, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Harrison W. Black, first lieutenant, Lexington, Ky. +Charles J. Blackwood, first lieutenant, Trinidad, Colo. +William Blaney, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Isaiah S. Blocker, first lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +William D. Bly, first lieutenant, Leavenworth, Kans. +Henry H. Boger, second lieutenant, Aurora, Ill. +Elbert L. Booker, first lieutenant, Wymer, Wash. +Virgil M. Boutte, captain, Nashville, Tenn. +Jas. F. Booker, captain, U.S. Army. +William R. Bowie, second lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Clyde R. Brannon, first lieutenant, Fremont, Neb. +Lewis Broadus, captain, U.S. Army. +Deton J. Brooks, first lieutenant, Chicago, Ill. +William M. Brooks, second lieutenant, Des Moines, Ia. +Carter N. Brown, first lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Emmet Brown, first lieutenant, St. Louis, Mo. +George E. Brown, second lieutenant, New York City, N.Y. +Oscar C. Brown, first lieutenant, Edwards, Miss. +Rosen T. Brown, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Samuel C. Brown, second lieutenant, Delaware, Ohio. +William H. Brown, Jr., first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Arthur A. Browne, first lieutenant, Xenia, Ohio. +Howard R.M. Browne, first lieutenant, Kansas City, Kans. +Sylvanus Brown, first lieutenant, San Antonio, Tex. +Charles C. Bruen, first lieutenant, Mayslick, Ky. +William T. Burns, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +James A. Bryant, first lieutenant, Indianapolis, Ind. +William L. Bryson, captain, U.S. Army. +John E. Buford, second lieutenant, Langston, Okla. +Thomas J. Bullock, second lieutenant, New York City, N.Y. +John W. Bundrant, second lieutenant, Omaha, Neb. +John P. Burgess, first lieutenant, Mullens, S.C. +Dace H. Burns, first lieutenant, Chicago, Ill. +William H. Burrell, second lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +John M. Burrell, second lieutenant, East Orange, N.J. +Herman L. Butler, first lieutenant, U.S. Army, +Homer C. Butler, first lieutenant, New York, N.Y. +Felix Buggs, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Napoleon L. Byrd, first lieutenant, Madison, Wis. +John B. Cade, second lieutenant, Ellerton, Ga. +Walter W. Cagle, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Charles W. Caldwell, second lieutenant, Orangeburg, S.C. +Andrew B. Callahan, second lieutenant, Montgomery, Ala. +Alvin H. Cameron, first lieutenant, Nashville, Tenn. +Alonzo Campbell, captain, U.S. Army. +Lafayette Campbell, second lieutenant, Union, W. Va. +Robert L. Campbell, first lieutenant, Greensboro, N.C. +William B. Campbell, first lieutenant, Austin, Tex. +Guy W. Canady, first lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Lovelace B. Capehart, Jr., second lieutenant, Raleigh, N.C. +Adolphus F. Capps, second lieutenant, Philadelphia, Pa. +Curtis W. Carpenter, second lieutenant, Baltimore, Md. +Early Carson, captain, U.S. Army. +John O. Carter, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Wilson Cary, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Robert W. Cheers, second lieutenant, Baltimore, Md. +David K. Cherry, captain, Greensboro, N.C. +Frank R. Chisholm, first lieutenant, Brooklyn, N.Y. +Robert B. Chubb, captain, U.S. Army. +Ewell W. Clark, first lieutenant, Giddings, Tex. +Frank C. Clark, second lieutenant, National Guard, Washington, D.C. +William H. Clarke, first lieutenant, Birmingham, Ala. +William H. Clarke, first lieutenant, Helena, Ark. +Roscoe Clayton, captain, U.S. Army. +Lane G. Cleaves, second lieutenant, Memphis, Tenn. +Joshua W. Clifford, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Sprigg B. Coates, captain, U.S. Army. +Frank Coleman, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +William Collier, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +William N. Colson, second lieutenant, Cambridge, Mass. +Leonard O. Colston, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Jones A. Coltrane, first lieutenant, Spokane, Wash. +John Combs, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Barton W. Conrad, first lieutenant, Cambridge, Mass. +Lloyd F. Cook, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Charles C. Cooper, captain, National Guard, District of Columbia. +George P. Cooper, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Joseph H. Cooper, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Chesley E. Corbett, first lieutenant, Wewoka, Okla. +Harry W. Cox, first lieutenant, Sedalia, Mo. +James W. Cranson, captain, United States Army. +Horace R. Crawford, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Judge Cross, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Clarence B. Curley, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Merrill H. Curtis, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Edward L. Dabney, first lieutenant, Hampton, Va. +Joe Dabney, captain, U.S. Army. +Victor R. Daly, first lieutenant, Corona, Long Island, N.Y. +Eugene A. Dandridge, first lieutenant, National Guard, District of + Columbia. +Eugene L.C. Davidson, first lieutenant, Cambridge, Mass. +Henry G. Davis, first lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Irby D. Davis, first lieutenant, Sumter, S.C. +William E. Davis, captain, Washington, D.C. +Charles C. Dawson, first lieutenant, Chicago, Ill. +William S. Dawson, first lieutenant, Chicago, Ill. +Aaron Day, Jr., captain, Prairie View, Tex. +Milton T. Dean, captain, U.S. Army. +Francis M. Dent, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Thomas M. Dent, Jr., first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +James B. Dickson, second lieutenant, Asheville, N.C. +Spahr H. Dickey, captain, San Francisco, Cal. +Elder W. Diggs, first lieutenant, Indianapolis, Ind. +William H. Dinkins, first lieutenant, Selma, Ala. +Beverly L. Dorsey, captain, U.S. Army. +Edward C. Dorsey, captain, U.S. Army. +Harris N. Dorsey, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Seaborn Douglas, second lieutenant, Hartford, Conn. +Vest Douglas, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Frank L. Drye, first lieutenant, Little Rock, Ark. +Edward Dugger, first lieutenant, Roxbury, Mass. +Jackson E. Dunn, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Benjamin F. Dunning, second lieutenant, Norfolk, Va. +Charles J. Echols, Jr., captain, U.S. Army. +Charles Ecton, captain, U.S. Army. +George E. Edwards, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Leonard Edwards, second lieutenant, Augusta, Ga. +James L. Elliott, second lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Charles J. Ellis, second lieutenant, Springfield, Ill. +Harry C. Ellis, first lieutenant, Patrick, Ia. +Roscoe Ellis, captain, U.S. Army. +Leslie H. Engram, second lieutenant, Montezuma, Ga. +Alexander E. Evans, first lieutenant, Columbia, S.C. +Will H. Evans, second lieutenant, Montgomery, Tex. +Norwood C. Fairfax, second lieutenant, Eagle Rock, Va. +John R. Fairley, first lieutenant, Kansas City, Mo. +Clifford L. Farrer, first lieutenant, El Paso, Tex. +Leonard J. Faulkner, first lieutenant, Columbus, O. +William H. Fearence, first lieutenant, Texarkana, Tex. +Charles H. Fearing, first lieutenant, St. Louis, Mo. +Robert W. Fearing, second lieutenant, Brooklyn, N.Y. +Alonzo G. Ferguson, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Gurnett E. Ferguson, captain, Dunbar, W. Va. +Thomas A. Firmes, captain, U.S. Army. +Dillard J. Firse, first lieutenant, Cleveland, O. +Octavius Fisher, first lieutenant, Detroit, Mich. +James E. Fladger, second lieutenant, Kansas City, Mo. +Benjamin F. Ford, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Edward W. Ford, second lieutenant, Philadelphia, Pa. +Frank L. Francis, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Henry O. Franklin, second lieutenant, San Francisco, Cal. +Ernest C. Frazier, second lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Arthur Freeman, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Sewell G. Freeman, second lieutenant, Aragon, Ga. +Edward S. Gaillard, first lieutenant, Indianapolis, Ind. +Tacitus E. Gaillard, second lieutenant, Kansas City, Mo. +James H.L. Gaines, second lieutenant, Little Rock, Ark. +Ellsworth Gamblee, first lieutenant, Cincinnati, O. +Lucian P. Garrett, second lieutenant, Louisville, Ky. +William L. Gee, first lieutenant, Gallipolis, Ohio. +Clayborne George, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Warmith T. Gibbs, second lieutenant, Cambridge, Mass. +Howard C. Gilbert, first lieutenant, Columbus, Ohio. +Walter A. Giles, first lieutenant, St. Louis, Mo. +Archie H. Gillespie, captain, U.S. Army +William Gillum, captain, U.S. Army. +Floyd Gilmer, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +William Glass, captain, U.S. Army. +Jesse J. Gleeden, second lieutenant, Little Rock, Ark. +Leroy H. Godman, captain, Columbus, Ohio. +Edward L. Goodlett, second lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Nathan O. Goodloe, second lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Frank M. Goodner, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Elijah H. Goodwin, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +James A. Gordon, first lieutenant, St. Joseph, Mo. +Herbert R. Gould, first lieutenant, Dedham, Mass. +James E. Gould, first lieutenant, Dedham, Mass. +Francis H. Gow, first lieutenant, Charleston, W. Va. +William T. Grady, second lieutenant, Dudley, N.C. +Jesse M.H. Graham, second lieutenant, Clarksville, Tenn. +William H. Graham, captain, U.S. Army. +Towson S. Grasty, first lieutenant, Pittsburgh, Pa. +Thornton H. Gray, first lieutenant, Fairmount Heights, Md. +Miles M. Green, captain, U.S. Army. +Thomas E. Green, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Walter Green, captain, U.S. Army. +Jesse J. Green, first lieutenant, Georgetown, Ky. +Thomas M. Gregory, first lieutenant, Newark, N.J. +Jefferson E. Grigsby, second lieutenant, Chapelle, S.C., +Thomas Grundy, captain, U.S. Army. +William W. Green, captain, U.S. Army. +George B. Greenlee, first lieutenant, Marion, N.C. +Nello B. Greenlee, second lieutenant, New York, N.Y. +Herbert H. Guppy, second lieutenant, Boston, Mass. +George C. Hall, captain, U.S. Army. +Leonidas H. Hall, Jr., second lieutenant, Philadelphia, Pa. +George W. Hamilton, Jr., first lieutenant, Topeka, Kans. +Rodney D. Hardeway, second lieutenant, Houston, Tex. +Clarence W. Harding, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Clifton S. Hardy, second lieutenant, Champaign, Ill. +Clay Harper, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Ted O. Harper, second lieutenant, Columbus, Ohio. +Tillman H. Harpole, first lieutenant, Kansas City, Mo. +Bravid W. Harris, Jr., first lieutenant, Warrenton, N.C. +Edward H. Harris, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Eugene Harris, captain, U.S. Army. +William Harris, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Byrd McD. Hart, captain, U.S. Army. +Albert L. Hatchett, first lieutenant, San Antonio, Tex. +Lawrence Hawkins, second lieutenant, Bowie, Md. +Charles M. Hayes, second lieutenant, Hopkinsville, Ky. +Merriam C. Hayson, first lieutenant, Kenilworth, D.C. +Alonzo Heard, captain, U.S. Army. +Almando Henderson, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Douglas J. Henderson, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Robert M. Hendrick, first lieutenant, Tallahassee, Fla. +Thomas J. Henry, Jr., first lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Vodrey Henry, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Jesse S. Heslip, first lieutenant, Toledo, Ohio. +Lee J. Hicks, captain, Ottawa, Kans. +Victor La Naire Hicks, second lieutenant, Columbia, Mo. +Arthur K. Hill, first lieutenant, Lawrence, Kans. +Daniel G. Hill, Jr., second lieutenant, Cantonsville, Md. +Walter Hill, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +William Hill, captain, U.S. Army. +Clarence O. Hilton, first lieutenant, Farmville, Va. +Lowell B. Hodges, first lieutenant, Houston, Tex. +Horatio B. Holder, first lieutenant, Cairo, Ga. +George A. Holland, captain, U.S. Army. +James G. Hollingsworth, captain, U.S. Army. +George C. Hollomand, second lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Wayne L. Hopkins, second lieutenant, Columbus, Ohio. +James L. Horace, second lieutenant, Little Rock, Ark. +Reuben Homer, captain, U.S. Army. +Charles S. Hough, second lieutenant, Jamestown, Ohio. +Charles H. Houston, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Henry C. Houston, captain, U.S. Army. +Cecil A. Howard, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Clarence K. Howard, second lieutenant, Montgomery, Ala. +Charles P. Howard, first lieutenant, Des Moines, Ia. +Arthur Hubbard, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Jerome L. Hubert, first lieutenant, Houston, Tex. +William H. Hubert, second lieutenant, Mayfield, Ga. +Jefferson E. Hudgins, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Samuel M. Huffman, first lieutenant, Columbus, Ohio. +Samuel A. Hull, first lieutenant, Jacksonville, Fla. +John R. Hunt, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Bush A. Hunter, second lieutenant, Lexington, Ky. +Benjamin H. Hunton, first lieutenant, Newport News, Va. +Frederick A. Hurt, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Walter L. Hutcherson, first lieutenant, Amherst, Va. +Samuel B. Hutchinson, Jr., second lieutenant, Boston, Mass. +James E. Ivey, second lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Beecher A. Jackson, first lieutenant, Texarkana, Tex. +George W. Jackson, first lieutenant, Ardmore, Mo. +Joseph T. Jackson, first lieutenant, Charleston, W. Va. +Landen Jackson, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Matthew Jackson, captain, U.S. Army. +Maxey A. Jackson, second lieutenant, Marian, Ky. +Joyce G. Jacobs, second lieutenant, Chicago, Ill. +Wesley H. Jamison, second lieutenant, Topeka, Kans. +Charles Jefferson, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Benjamin R. Johnson, first lieutenant, New York, N.Y. +Campbell C. Johnson, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Ernest C. Johnson, second lieutenant, Washington D.C. +Everett W. Johnson, first lieutenant, Philadelphia, Pa. +Hanson Johnson, captain, U.S. Army. +Hillery W. Johnson, second lieutenant, Philadelphia, Pa. +Joseph L. Johnson, second lieutenant, Philadelphia, Pa. +Merle O. Johnson, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Robert E. Johnson, second lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Thomas Johnson, captain, U.S. Army. +Virginius D. Johnson, first lieutenant, Richmond, Va. +William N. Johnson, second lieutenant, Omaha, Neb. +William T. Johnson, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Willie Johnson, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Charles A. Jones, second lieutenant, San Antonio, Tex. +Clifford W. Jones, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Dee Jones, captain, U.S. Army. +Edward D. Jones, second lieutenant, Hartford, Conn. +James W. Jones, captain, Washington, D.C. +James O. Jones, second lieutenant, Paulding, Ohio. +Paul W. Jones, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Percy L. Jones, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Vivian L. Jones, second lieutenant, Des Moines, Ia. +Warren F. Jones, captain, U.S. Army. +William Jones, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Charles G. Kelly, captain, Tuskegee, Ala. +Elliott H. Kelly, first lieutenant, Camden, S.C. +John B. Kemp, captain, U.S. Army. +John M. Kenney, captain, U.S. Army. +Will Kernts, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Otho E. Kerr, first lieutenant, Hampton, Va. +Orestus J. Kincaid, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Jesse L. Kimbrough, first lieutenant, Los Angeles, Cal. +Moses King, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Laurence E. Knight, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Edward C. Knox, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +John W. Knox, second lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Azzie B. Koger, first lieutenant, Reidsville, N.C. +Linwood G. Koger, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Charles E. Lane, Jr., first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +David A. Lane, Jr., first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Frank L. Lane, second lieutenant, Houston, Tex. +Benton R. Latimer, first lieutenant, Warrenton, Ga. +Ernest W. Latson, first lieutenant, Jacksonville, Fla. +Laige I. Lancaster, first lieutenant, Hampton, Va. +Oscar G. Lawless, first lieutenant, New Orleans, La. +Samuel Lawson, second lieutenant, Philadelphia, Pa. +Wilfred W. Lawson, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Geo. E. Lee, second lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +George W. Lee, second lieutenant, Memphis, Tenn. +Lawrence A. Lee, second lieutenant, Hampton, Va. +John E. Leonard, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Garrett M. Lewis, first lieutenant, San Antonio, Tex. +Henry O. Lewis, first lieutenant, Boston, Mass. +Everett B. Liggins, second lieutenant, Austin, Tex. +Victor C. Lightfoot, second lieutenant, South Pittsburg, Tenn. +John Q. Lindsey, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Redden L. Linton, second lieutenant, Boston, Ga. +Glenda W. Locust, second lieutenant, Sealy, Tenn. +Aldon L. Logan, first lieutenant, Lawrence, Kans. +James B. Lomack, first lieutenant, National Guard, Dist. of Columbia. +Howard H. Long, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Victor Long, first lieutenant, U. S, Army. +Lonnie W. Lott, second lieutenant, Austin, Tex. +Charles H. Love, second lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Edgar A. Love, first lieutenant, Baltimore, Md. +Frank W. Love, captain, U.S. Army. +George B. Love, first lieutenant, Greensboro, N.C. +John W. Love, first lieutenant, Baltimore, Md. +Joseph Lowe, captain, U.S. Army. +Walter Lowe, first lieutenant, St Louis, Mo. +Charles C. Luck, Jr., second lieutenant, San Marcus, Tex. +Walter Lyons, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Harry J. Mack, second lieutenant, Cheney, Pa. +Amos B. Madison, first lieutenant, Omaha, Neb. +Edgar F. Malone, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Edgar O. Malone, captain, U.S. Army. +Earl W. Mann, first lieutenant, Champaign, Ill. +Vance H. Marchbanks, captain, U.S. Army. +Leon F. Marsh, first lieutenant, Berkeley, Cal. +Alfred E. Marshall, second lieutenant, Greenwood, S.C. +Cyrus W. Marshall, second lieutenant, Baltimore, Md. +Cuby Martin, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Joseph H. Martin, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Eric P. Mason, first lieutenant, Giddings, Tex. +Denis McG. Matthews, first lieutenant, Los Angeles, Cal. +Joseph E. Matthews, second lieutenant, Cleburne, Tex. +Anderson N. May, captain, Atlanta, Ga. +Walter H. Mazyck, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Peter McCall, captain U.S. Army. +Milton A. McCrimmon, captain, U.S. Army. +Robert A. McEwen, second lieutenant, E. St. Louis, Ill. +Osceola E. McKaine, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +James E. McKey, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Carey McLane, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Archie McLee, first lieutenant, New York, N.Y. +Leonard W. McLeod, first lieutenant, Hampton, Va. +Albert McReynolds, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Marshall Meadows, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Louis R. Mehlinger, captain, Washington, D.C. +Louis R. Middleton, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Benjamin H. Mills, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Harry W. Mills, captain, U.S. Army. +Warren N. Mims, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +J. Wardlaw Mitchell, second lieutenant, Milledgeville, Ga. +Pinkney L. Mitchell, second lieutenant, Austin, Tex. +John H. Mitcherson, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Ralph E. Mizell, second lieutenant, Champaign, Ill. +Hubert M. Moman, second lieutenant, Tougaloo, Miss. +John M. Moore, first lieutenant, Meridian, Miss. +Loring B. Moore, second lieutenant, Brunswick, Ga. +Elias A. Morris, first lieutenant, Helena, Ark. +Thomas E. Morris, captain, U.S. Army. +James B. Morris, second lieutenant, Des Moines, Ia. +Cleveland Morrow, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Henry Morrow, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Abraham Morse, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Benjamin H. Mosby, first lieutenant, St. Louis, Mo. +Benedict Mosley, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Scott A. Moyer, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Albert C. Murdaugh, second lieutenant, Columbia, S.C. +Alonzo Myers, captain, Philadelphia, Pa. +Thomas J. Narcisse, second lieutenant, Jeanerette, La. +Earl H. Nash, second lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Homer G. Neely, first lieutenant, Palestine, Tex. +Gurney E. Nelson, second lieutenant, Greensboro, N.C. +William S. Nelson, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +William F. Nelson, first lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +James P. Nobles, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Grafton S. Norman, first lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Richard M. Norris, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Ambrose B. Nutt, second lieutenant, Cambridge, Mass. +Benjamin L. Ousley, second lieutenant, Tougaloo, Miss. +Charles W. Owens, captain, United States Army. +Charles G. Owlings, second lieutenant, Norfolk, Va. +William W. Oxley, first lieutenant, Cambridge, Mass. +Wilbur E. Pannell, second lieutenant, Staunton, Va. +Charles S. Parker, second lieutenant, Spokane, Wash. +Walter E. Parker, second lieutenant, Little Rock, Ark. +Clemmie C. Parks, first lieutenant, Ft. Scott, Kans. +Adam E. Patterson, captain, Chicago, Ill. +Humphrey C. Patton, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Clarence H. Payne, first lieutenant, Chicago, Ill. +William D. Peeks, captain, U.S. Army. +Robert R. Penn, first lieutenant, New York, N.Y. +Marion R. Perry, second lieutenant, Pine Bluff, Ark. +Hanson A. Person, second lieutenant, Wynne, Ark. +Harry B. Peters, second lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +James H. Peyton, second lieutenant, Montgomery, Ala. +Joseph Phillips, captain, Columbus, Ohio. +David A. Pierce, second lieutenant, Clarksville, Tenn. +Harrison J. Pinkett, first lieutenant, Omaha, Nebr. +James C. Pinkston, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Percival R. Piper, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Anderson F. Pitts, first lieutenant, Chicago, Ill. +Fisher Pride, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Herman W. Porter, second lieutenant, Cambridge, Mass. +James C. Powell, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Wade H. Powell, second lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +William J. Powell, first lieutenant, Chicago, Ill. +Gloucester A. Price, second lieutenant, Fort Meyer, Fla. +John F. Pritchard, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Henry H. Proctor, first lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +John H. Purnell, first lieutenant, Trappe, Md. +Howard D. Queen, captain, U.S. Army. +Richard R. Queen, second lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Harold L. Quivers, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Washington H. Racks, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +John E. Raiford, second lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Hazel L. Raine, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Fred D. Ramsey, first lieutenant, Wedgefleld, S.C. +James O. Redmon, second lieutenant, Newton, Iowa. +Charles G. Reed, first lieutenant, Charleston, S.C. +Rufus Reed, captain, U.S. Army. +Lightfoot H. Reese, second lieutenant, Newman, Ga. +William L. Reese, second lieutenant, Bennetsville, S.C. +Robert S. Reid, second lieutenant, Newman, Ga. +Samuel Reid, captain, U.S. Army. +Adolph Reyes, second lieutenant, Philadelphia, Pa. +Elijah Reynolds, captain, U.S. Army. +John F. Rice, first lieutenant, Chicago, Ill. +Douglas C. Richardson, second lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Harry D. Richardson, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Leonard. H. Richardson, first lieutenant, Oakland, Cal. +Maceo A. Richmond, second lieutenant, Des Moines, Ia. +Francis E. Rivers, first lieutenant, New Haven, Conn. +Marion C. Rhoten, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Charles E. Roberts, first lieutenant, Atlantic City, N.J. +Clyde Roberts, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Edward Robertson, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Charles W. Robinson, second lieutenant, Cleveland, Ohio. +George C. Robinson, first lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Peter L. Robinson, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +William W. Robinson, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Julian P. Rogers, first lieutenant, Montgomery, Ala. +John W. Rowe, first lieutenant, Danville, Ky. +Thomas Rucker, captain, U.S. Army. +Edward P. Rudd, first lieutenant, New York City. +Mallalieu W. Rush, first lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +John Russell, captain, U.S. Army. +Louis H. Russell, second lieutenant, New York, N.Y. +Earl Ryder, second lieutenant, Springfield, Ill. +Chester Sanders, captain, U.S. Army. +Joseph B. Sanders, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Walter R. Sanders, captain, U.S. Army. +Clifford A. Sandridge, captain, U.S. Army. +Lorin O. Sanford, captain, U.S. Army. +Elliott D. Saunders, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Walker L. Savoy, second lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Elmer P. Sawyer, second lieutenant, Providence, R.I. +George S. Schuyler, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +James E. Scott, second lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +James E. Scott, first lieutenant, Hampton, Va. +Joseph H. Scott, first lieutenant, Darlington, S.C. +Walter W. Scott, second lieutenant, Brooksville, Miss. +William F. Scott, captain, U.S. Army. +Fletcher Sewell, captain, U.S. Army. +Shermont R. Sewell, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Charles A. Shaw, first lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Warren B. Shelton, second lieutenant, Hot Springs, Ark. +Robert T. Shobe, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Hal Short, first lieutenant, Iowa City, Ia. +Harry W. Short, second lieutenant, Iowa City, Ia. +Ogbon N. Simmons, first lieutenant, Waldo, Fla. +Richard Simmons, captain, U.S. Army. +William E. Simmons, first lieutenant, Burlington, Vt. +Austin Simms, second lieutenant, Darien, Ga. +John H. Simms, Jr., first lieutenant, Jacksonville, Fla. + +[Illustration: ARTILLERY AT WORK IN A FRENCH FOREST. THIS WAS A PHASE OF +OPERATION IN WHICH THE NEGRO UNITS OF THE 167TH BRIGADE DISTINGUISHED +THEMSELVES IN THE CLOSING DAYS OF THE WAR.] + +[Illustration: SENTRY BOX OUTSIDE OF REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS WITH +WARNING HORN FOR GAS ATTACKS. CAMOUFLAGED GATE ON THE LEFT.] + +[Illustration: ONE OF THE HUGE GUNS, 16-INCH CALIBER OF THE AMERICAN +RAILWAY ARTILLERY, WHICH DID SUCH FRIGHTFUL EXECUTION NEAR THE CLOSE OF +THE WAR. CAMOUFLAGED THROUGHOUT.] + +[Illustration: A RAILROAD IN FRANCE. THIS ONE WAS USED BY A PORTION OF +THE 93RD DIVISION IN THE CHAMPAGNE TO TRANSPORT TROOPS AND SUPPLIES TO +THE FRONT.] + +[Illustration: PASSENGER CARS USED BY FAMOUS 93RD. NEGRO DIVISION IN +CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE.] + +[Illustration: SENDING MESSAGE BY CARRIER PIGEON. OFFICER AND SOLDIERS +OF 369TH INFANTRY OUTSIDE OF DUGOUT IN FRANCE.] + +[Illustration: KITCHEN AND DINING QUARTERS AT THE FRONT. SOLDIERS BELONG +TO FAMOUS 93RD DIVISION AMERICAN NEGRO SOLDIERS BRIGADED WITH THE +FRENCH.] + +[Illustration: INFANTRY AND GUNNERS AT CLOSE GRIPS. DRAWING REPRESENTS +A BRILLIANT COUNTER-ATTACK IN A SHELL-TORN WOOD IN FRANCE.] + +[Illustration: A TYPICAL TRENCH SCENE. NEGROES OF THE 93RD DIVISION +SERVING WITH FRENCH IN THE CHAMPAGNE.] + +[Illustration: SECRET ORGANIZATIONS PRESENT AT THE BREAKING OF THE +GROUND FOR McDONOUGH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, W. 133RD STREET, NEW YORK. NAMED +IN HONOR OF MR. DAVID KEARNEY McDONOUGH, PIONEER NEGRO PHYSICIAN OF +THAT CITY. TO BE USED AS A BASE UNIT FOR COLORED SOLDIERS.] + +[Illustration: LIEUT. JOHN APPLEBEE OF THE RED CROSS HOME SERVICE, +COMFORTING AND REASSURING SOLDIERS ANXIOUS ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THEIR +FAMILIES. CAMP NO. 43. GIEVRES. FRANCE.] + +[Illustration: CROWN PRINCE AND KAISER BILL. TWO GERMAN DOGS AND THEIR +CAPTORS. THE SOLDIERS ARE PRIVATES ROBINSON CLEVE, 539TH ENGINEERS AND +DANIEL NELSON, 372ND INFANTRY.] + +[Illustration: TYPES OF NEGRO ENGINEERS WHO WERE SUCH IMPORTANT FACTORS +IN OUR OVERSEAS FORCES.] + +[Illustration: FOUR CAVERNS, STUDDED WITH IVORY, FURNISH HARMONY IN THE +TRAINING CAMP.] + +Abraham L. Simpson, captain, Louisville, Ky. +Lawrence Simpson, first lieutenant, Chicago, Ill. +William R. Smalls, first lieutenant, Manassas, Va. +Daniel Smith, captain, U.S. Army. +Enos B. Smith, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Ernest Smith, second lieutenant, Philadelphia, Pa. +Fairel N. Smith, first lieutenant, Orangeburg, S.C. +Joseph W. Smith, second lieutenant, Concord, S.C. +Oscar H. Smith, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Pitman E. Smith, first lieutenant, Columbus, Ohio. +Russell Smith, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Walter H. Smith, first lieutenant, Chattanooga, Tenn. +Levi E. Southe, second lieutenant, Chicago, Ill. +Carlos Sowards, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Edward W. Spearman, captain, U.S. Army. +Walter R. St. Clair, second lieutenant, Philadelphia, Pa. +Lloyd A. Stafford, captain, U.S. Army. +Moody Staten, captain, U.S. Army. +Percy H. Steele, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Waddell C. Steele, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Grant Stewart, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Robert K. Stephens, captain, U.S. Army. +Leon Stewart, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Thomas R. Stewart, first lieutenant, Ft. Wayne, Ind. +William A. Stith, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +James M. Stockett, Jr., first lieutenant, Providence, R.I. +Wilbur F. Stonestreet, second lieutenant, Topeka, Kans. +Daniel T. Taylor, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Hannibal B. Taylor, second lieutenant, Guthrie, Okla. +Pearl E. Taylor, first lieutenant, St. Louis, Mo. +Benjamin F. Thomas, captain, U.S. Army. +Bob Thomas, captain, U.S. Army. +Vincent B. Thomas, second lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +Charles M. Thompson, first lieutenant, Columbia, S.C. +Joseph Thompson, captain, U.S. Army. +Pierce McN. Thompson, first lieutenant, Albany, Ga. +Richard C. Thompson, first lieutenant, Harrisburg, Pa. +Toliver T. Thompson, first lieutenant, Houston, Tex. +William H. Thompson, first lieutenant, Jacksonville, Fla. +William W. Thompson, captain, United States Army. +James W. Thornton, first lieutenant, West Raleigh, N.C. +Leslie J. Thurman, captain, U.S. Army. +Samuel J. Tipton, captain, U.S. Army. +Frederick H. Townsend, second lieutenant, Newport, R.I. +Anderson Trapp, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Charles A. Tribbett, first lieutenant, New Haven, Conn. +Joseph E. Trigg, captain, Syracuse, N.Y. +Archibald R. Tuck, second lieutenant, Oberlin, O. +Victor J. Tulane, first lieutenant, Montgomery, Ala. +William J. Turnbow, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Allen Turner, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Edward Turner, first lieutenant, Omaha, Nebr. +Samuel Turner, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Shadrach W. Upshaw, second lieutenant, Austin, Tex. +Ferdinand S. Upshur, second lieutenant, Philadelphia, Pa. +George L. Vaughn, first lieutenant, St. Louis, Mo. +Austin T. Walden, captain, Macon, Ga. +John P. Walker, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Lewis W. Wallace, captain, U.S. Army. +Thomas H. Walters, first lieutenant. New York, N.Y. +Robert L. Ward, first lieutenant, Detroit, Mich. +James H.N. Waring, Jr., first lieutenant, Washington, D, C. +Genoa S. Washington, captain, U.S. Army. +George G. Washington, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Bolivar E. Watkins, first lieutenant, St. Louis, Mo. +Alstyne M. Watson, second lieutenant, Tallapoosa, Ga. +Baxter W. Watson, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Louis L. Watson, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. +William H. Weare, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Walter T. Webb, first lieutenant, Baltimore, Md. +Carter W. Wesley, first lieutenant, Houston, Tex. +Harry Wheeler, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Chauncey D. White, first lieutenant, Mathews, Va. +Emmett White, captain, U.S. Army. +Journee W. White, second lieutenant, Los Angeles, Cal. +Lorenzo C. White, second lieutenant, Hampton, Va. +Johnson C. Whittaker, first lieutenant, Lawrence, Kans. +Horace G. Wilder, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Arthur R. Williams, second lieutenant, Edwards, Miss. +Everett B. Williams, first lieutenant, Syracuse, N.Y. +Gus Williams, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +James B. Williams, first lieutenant, Baltimore, Md. +John Williams, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Oscar H. Williams, second lieutenant, New York, N.Y. +Richard A. Williams, captain, Lawnside, N.J. +Robert G. Williams, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Seymour E. Williams, second lieutenant, Muskogee, Okla. +Major Williams, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Walter B. Williams, captain, U.S. Army. +William H. Williams, captain, U.S. Army. +Elmore S. Willie, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Harry E. Wilson, first lieutenant, Des Moines, Ia. +John E. Wilson, first lieutenant, Leavenworth, Kans. +William H. Wilson, second lieutenant, Greensboro, N.C. +Meredith B. Wily, first lieutenant, El Paso, Tex. +Christopher C. Wimbish, first lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Hugh H. Wimbish, second lieutenant, Atlanta, Ga. +Rolland T. Winstead, second lieutenant, Rocky Mount, N.C. +George W. Winston, captain, United States Army. +Ernest M. Wood, second lieutenant, Mebane, N.C. +Benjamin F. Wright, second lieutenant, New York, N.Y. +Elbert S. Wright, second lieutenant, Baldwin, Kans. +John Wynn, second lieutenant, U.S. Army. +Edward York, captain, United States Army. +Charles Young, first lieutenant, U.S. Army. +William A. Young, second lieutenant, Sumter, S.C. +Charles G. Young, first lieutenant, Washington, D.C. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ACROSS DIVIDING SEAS. + + +BLACK THOUSANDS ASSEMBLE--SOLDIERS OF LIBERTY--SEVERING HOME TIES--MAN'S +WORK MUST BE DONE--FIRST NEGROES IN FRANCE--MEETING WITH FRENCH +COLONIALS--EARLY HISTORY OF 15TH NEW YORK--THEY SAIL AWAY--BECOME FRENCH +FIGHTING MEN--HOLD 20% OF AMERICAN LINES--TERROR TO GERMANS--ONLY +BARRIER BETWEEN BOCHE AND PARIS--IMPERISHABLE RECORD OF NEW +YORKERS--TURNING POINT OF WAR. + + + "Doan you see the black clouds ris'n ober yondah Like as tho we's + gwan ter hab a storm? + + No, you's mistaken, dem's "Loyal BLACK FOLKS Sailing off ter fight + fer Uncle Sam." + +From the plantations of the South, from the mines, the workshops and +factories; from the levees of the Mississippi, the cities, villages, +farms of the North, the East, the South, the West; from the store, the +counting house, the office and the institution of learning they +came--the black thousands to strike for their altars and their homes; to +fight for Uncle Sam. How splendid was the spectacle of their response! +"Their's not to ask the WHY; their's but to do and die." + +Bearing the burden placed upon them by white men as they have for +centuries, nevertheless, in this supreme moment of their country's life; +"a day that shall live in story"; many of them did not know what it all +was about; where Germany was located, nor the significance attaching to +the word Hun. In a vague way they understood that across the sea an +armed and powerful nation was threatening the happiness of mankind; the +freedom of the world. + +In the presence of this contemplated crime, they were wide-eyed, +open-souled, awake! Their sires had known bondage, and they, their +children, had felt and knew the effects of it. America which for +centuries had oppressed their forefathers had finally through the +arbitrament of war, freed them. White men and black men; in the dark +days of '61-'65, numbering many thousands, had lain down their lives to +save the Union, and in doing so had brought them freedom. + +They had been told that America was threatened; that was enough. It was +to them a summons; sharp, quick, incisive to duty. It was, although one +hundred and forty years after, the voice of Washington at Valley Forge; +the call of Perry to their fathers, needing soldiers at the battle of +Lake Erie; of Jackson at New Orleans. It was to their listening ears the +echo of Bull Run, of Santiago, of Manila, and later of Carrizal; Uncle +Sam needed them! That was enough; what more was to be said? + +Denied the opportunity to enlist, the Negro's patriotic, patient soul +asserted itself; if he must go as a drafted soldier, it would be in the +same fine spirit that would have inspired him as a loyal enlisted man. + +Life, as to all men, was sweet to them. They had mothers, fathers, +sisters and brothers, wives and sweethearts; the ties of association; of +home, from all of which they would be separated and for all of which +they cherished that love, which alone of human fires: "Burns and burns, +forever the same, for nature feeds the pyre." + +Above and over all these things, tending to augment the seriousness of +the sacrifice he was to be called upon to make, was the spirit, the +optimism, the joy of life that attends vigorous youth and young manhood. + +Nature in all of its enticing charm and beauty, was smiling in the home +places these men were leaving; flowers bloomed; birds sang; insects +buzzed cheerily. There were green fields and babbling brooks; the +stately beauty of trees, and the delights of lake, river and vale. The +cities from which they came, were many of them, splendid monuments of +the work of man. The sun clothed in glory the days, moon and stars gave +a loveliness to the nights. Leaving these things to face suffering and +hardship; possible death in strange lands, caused many a pang; but a +man's work had to be done, and they were there to do it. + +Well they knew there would be no chance in France to follow the wild bee +to its tree; to track the fox or hunt the 'possum or the coon. The hum +they would hear would be that of machine gun bullets; their sting, death +or serious wounding. For game they would hunt the Hun; would kill or be +by him killed. + +There were busy times in thousands of homes when the young Negroes of +the land; from East, West, North and South went forth to war. + +Bright faces hiding the pangs of parting; happy, singing lads left their +homes to enter a new life on earth or, the tragedy of it; also the +glory; a new life in the great Beyond; beyond the stars and flaming +suns. The training camp was their first destination and was to be their +home for months. + +Correspondents in France wrote of Negro soldiers being among the first +expeditionary force to set foot upon the soil of the battle torn +Republic. This force arrived there in June, 1917, and was composed of +marines and infantry from the Regular army. Floyd Gibbons, the intrepid +representative of the Chicago Tribune, speaking of the first Negro +contingents in his remarkable book entitled, "And They Thought We +Wouldn't Fight", said: + + "There was to be seen on the streets of St. Nazaire that day some + representative black Americans, who had also landed in that + historical first contingent. There was a strange thing about these + Negroes. It will be remembered that in the early stages of our + participation in the war it had been found that there was hardly + sufficient khaki cloth to provide uniforms for all of our soldiers. + That had been the case with these American negro soldiers. + + "But somewhere down in Washington, somehow or other, someone + resurrected an old, large heavy iron key and this, inserted into an + ancient rusty lock, had opened some long forgotten door in one of + the Government arsenals. There were revealed old dust-covered + bundles wrapped up in newspapers, yellow with age, and when these + wrappings of the past were removed, there were seen the uniforms of + old Union blue that had been laid away back in '65--uniforms that + had been worn by men who fought and bled and died to save the + Union, and ultimately free those early 'Black Americans'. + + "And here on this foreign shore, on this day in June more than + half a century later, the sons and grandsons of those same freed + slaves wore those same uniforms of Union blue as they landed in + France to fight for a newer freedom; freedom for the white man no + less than themselves, throughout all the earth. + + "Some of these Negroes were stevedores from the lower Mississippi + levees; who sang as they worked in their white army undershirts, + across the chest of which were penciled in blue and red, strange + mystic devices, religious phrases and other signs, calculated to + contribute the charm of safety to the running of the submarine + blockade. + + "Two of these American Negroes, walking up the main street of St. + Nazaire, saw on the other side of the thoroughfare a brother of + color wearing the lighter blue uniform of a French soldier. This + French Negro was a colonial black from the north of Africa and of + course had spoken nothing but French from the day he was born. One + of the American Negroes crossed the street and accosted him. + + "'Looka here, boy', he inquired good-naturedly, 'what can you all + tell me about this here wah?' + + "'Comment, monsieur?' responded the non-understanding French black, + and followed the rejoinder with a torrent of excited French. + + "The American Negro's mouth fell open. For a minute he looked + startled, and then he bulged one large round eye suspiciously at + the French black while he inwardly debated on the possibility that + he had become color-blind. Having reassured himself, however, that + his vision was not at fault, he made a sudden decision and started + on a new tack. + + "'Now, never mind that high-faluting language' he said, 'you all + just tell me what you know about this here wah and quit you' + putting on aihs.' + + "The puzzled French Negro could only reply with another explosion + of French interrogations, coupled with vigorous gesticulations. The + American Negro tried to talk at the same time and both of them + endeavoring to make the other understand, increased the volumes of + their tones until they were standing there waving their arms and + shouting into one another's faces. The American gave it up. + + "'My Gawd', he said shaking his head as he recrossed the street and + joined his comrades, 'this is sure some funny country. They got the + ignorantest colored people here I ever saw.'" + +It has been noted that the first Negro combatant regiment to reach +France was the celebrated National Guard organization known as the 15th +New York Infantry, rechristened the 369th when made a part of the 93rd +division of the United States army. This was such a well drilled and +equipped regiment that early in the war it was permitted to go across +with the first 100,000; all of which was due to the aggressiveness and +insistence of its white commander, Colonel William Hayward. He simply +gave the war department no rest, stating that he was willing his men +should unload ships, fell trees and build docks or cantonments so long +as they were permitted to sail. + +The regiment had been organized by Colonel Hayward at the suggestion of +Governor Whitman of New York. It was to be patterned after the 8th +Illinois where colored men of means sufficient to support commissions, +were the officers. The regiment was started in June 1916 and by October +had 1,000 in the ranks. Colonel Hayward was the only white officer, the +Negro commission-holders at that time being Captain Marshall, Captain +Fillmore, Lieutenant Lacey, Lieutenant Reed and Lieutenant Europe. The +latter was attached to the Machine Gun section but became later the +famous musician of the outfit. He was the only Negro officer who +remained with the regiment throughout, the others being superseded or +transferred after several months service in France. + +Early in 1917, the Federal government said it would recognize the +regiment if it could muster fifty-one officers. As recruiting had been +slow and a Negro regiment in New York was looked upon as an experiment, +Colonel Hayward was obliged to secure the needed officers from among his +friends in the 7th New York, the Motor Battery, Squadron A and other +organizations. By this time the enlisted strength had grown to 1,200. On +April 8, 1917, two days after the United States entered the war, the +regiment was inspected by Federal officers and a week later was +recognized as a regular unit of the Federal Guard. + +But, as the Colonel expressed it, they were a "street urchin of a +regiment." They had no armory, no place to drill except in the open and +no place where more than a single company at a time could meet. In his +post-war observations, the Colonel has noted that when the regiment +returned to these shores and was feasted and entertained by the people +of New York in the 71st regiment armory, it was the first occasion on +which the old 15th was ever assembled under one roof. + +After its Federal recognition the regiment was sent to the Peekskill +rifle range to learn to shoot, a valuable experience as developed later. +Many of the boys became expert marksmen, a skill that became of precious +value to them and their comrades. + +In June, 1917, they went to a war strength of 2,000 men and 56 +officers. One battalion did pioneer work at Camp Upton, another at Camp +Dix. A third guarded 600 miles of railroads in New York, New Jersey and +Pennsylvania. The Machine Gun company guarded 2,000 interned spies and +pro-German prisoners at Ellis Island. Colonel Hayward has pointed with +pride to the fact that in all their territory there was not a wreck, an +explosion, an escaped prisoner or any other trouble. Two battalions +later went to Spartanburg for training, but remained there only a couple +of weeks. + + "I wonder what got those colored boys to volunteer" someone asked + their colonel as they were embarking for France. He replied: "I + have often thought of that. With many the cause was sheer + patriotism. Others said they had gone into the 15th for social + reasons, to meet with their friends. One--this seemed to me a most + pathetic touch--said: 'I j'ined up because when Colonel Hayward + asked me it was the first time anyone had ever asked me to j'ine up + with anything in my whole lifetime.'" + +If any great amount of superstition had existed among the men or +officers of the New York regiment, they would have been greatly +depressed over the series of incidents that preceded their arrival in +France. In the first place they had been assigned to police and pioneer +duty at camps near New York, a duty which no fighting man relishes. They +embarked on the transport Pocahontas November 12, 1917. Two hundred +miles at sea a piston rod was bent and the vessel put back to port. They +got away again December 3, were out a day and had to return on account +of fire in the coal bunkers. A third attempt on December 12, in a +blizzard, was frustrated by a collision with a tanker in New York +harbor. + +After this series of bad starts, anyone inclined to indulge in +forebodings would have predicted the certainty of their becoming prey +for the submarines on the way over. But the fourth attempt proved +successful and they landed in France on December 27, 1917. They had +hoped to celebrate Christmas day on French soil, but were forced by the +elements and the precautions of convoys and sailing master to observe +the anniversary on board the ship. + +The Colonel undoubtedly thought that those first in France would be the +first to get a chance at the Boche, but the department took him at his +word, and for over two months his men were kept busy in the vicinity of +St. Nazaire, largely as laborers and builders. Early in 1918 they went +into training quarters near St. Nazaire. The 371st, another Negro +regiment, made up of draft selectives principally from South Carolina, +was later given quarters nearby. + +The black soldiers of the 369th were brigaded as a part of the 16th +division of the 8th Corps of the 4th French Army. From St. Nazaire they +went to Givrey-En-Argonne, and there in three weeks the French turned +them into a regulation French regiment. They had Lebel rifles, French +packs and French gas masks. For 191 days they were in the trenches or on +the field of battle. In April, 1918, the regiment held 20 percent of all +the territory held by American troops, though it comprised less than one +percent of all the American soldiers in France. + +Officers of the 369th reported for an entire year only six cases of +drunkenness, and twenty-four of serious disease. The regiment fought in +the Champagne, in the Vosges mountains, on the Aisne, at Main de +Massiges, Butte de Mesnil, Dormouse, Sechault, the Argonne, Ripont, +Kuppinase, Tourbe, and Bellevue Ridge. It was the first unit of any of +the Allied armies to reach the left bank of the Rhine following the +signing of the armistice, moving from Thann on November 17th and +reaching Blodesheim the next day. + +Negro soldiers were a source of terror to the Germany throughout the +war, and objects of great curiosity to the German people afterwards. +Wherever they appeared in the area occupied by the Americans they +attracted great attention among the civilians. In Treves, Coblenz and +other places during the early days of the occupation, crowds assembled +whenever Negro soldiers stopped in the streets and it became necessary +for the military police to enforce the orders prohibiting gatherings in +the public thoroughfares. + +Returning soldiers have told how they were followed in the German towns +by great troops of stolid, wide-eyed German children who could not seem +to decide in their minds just what sort of being these Negro fighters +were. The curiosity of the children no doubt was inspired by stories +told among their elders of the ferocity of these men. + +The Associated Press has related a conversation with a discharged German +soldier in Rengsdorf, in which it is stated that the German army early +in the war offered a reward for the capture alive of each Negro. The +soldier said that throughout the war the Germans lived in great terror +of the Negroes, and it was to overcome this fear that rewards were +offered. + +One evening on the front a scouting party composed of ten Germans +including the discharged soldier, encountered two French Negroes. In the +fight which followed two of the scouting party were killed. One of the +Negroes escaped the other being taken prisoner. During the fight two of +the Germans left their comrades and ran to the protection of their own +trenches, but these it was explained, were young soldiers and untrained. +The reward of 400 marks subsequently was divided among the remaining six +Germans for capturing the one French Negro. + +The 93rd division, which was made up of the 369th, 370th, 371st and the +372nd regiments of infantry, was put into service green, so green they +did not know the use of rockets and thought a gas alarm and the tooting +of sirens meant that the Germans were coming in automobiles. The New +York regiment came largely from Brooklyn and the district around West +59th street in New York City, called San Juan Hill in reference to +certain notable achievements of Negro troops at a place of that name in +the Spanish-American war. + +They learned the game of war rapidly. The testimony of their officers +was to the effect that it was not hard to send them into danger--the +hard part being to keep them from going into it of their own accord. It +was necessary to watch them like hawks to keep them from slipping off on +independent raiding parties. + +The New York regiment had a band of 40 pieces, second to none in the +American army. It is stated that the officers and men in authority in +the French billeting places had difficulty in keeping the villagers from +following the band away when it played plantation airs and syncopations +as only Negroes can play them. + +On April 12, 1918, the 369th took over a sector of 5-1/2 kilometers in +the Bois de Hauzy on the left of a fringe of the Argonne Forest. There +they stayed until July 1st. There was no violent fighting in the sector, +but many raids back and forth by the Negroes and the Germans, rifle +exchanges and occasionally some artillery action. + +One important engagement occurred June 12th, which the soldiers called +the million dollar raid, because they thought the preparatory barrage of +the Germans must have cost all of that. The Germans came over, probably +believing they would find the Negro outfit scared stiff. But the Negro +lads let them have grenades, accurate rifle fire and a hail from some +concealed machine gun nests. Sergt. Bob Collins was later given the +Croix de Guerre for his disposition of the machine guns on that +occasion. + +While holding the sector of Hauzy Wood, the 369th was the only barrier +between the German army and Paris. However, had there been an attempt to +break through, General Gouraud, the French army commander, would have +had strength enough there at once to stop it. About this time everyone +in the Allied armies knew that the supreme German effort was about to +come. It was felt as a surety that the brunt of the drive would fall +upon the 4th French Army, of which the 369th regiment and other portions +of the American 93rd Division were a part. This army was holding a line +50 kilometers long, stretching between Rheims and the Argonne Forest. It +was the intention of the Germans to capture Chalons and then proceed +down the Marne Valley to Paris. It was expected that the big German +drive would begin on July 4th, but as it turned out it did not begin +until the night of the 14th--the French national holiday. + +On July 1st, the 369th had been moved from its sector further toward the +east where the center of the attack was expected. Upon the 14th of July +the French made a raid for the purpose of getting prisoners and +information. This had a tremendous effect upon the whole course of the +war, for through it General Gouraud's staff learned that at midnight the +Boche artillery preparation was to begin, and at 5:25 o'clock on the +morning of the 15th the Germans were coming over the top. + +This phase of the operation is described by Col. Hayward as follows: + + "This is what Gen. Gouraud--Pa Gouraud we called him--did: He knew + the Boche artillery would at the appointed hour start firing on our + front lines, believing as was natural, that they would be strongly + held. So he withdrew all his forces including the old 15th, to the + intermediate positions, which were at a safe distance back of the + front lines. Then, at the point where he expected would be the apex + of the drive he sent out two patrols, totalling sixteen men. + + "These sixteen had certain camouflage to perform. They were to set + going a certain type of French machine gun which would fire of its + own accord for awhile after being started off. They were to run + from one of these guns to the other and start them. Also the + sixteen were to send up rockets, giving signals, which the Germans + of course knew as well as we. Then again they were to place gas + shells--with the gas flowing out of them--in all the dugouts of the + first line. Meanwhile the French artillery had registered directly + on our own front trenches, so that it could slaughter the Germans + when they came across, believing those trenches to be occupied as + usual. + + "Everything worked out as expected, and as luck had it, most of + those gallant sixteen Frenchmen got back safely. + + "Five minutes before the Germans started their artillery + preparation for the drive Gen. Gouraud started his cannon going and + there was a slaughter in the German lines. Then when the German + infantry crossed to our front line trenches (now entirely vacant) + they were smashed up because the French guns were firing directly + upon these positions, which they knew mathematically. And those of + the Boche who went down in the dugouts for safety were killed by + the gas which the Frenchmen had left there for them. + + "This battle--the supreme German drive--raged over eighty-five + kilometers (51 miles). West of Rheims the enemy broke through the + line, but they did not break through anywhere in Gen. Gouraud's + sector. Stonewall Gouraud stopped them. The American units which + took in the defense that was so successful were the 42nd Division, + including the gallant 69th of New York, who were to the west of us, + our own little regiment, and the American Railroad Artillery. + + "That was the turning point of the war, because soon thereafter + began Marshal Foch's great counter thrust, in which the 1st and 2nd + American Divisions participated so wonderfully about Belleau Wood, + Chateau-Thierry and that district. Gouraud in my belief, turned the + tide of the war, and I am proud that the New York City colored boys + had a share of that vital fight. + + "Right here I may say that this orphan, urchin regiment of ours + placed in the pathway of the Boche in the most significant battle + the world has ever known, had only thirty-seven commissioned + officers, and four of those wounded, had to be carried in + stretchers to their positions in the trenches in order to direct + the fighting." + +Colonel Hayward was himself in the hospital with a broken leg. +Disregarding the orders of the surgeons he went to the front line on +crutches and personally directed his men in the fight. In all of his +written and quoted utterances since the war, he has refrained from +mentioning this fact, but it is embodied in the regimental records. + +Shortly after the French national holiday, the 369th was sent about 15 +kilometers west to a position in front of the Butte de Mesnil, a high +hill near Maison en Champagne, occupied by the Germans. Around that +district they held half a dozen sectors at different times with only one +week of rest until September 26th. + +Artillery duels were constant. It is related that near the Butte de +Mesnil the regiment lost a man an hour and an officer a day from the +shell fire of the Boche. So accurate were the gunners handling the +German 77s that frequently a solitary soldier who exposed himself would +actually be "sniped" off by a cannoneer. + +In the September fighting the 369th saw the toughest period of its +entire service. In company with a Moroccan Negro unit and others, the +regiment participated in the attack on the Butte de Mesnil. The New +Yorkers took the important town of Sechault and it was for that exploit +that their flag was decorated with the Croix de Guerre. + +Throughout the western Argonne fighting and the various sectors of the +Champagne in which the 369th operated, especially during the months of +July, August and September, their service was typical of that of other +units of the 93rd Division. The going was tough for all of them and each +contributed everlasting fame to American arms and undying renown to the +Negro race. + +Heroes of the Old 15th Infantry. + +Officers and men of the 369th New York colored regiment awarded the +Croix de Guerre for gallantry in Action: + +Sergt. A.A. Adams +Corp. John Allen +Lieut. R.R. DeArmond +Lieut. G.A. Arnston +Corp. Farrandus Baker +Sergt. E.W. Barrington +Sergt M.W. Barron +Sergt. William D. Bartow +Capt. Aaron T. Bates +Corp. Fletcher Battle +Corp. R. Bean +Corp. J.S. Beckton +Pvt. Myril Billings +Sergt. Ed. Bingham +Lieut. J.C. Bradner +Pvt. Arthur Brokaw +Pvt. H.D. Brown +Pvt. T.W. Brown +Lieut. Elmer C. Bucher +Pvt. Wm. H. Bunn +Sergt. Wm. Butler +Pvt. J.L. Bush +Sergt. Joseph Carmen +Corp. T. Catto +Corp. G.H. Chapman +Sergt. Major Benedict W. Cheesman +Capt. John H. Clarke, Jr. +Lieut. P.M. Clendenin +Capt. Frederick W. Cobb +Sergt. Robert Collins +Lieut. J.H. Connor +Sergt. Wm. H. Cox +Sergt C.D. Davis +Lieut. Charles Dean +Pvt. P. Demps +Wagoner Martin Dunbar +Corp. Elmer Earl +Pvt. Frank Ellis +Sergt. Sam Fannell +Capt. Robt. F. Ferguson, Jr. +Capt. Charles W. Fillmore +Capt. Edward J. Farrell +Capt. Hamilton Fish, Jr. +Capt Edwin R.D. Fox +Lieut. Conrad Fox +Sergt. Richard W. Fowler +Pvt. Roland Francis +Pvt. B. Freeman +Pvt. I. Freeman +Sergt Wm. A. Gains +Wagoner Richard O. Goins +Pvt. J.J. Gordon +Lieut. R.C. Grams +Pvt. Stillman Hanna +Pvt. Hugh Hamilton +Pvt. G.E. Hannibal +Pvt. Frank Harden +Pvt. Frank Hatchett +Corp. Ralph Hawkins +Colonel Wm. Hayward +Lieut. E.H. Holden +Sergt. Wm. H. Holliday +Corp. Earl Horton +Pvt. G. Howard +Lieut. Stephen H. Howey +Sergt. Major Clarence C. Hudson +Pvt. Ernest Hunter +Sergt. S. Jackson +Corp. Clarence Johnson +Sergt. D.F. Johnson +Pvt. Gilbert Johnson +Sergt. George Jones +Lieut. Gorman R. Jones +Sergt. James H. Jones +Pvt. Smithfield Jones +Pvt. J.C. Joynes +Lieut. W.H. Keenan +Lieut. Elwin C. King +Lieut. Harold M. Landon +Lieut. Nils H. Larsen +Major David A. L'Esperance +Lieut. W.F. Leland +Pvt. D.W. Lewis +Pvt. W.D. Link +Major Arthur W. Little +Lieut. Walter R. Lockhart +Sergt. B. Lucas +Pvt. Lester A. Marshall +Pvt. Lewis Martin +Sergt. A.J. McArthur +Capt. Seth B. MacClinton +Pvt. Elmer McGowan +Pvt. Herbert McGirt +Capt. Comerford McLoughlin +Pvt. L. McVea +Sergt. H. Matthews +Sergt. Jesse A. Miller +Sergt Wm. H. Miller +Sergt. E. Mitchell +Pvt. Herbert Mills +Corp. M. Molson +Lieut. E.D. Morey +Sergt. W. Morris +Sergt. G.A. Morton +Lieut. E.A. Nostrand +Sergt. Samuel Nowlin +Capt. John O. Outwater +Lieut. Hugh A. Page +Lieut. Oliver H. Parish +Sergt. C.L. Pawpaw +Pvt. Harvey Perry +Sergt. Clinton Peterson +Lieut. Col. W.A. Pickering +Lieut. Richardson Pratt +Sergt. John Pratt +Sergt. H.D. Primas +Pvt. Jeremiah Reed +Lieut. Durant Rice +Pvt. John Rice +Sergt. Samuel Richardson +Sergt Charles Risk +Pvt. F. Ritchie +Lieut. G.S. Robb +Corp. Fred Rogers +Pvt. Lionel Rogers +Pvt. George Rose +Lieut. R.M. Rowland +Sergt. Percy Russell +Sergt. L. Sanders +Pvt. William Sanford +Lieut. H.J. Argent +Pvt. Marshall Scott +Capt. Lewis E. Shaw +Capt. Samuel Shethar +Lieut. Hoyt Sherman +Major G. Franklin Shiels +Pvt. A. Simpson +Sergt. Bertrand U. Smith +Pvt. Daniel Smith +Sergt. Herman Smith +Corp. R.W. Smith +Major Lorillard Spencer +Sergt. J.T. Stevens +Corp. Dan Storms +Lieut. George F. Stowell +Corp. T.W. Taylor +Lieut. Frank B. Thompson +Sergt. Lloyd Thompson +Sergt. A.L. Tucker +Sergt. George Valaska +Lieut. D.H. Vaughan +Capt. Edward A. Walton +Capt Charles Warren +Sergt. Leon Washington +Pvt. Casper White +Capt. James D. White +Sergt. Jay White +Sergt. Jesse J. White +Sergt. C.E. Williams +Pvt. Robert Williams +Sergt. Reaves Willis +Pvt. H. Wiggington +Sergt. L. Wilson +Pvt. Tim Winston +Sergt. E. Woods +Pvt. George Wood +Lieut. A.D. Worsham +Sergt. E.C. Wright +Sergt. Henry Johnson +Pvt. Needham Roberts + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +OVER THERE. + + +HENRY JOHNSON AND NEEDHAM ROBERTS--THE TIGER'S CUBS--NEGRO FIRST TO GET +PALM--JOHNSON'S GRAPHIC STORY--SMASHES THE GERMANS--IRVIN COBB'S +TRIBUTE--CHRISTIAN AND MOHAMMEDAN NEGROES PALS--VALOR OF 93RD +DIVISION--LAUGHTER IN FACE OF DEATH--NEGRO AND POILU HAPPY +TOGETHER--BUTTE DE MESNIL--VALIANT AND HUMOROUS ELMER McCOWIN--WINNING +WAR CROSSES--VERDICT OF THE FRENCH--THE NEGRO'S FAITH. + + +A most conspicuous Negro hero of the war, and for that matter of any +race serving with the American army, was Sergeant Henry Johnson of +Albany, N.Y. His exploit was shared by a company mate, Needham Roberts. +For pure bull dog grit and tigerish fighting, the exploit has seldom, if +ever, been equalled in the annals of any war. It resulted in the War +Crosses for each with a special citation, and the whole French force in +that section of the Champagne lined up to see them get the decorations. +Across the red and green ribbon of Johnson's decoration was a golden +palm, signifying extraordinary valor. Johnson was the first private of +any race in the American army to get the palm with his Croix de Guerre. +Here is the story as told in Johnson's own words after his arrival back +in New York: + + "There isn't so much to tell", said Johnson with characteristic + modesty. "There wasn't anything so fine about it. Just fought for + my life. A rabbit would have done that. + + "Well, anyway, me and Needham Roberts were on patrol duty on May + 15. The corporal wanted to send out two new drafted men on the + sentry post for the midnight-to-four job. I told him he was crazy + to send untrained men out there and risk the rest of us. I said I'd + tackle the job, though I needed sleep. + + "German snipers had been shooting our way that night and I told the + corporal he wanted men on the job who knew their rifles. He said it + was imagination, but anyway he took those green men off and left + Needham and me on the posts. I went on at midnight. It was + moonlight. Roberts was at the next post. At one o'clock a sniper + took a crack at me from a bush fifty yards away. Pretty soon there + was more firing and when Sergeant Roy Thompson came along I told + him. + + "'What's the matter men' he asked, 'You scared?' + + "'No I ain't scared', I said, 'I came over here to do my bit and + I'll do it. But I was jes' lettin' you know there's liable to be + some tall scrappin' around this post tonight'. He laughed and went + on, and I began to get ready. They'd a box of hand grenades there + and I took them out of the box and laid them all in a row where + they would be handy. There was about thirty grenades, I guess. I + was goin' to bust that Dutch army in pieces if it bothered me. + + "Somewhere around two o'clock I heard the Germans cutting our wire + out in front and I called to Roberts. When he came I told him to + pass the word to the lieutenant. He had just started off when the + snippin' and clippin' of the wires sounded near, so I let go with a + hand grenade. There was a yell from a lot of surprised Dutchmen and + then they started firing. I hollered to Needham to come back. + + "A German grenade got Needham in the arm and through the hip. He + was too badly wounded to do any fighting, so I told him to lie in + the trench and hand me up the grenades. + + "'Keep your nerve' I told him. 'All the Dutchmen in the woods are + at us, but keep cool and we'll lick 'em.' Roberts crawled into the + dugout. Some of the shots got me, one clipped my head, another my + lip, another my hand, some in my side and one smashed my left foot + so bad that I have a silver plate holding it up now. + + "The Germans came from all sides. Roberts kept handing me the + grenades and I kept throwing them and the Dutchmen kept squealing, + but jes' the same they kept comin' on. When the grenades were all + gone I started in with my rifle. That was all right until I shoved + in an American cartridge clip--it was a French gun--and it jammed. + + "There was nothing to do but use my rifle as a club and jump into + them. I banged them on the dome and the side and everywhere I could + land until the butt of my rifle busted. One of the Germans + hollered, 'Rush him! Rush him!' I decided to do some rushing + myself. I grabbed my French bolo knife and slashed in a million + directions. Each slash meant something, believe me. I wasn't doing + exercises, let me tell you. + + "I picked out an officer, a lieutenant I guess he was. I got him + and I got some more of them. They knocked me around considerable + and whanged me on the head, but I always managed to get back on my + feet. There was one guy that bothered me. He climbed on my back and + I had some job shaking him off and pitching him over my head. Then + I stuck him in the ribs with the bolo. I stuck one guy in the + stomach and he yelled in good New York talk: 'That black -------- + got me.' + + "I was still banging them when my crowd came up and saved me and + beat the Germans off. That fight lasted about an hour. That's about + all. There wasn't so much to it." + +No, there was not much to it, excepting that next morning the Americans +found four German bodies with plentiful indications that at least +thirty-two others had been put on the casualty list and several of the +German dead probably had been dragged back by their comrades. +Thirty-eight bombs were found, besides rifles, bayonets and revolvers. + +It was Irvin Cobb, the southern story writer, who first gave to the +world a brief account of the exploit of Johnson and Roberts in the +Saturday Evening Post during the summer of 1918. He commented as +follows: + + "If ever proof were needed, which it is not, that the color of a + man's skin has nothing to do with the color of his soul, this twain + then and there offered it in abundance." + +Mr. Cobb in the same article paid many tributes to the men of the 369th +and 371st serving at that time in that sector. Among other things he +said: + + "They were soldiers who wore their uniforms with a smartened pride; + who were jaunty and alert and prompt in their movements; and who + expressed as some did vocally in my hearing, and all did by their + attitude, a sincere heartfelt inclination to get a whack at the foe + with the shortest possible delay." + +Continuing, Mr. Cobb uttered a sentiment that is sure to awaken a glow +in the hearts of all sympathizers and friends of the Negro race. "I am +of the opinion personally," he said, "and I make the assertion with all +the better grace, I think, seeing that I am a Southerner with all the +Southerner's inherited and acquired prejudices touching on the race +question--that as a result of what our black soldiers are going to do in +this war, a word that has been uttered billions of times in our country, +sometimes in derision, sometimes in hate, sometimes in all +kindliness--but which I am sure never fell on black ears but it left +behind a sting for the heart--is going to have a new meaning for all of +us, South and North too, and that hereafter n-i-g-g-e-r will merely be +another way of spelling the word American." + +Many a man in the four regiments comprising the 93rd division when he +heard about the exploit of May 15th, oiled his rifle, sharpened his +bayonet and whetted his trench knife, resolved to go Henry Johnson and +Needham Roberts one better if the opportunity came to him. It did come +to many of them in the days that followed and although none got a +chance to distinguish himself in equal degree with the redoubtable +Johnson, it was because the Boche had become too wary. They had +cultivated a healthy respect for the colored men and called them +"blutlustige schwartze manner," meaning "blood-thirsty black men." +Another nickname they had was "Hell Fighters." + +When the 93rd division was brigaded with the French on the Aisne, at +least two of the component regiments were under a French general having +in his command several thousand Moroccan Negroes. He placed them on the +other side of the river fearing they would quarrel over religious +differences. However, it was impossible to keep them from fraternizing. +There were no religious disputes, nor is it of record that the Americans +attempted to convert the Mohammedans. But they did initiate their +turbaned comrades into the mysteries of a certain American game and it +is said that the disciples of Allah experienced considerable hard luck. + +Most of the 93rd division was under fire from the early days of May, +1918, until the close of the war. The 369th, which left New York with 56 +officers and 2,000 men, returned with only 20 officers and 1,200 men of +the original organization. A few had been transferred to casual +companies and other commands, but many will never come back; their +bodies being part of the soil of France--killed in action, died of +wounds or disease. + +The tale of the 93rd is full of deeds of valor, laughter in the face of +death, of fearful carnage wrecked upon the foe, of childlike pride in +the homage their Allies paid them, and now and then an incident replete +with the bubbling Negro humor that is the same whether it finds its +outlet on the cotton-fields of Dixie or the battlefields of France. + +Between the French and the colored troops the spirit was superb. The +French poilu had not been taught that the color of a man's skin made a +difference. He had no prejudices. How could he have, coming from a +nation whose motto is LIBERTY, FRATERNITY, EQUALITY? He formed his +judgment from bravery and Manhood and Honor. The Negro soldiers ate, +slept and drank with the poilus. They were happy together. + +An incident of the valor of the 93rd division was in the fight at Butte +de Mesnil, as tough a spot as any in the line between the sea and +Switzerland. The ground had been fought over back and forth, neither +side holding it for long. The French said it was the burying place of +200,000 of their troops and Germans, and that it could not be held +permanently. The Negro boys tackled the job. In four days they had +advanced fourteen kilometers (8.4 miles) and they NEVER retreated. + +The Negro troops to a great extent went into action with little +training, but they learned quickly in the hard school of experience. +They excelled in grenade throwing and machine gun work. Grenade throwing +is very ticklish business. Releasing the pin lights the fuse. Five +seconds after the fuse is lighted the grenade explodes. It must be timed +exactly. If thrown too quickly the enemy is liable to pick it up and +hurl it back in time to create the explosion in one's own lines. No one +cares to hold a grenade long after the fuse is lighted so the boys +sometimes threw them ahead of the signal. + +"Shorty" Childress of B company, 371st Infantry, had been drilled with +dummy grenades. When given the real thing he released the pin and +immediately heard the fulminating fuse working its way down into the +charge. It was too much for his nerves. He threw the grenade as far as +he could send it. The lieutenant reprimanded him severely. + +"What do you mean," he said, "by hurling that explosive ahead of the +proper time. Do you want the Boches to pick it up, fire it back here and +blow us all to smithereens?" + +"Shorty" was properly abashed. He hung his head and responded: +"Lieutenant, I begs your pardon, I didn't mean to heave it so soon, but +I could actually feel that thing a swellin' in my hand." + +But they soon acquired the idea, and after a short time very few of the +grenades reached the enemy either ahead of or behind time. + +Here is the valiant and humorous story of Elmer McCowin, 669 Lenox +Avenue, New York City, a private in Company K, 369th infantry, and how +he won the Distinguished Service Cross. He said: + + "On September 26th, the captain asked me to carry dispatches. The + Germans pumped machine gun bullets at me all the way, but I made + the trip and got back safely. Then I was sent out again. As I + started the captain hollered to bring him back a can of coffee. He + was joking but I didn't know it. + + "Being a foot messenger I had some time ducking those German + bullets. Those bullets seemed very sociable but I didn't care to + meet up with any of them, so I kept on traveling on high gear. None + touched my skin, though some skinned pretty close. + + "On the way back it seemed the whole war was turned on me. One + bullet passed through my trousers and it made me hop, skip and + jump. I saw a shell hole six feet deep. Take it from me I dented it + another six feet when I plunged into it. In my fist I held the + captain's can of coffee. + + "When I climbed out of the hole and started running again a bullet + clipped a hole in the can and the coffee started to run out. But I + turned around stopped a second, looked the Kaiser in the face and + held up the can of coffee with my finger plugging up the hole to + show the Germans they were fooled. Just then another bullet hit the + can and another finger had to act as a stopper. I pulled out an old + rabbit's foot that my girl had given me and rubbed it so hard the + hair almost came off. + + "It must have been the good luck thing that saved my life because + the bullets were picking at my clothes and so many hit the can that + at the end all my fingers were in use to keep the coffee in. I + jumped into shell holes and wriggled along the ground and got back + safely. And what do you think? When I got back into our own + trenches I stumbled and spilled the coffee." + +Not only did Lieutenant George Miller, battalion adjutant, confirm the +story, but he added: + + "When that boy came back with the coffee his clothes were riddled + with bullets. Yet half an hour later he went out into no man's land + and brought back a number of wounded until he was badly gassed. + Even then he refused to go to the rear and went out again for a + wounded soldier. All this under fire. That's the reason he got the + D.S.C." + +Corporal Elmer Earl, also of Company K, living in Middletown, N.Y., won +the D.S.C. He explained: + + "We had taken a hill Sept. 26 in the Argonne. We came to the edge + of a swamp when the enemy machine guns opened fire. It was so bad + that of the 58 of us who went into a particular strip, only 8 came + out without being killed or wounded. I made a number of trips out + there and brought back about a dozen wounded men." + +The proudest recollection which Negro officers and privates will carry +through life is that of the whole-hearted recognition given them in the +matter of decorations by the French army authorities. Four colored +regiments of the 93rd division attained the highest record in these +awards. These regiments being brigaded with the French, their conduct in +action was thus under their observation. Not only was each of these +regiments cited as a unit for the Croix de Guerre, but 365 individual +soldiers received the coveted decoration. A large number of +Distinguished Service Crosses were also distributed to the 93rd division +by General Pershing. + +The verdict pronounced by critical French commanders may be considered +as an unquestionable confirmation that the Negro troops were under all +conditions brave fighters. This fact and the improved status of the +Negro as a result of it was pointed to by the New York Tribune, in a +leading editorial in its issue of February 14, 1919. It said: + + "The bas-relief of the Shaw Memorial became a living thing as the + dusky heroes of the 15th cheered the Liberty statue and happily + swarmed down the gangplank. Appropriately the arrival was on the + birthday of the "revered Lincoln," and never was the young and + martyred idealist of Massachusetts filled with greater pride than + swelled in Colonel Hayward as he talked of his men the best + regiment, he said, with pardonable emphasis, 'of all engaged in the + great war.' + + "These were men of the Champagne and the Argonne whose step was + always forward; who held a trench ninety days without relief, with + every night a raid night; who won 171 medals for conspicuous + bravery; who saw the war expire under their pressure in a + discouraged German cannonade. First class fighting men! Hats off to + them! The tribunal of grace does not regard skin color when + assessing souls. + + "The boys cheered the Bartholdi statue. It makes some whites + uncomfortable. It converts into strange reading glib eulogies of + democratic principles. + + "A large faith possesses the Negro. He has such confidence in + justice,--the flow--of which he believes will yet soften hard + hearts. We have a wonderful example of a patience that defies + discouragement; the "Souls of Black Folk"! When values are truly + measured, some things will be different in this country." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THROUGH HELL AND SUFFERING. + + +Negro Officers Make Good--Wonderful Record of the 8th Illinois--"Black +Devils" Win Decorations Galore--Tribute of French Commander--His +Farewell to Prairie Fighters--They Fought After War Was Over--Hard to +Stop Them--Individual Deeds of Heroism--Their Dead, Their Wounded and +Suffering--A Poem. + + +In the past when the subject of the Negro's fighting ability was under +discussion, there were always found those whose grudging assent to his +merits as a soldier was modified by the assertion that he had to be +properly commanded; in other words must have white officers. Never +having been given a conspicuous opportunity to demonstrate his capacity +for leadership in battle, until the formation of the 8th Illinois +infantry in the Spanish-American war, the Negro was forced to rest under +the imputation that as a follower he did fairly well, but as a leader he +was a failure. + +Let anyone who still holds that view study the record of the 8th +Illinois, or the 370th, as it was rechristened when entering the service +of the general government in the recent war. Seventy-one War Crosses +with special citations for valor and merit, and twenty-one Distinguished +Service Crosses were awarded officers and men of the regiment. Many men +in the 370th were veterans of the Spanish-American war as well as the +campaign of 1916 on the Mexican border, which, while not an actual war, +was for some months a locality of service and hard service at that; the +regiment passing through it with great credit. + +It was organized as a single battalion in 1891, increased to a regiment +and sent to Cuba in 1898, every officer and man in the regiment being a +Negro. Upon its return, over half of the city of Chicago turned out in +greeting. Until July 12th, 1918, the regiment had never had a white +officer. Then its Colonel, F.A. Denison, was relieved on account of +illness and a white officer in the person of Colonel Thomas A. Roberts +for the first time was placed in command. Shortly before the armistice +two other white officers were attached to the regiment, in the persons +of Major William H. Roberts, a brother of the colonel, and Captain John +F. Prout; Second Lieutenant M.F. Stapleton, white, also served as +adjutant of the First battalion. + +The 370th received brief training at Camp Logan, Houston, Texas, and +landed in France April 22, 1918; going within a few weeks into actual +service. Like nearly all of the new regiments arriving at that time its +operations were confined mainly to trench warfare. + +Trench warfare continued until July 6, when the men got their real +baptism of fire in a section of the Argonne and were in all the +important engagements of their portion of the Champagne and other +fronts, fighting almost continuously from the middle of July until the +close of the war, covering themselves with a distinction and glory, as +Knights in the warfare for Mankind, that will endure as long as the +story of valorous deeds are recorded. + +Like the other regiments of the 93rd Division, the 370th was brigaded +with the French; first with the 73rd French Division and later under +direct command of General Vincendon of the 59th Division, a part of the +famous 10th French army under General Mangin. Shortly after the signing +of the armistice, the division commander sent the regiment the following +communication: + + Officers, non-commissioned officers and men: + + Your efforts have been rewarded. The armistice is signed. The + troops of the Entente to whom the armies of the American Republic + have nobly come to join themselves, have vanquished the most + powerful instrument of conquest that a nation could forge--the + haughty German Army acknowledges itself conquered. However hard our + conditions are, the enemy government has accepted them all. + + The 370th R.I.U.S. has contributed largely to the success of the + 59th Division, and has taken in bitter strife both cannon and + machine guns. Its units, fired by a noble ardor, got at times even + beyond the objectives given them by the higher command; they have + always wished to be in the front line, for the place of honor is + the leading rank. + + They have shown in our advance that they are worthy of being there. + + VINCENDON. + +"Black Devils" was the name the Prussian Guard who faced them gave to +the men of the 370th. Their French comrades called them "The +Partridges," probably on account of their cockiness in action (a cock +partridge is very game), and their smart, prideful appearance on parade. + +A general outline of the service of the Illinois men after coming out of +the trenches, as well as an illustration of the affection and high +appreciation in which they were held by the French, is contained in the +following order issued by General Vincendon in December: + + Officers and soldiers of the 370th R.I.U.S.: + + You are leaving us. The impossibility at this time that the German + Army can recover from its defeat, the necessity which is imposed on + the people of the Entente of taking up again a normal life, leads + the United States to diminish its effectiveness in France. You are + chosen to be among the first to return to America. In the name of + your comrades of the 59th Division I say to you, au revoir. In the + name of France, I thank you. + + The hard and brilliant battles of Chavigny, Leury and the Bois de + Beaumont having reduced the effectiveness of the division, the + American government generously put your regiment at the disposition + of the French High Command. In order to reinforce us, you arrived + from the trenches of the Argonne. + + We at first, at Mareuil Sur Ourcq, in September, admired your fine + appearance under arms, the precision of your review and the + suppleness of your evolutions that presented to the eye the + appearance of silk unrolling in wavy folds. We advanced to the + line. Fate placed you on the banks of the Ailette in front of the + Bois Mortier. October 12 you occupied the enemy trenches at Acier + and Brouze. On the 13th we reached the railroad of Laon le Fere; + the forest of Saint Gobain, the principal center of resistance of + the Hindenburg line was ours. + + November 5th the Serre was at last crossed and the pursuit became + active. Major Prout's battalion distinguished Itself at the Val St. + Pierre, where it captured a German battery. Major Patton's + battalion was first to cross the Hirson railroad at the heights of + Aubenton, where the Germans tried to resist. Duncan's battalion + took Logny and, carried away by their ardor, could not be stopped + short of Gue d' Hossus on November 11th, after the armistice. We + have hardly time to appreciate you and already you depart. + + As Lieut. Colonel Duncan said November 28, in offering to me your + regimental colors as proof of your love for France and as an + expression of your loyalty to the 59th Division and our Army, you + have given us of your best and you have given it out of the + fullness of your hearts. + + The blood of your comrades who fell on the soil of France mixed + with the blood of our soldiers, renders indissoluble the bonds of + affection that unite us. We have, besides, the pride of having + worked together at a magnificent task, and the pride of bearing on + our foreheads the ray of a common grandeur. + + VINCENDON. + +[Illustration: This is a facsimile reproduction of the original, printed +hurriedly near the field of battle and also translated hurriedly without +eliminating errors. Corrected on page 155.] + +To the 370th belongs the honor of the absolutely last engagement of the +war. An objective had been set for the regiment on the morning of +November 11th. General Vincendon heard of the hour at which hostilities +were to end and sent an order to the regiment to shorten its objective. +The order failed to arrive in time and ten minutes after the fighting +was over Lieut. Colonel Duncan led the third battalion over the German +line and captured a train of fifty wagons. General Vincendon said: + +"Colonel Duncan is the hardest man to stop fighting I ever saw. He +doesn't know when to quit." + +One of the most daring exploits by a member of the regiment was that +performed by Sergeant Matthew Jenkins, a Chicago boy and member of +Company F. On September 20, at Mont des Singes, he went ahead of his +comrades and captured from the Boche a fortified tunnel which by aid of +his platoon was held for thirty-six hours without food or ammunition, +making use of the enemy machine gun and munitions until relieved. This +gained for Sergeant Jenkins the Croix de Guerre with Palm and the +Distinguished Service Cross. + +A deed of remarkable bravery accompanied by clever strategy was +performed by Captain Chester Sanders and twenty men mostly of Company F. +It won decorations for three and the unbounded admiration of the French. +Captain Sanders and his men offered themselves as sacrifices in an +effort to draw the fire of about a dozen German machine guns which had +been working havoc among the Americans and French. The Illinois men ran +into the middle of a road knowing they were under German observation. +Instantly the Germans, suspecting a raid on their lines, opened fire on +the underbrush by the roadside, figuring the Americans would take refuge +there. Instead they kept right in the center of the road and few were +wounded. The ruse had revealed the whereabouts of the German guns, and a +short time later they were wiped out by French artillery. + +Another hero of Company F was Lieutenant Harvey J. Taylor, who found +himself in a nest of machine guns on July 16 in the western part of the +Argonne forest. He received wounds in both legs, a bullet through one +arm, a bullet in his side, had a front tooth knocked out by a bullet and +received a ruptured ear drum by another. After all this he was back in +the lines October 24th at Soissons. The Germans were making a counter +attack that day and when the battling colored men needed supplies, +Lieutenant Taylor, who was regimental signal officer, proceeded to get +the supplies to them, though he had to pass through a German barrage. He +was badly gassed. He received the Croix de Guerre with a special +citation. + +Lieutenant Elmer D. Maxwell won his Cross in the Champagne, six miles +northwest of Laon. He led a platoon of men against a nest of machine +guns, taking four guns and eighteen prisoners, not to speak of leaving +behind a number of Germans who were not in a condition to be taken +prisoner. + +Many of the officers of the regiment were wounded. The escape of many +from death, considering the continuous fighting and unusual perils +through which they passed, was miraculous. The only officer who made the +supreme sacrifice was Lieutenant George L. Giles of 3833 Calumet Avenue, +Chicago. He was the victim of a direct hit by a shell at Grandlut on +November 1 while he was heroically getting his men into shelter. Lieut. +Giles was very popular with the men and with his brother officers. He +was popular among the members of the race section in which he lived in +Chicago, and was regarded as a young man of great promise. + +One of the engagements of the first battalion that received more than +honorable mention was on the morning of November 6th, when the battalion +crossed the Hindenburg line and after extremely hard fighting captured +on St. Pierre Mont, three 77 guns and two machine guns. Captain James H. +Smith of 3267 Vernon Avenue, Chicago, commanded the company, and +Lieutenant Samuel S. Gordon of 3842 Prairie Avenue, Chicago, the assault +forces making the capture. The battalion continued across the Serre +river and when the armistice was signed was at a small place in Belgium. + +Several of the officers passed through practically all of the fighting +with hardly a scratch, only to be taken ill at the finish and invalided +home. These men would have been greatly disappointed had the war +continued after they were put out of action. Conspicuous among them was +Lieutenant Robert A. Ward of 3728 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, of the +Trench Mortar platoon; Lieutenant Benjamin A. Browning of 4438 Prairie +Avenue, Chicago, and Lieutenant Joseph R. Wheeler, 3013 Prairie Avenue, +Chicago. + +Major Rufus Stokes led the first battalion on the initial raid at +Vauquois. They fired 300 shells from six trench mortars and scored a +notable success. In that raid Private William Morris of Chicago, the +only man in the regiment who was captured by the Germans, was taken. He +was reported missing at the time, but weeks later his picture was found +among a group of prisoners portrayed in a German illustrated newspaper +found in a captured dugout. + +Three men were killed and a large number of others had a miraculous +escape while entering Laon a few days prior to November 1st. A German +time mine exploded tearing up a section of railroad track, hurling the +heavy rails into the air, where they spun around or flew like so many +arrows. + +First Lieutenant William J. Warfield, regimental supply officer, a +Chicago man, won the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary +heroism in action near Ferme de la Riviere, September 28th. + +Sergeant Norman Henry of the Machine Gun company, whose home is in +Chicago, won the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism +in action near Ferme de la Riviere, September 30th. + +Other members of the regiment upon whom the D.S.C. was conferred by +General Pershing were: + +Captain William B. Crawford, home address, Denison, Texas; for +extraordinary heroism in action at Ferme de la Riviere, September 30th. + +Sergeant Ralph Gibson, Company H, a Chicago man; for extraordinary +heroism at Beaume, November 8th. + +Sergeant Charles T. Monroe, Headquarters Company; for extraordinary +heroism in action at Mont de Singes, September 24th. His home is at +Senrog, Va. + +Sergeant Emmett Thompson, Company L, home in Quincy, Illinois; for +extraordinary heroism at Mont de Singes, September 20th. + +Supply Sergeant Lester Fossie, Company M, home at Metropolis, Illinois; +for extraordinary heroism at Ferme de la Riviere, October 5th. + +Private Tom Powell, deceased, Company H; for extraordinary heroism near +Beaume, November 8th. + +Private Spirley Irby, Company H, home at Blackstone, Va.; for +extraordinary heroism in action at Beaume, November 8th. + +Private Alfred Williamson, medical detachment, home at San Diego, +California; for extraordinary heroism in action near Beaume, November +8th. + +Private William G. Hurdle, Machine Gun Company No. 3, home at Drivers, +Va.; for extraordinary heroism in action at Ferme la Folie, September +30th. + +Private Harry Pearson, Machine Gun company No. 3, home at Portland, +Oregon; for extraordinary heroism in action near Ferme la Folie, +September 30th. + +Private Alonzo Walton, Machine Gun Company No. 3, home at Normal, +Illinois; for extraordinary heroism in action at Rue Lamcher and Pont +D'Amy, November 7th and 9th. + +Private Leroy Davis, Company L, home at Huntsville, Missouri; for +extraordinary heroism in action at Mont de Singes, September 18th. + +[Illustration: NEGRO WARRIORS ADMINISTERING COLD STEEL. GERMANS UNABLE +TO STAND THE ATTACK. SURRENDERING. IN THE ARGONNE FOREST FRANCE.] + +About fifty percent of the 370th met casualties of some sort during +their service in France. Like the New York regiment heretofore +mentioned, they were singularly free from disease. Only 65 men and one +officer were killed in action and about thirty died from wounds. The +total number wounded and missing was 483. Probably 1,000 men were gassed +and incapacitated at times, as the regiment had three replacements, +necessary to make up its losses. The regiment went to France with +approximately 2,500 men from Chicago and Illinois, and came back with +1,260. Of course, many of the wounded, sick and severely gassed were +invalided home or came back as parts of casual companies formed at +hospital bases. The replacement troops which went into the regiment were +mostly from the Southern states. A few of the colored officers assigned +to the regiment after its arrival in France, were men from the officers +training camps in this country and France. + +The 370th boasted of the only race court martial in the army. There were +thirteen members, Lieutenant Colonel Duncan presiding. Captain Louis E. +Johnson was the judge advocate, and Lieutenant Washington was his +assistant. It is not of record that the findings of the court martial +were criticized. At least there was no scandal as there was concerning +court martial proceedings in other divisions of the army. The fact is +that there was very little occasion for court martialing among the men +of the 370th. The behavior of the men was uniformly good, as is attested +by the fact that every town mayor in France where the men passed through +or were billeted, complimented the officers on the splendid discipline +and good behavior shown. + +Colonel Roberts, a veteran cavalryman, was very fond of his men. He has +repeatedly paid them the highest compliments, not only for their valor +and soldierly qualities, but for their quick intelligence, amenity to +discipline, and for the clean living which made them so remarkably free +from disease. He has stated that he would not know where to select a +better group of men for everything that goes to make up efficient, +dependable soldiers. Colonel Roberts received the Croix de Guerre, with +the following citation: + +"A commander entirely devoted to duty, he succeeded by dint of working +day and night in holding with his regiment a difficult sector, though +the officers and men were without experience, under heavy shelling. He +personally took charge of a battalion on the front line on October 12 +and led it to the objectives assigned by the crossing of the Ailette +canal." + +American historians may not give the Negro fighters the place to which +their records entitle them; that remains to be seen. From the testimony +of French commanders, however, it is evident that the pages of French +history will not be printed unless they contain the valiant, patriotic, +heroic deeds of the Illinois and New York regiments with their comrades +of the 93rd and 92nd Divisions. + +In the various sectors to which they were assigned, they were in +virtually every important fight. They met the flower of the Kaiser's +forces, held them and on more than one occasion made them retreat. The +Hun had misjudged them and it was fortunate that he had. They endured +their share of hardship, marching many weary miles, day after day, +without sufficient food. Nothing could affect their spirit and dash. +When the call came, they went over the top, that the world might be made +safe for democracy. + +Among the officers and men of the 370th were represented about every +calling in which the Negro of this day engages. There were men of +professional pursuits; lawyers, doctors and teachers; students, +mechanics, business men, farmers and laborers. The poet of the regiment +was Lieutenant Blaine G. Alston. The following little poem, if properly +digested and understood, tells volumes within itself: + + "OVER THERE" + + Did you ever hear a bullet whiz, + Or dodge a hand grenade? + Have you watched long lines of trenches dug + By doughboys with a spade? + Have you seen the landscape lighted up + At midnight by a shell? + Have you seen a hillside blazing forth + Like a furnace room in hell? + + Have you stayed all night in a ruined town + With a rafter for a bed? + With horses stamping underneath + In the morning when they are fed? + Have you heard the crump-crump whistle? + Do you know the dud shell's grunt? + Have you played rat in a dugout?-- + Then you have surely seen the front. + + --Lieut. Blaine G. Alston, 370th U.8. Troops. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +NARRATIVE OF AN OFFICER + + +Special Article by Captain John H. Patton, Adjutant of 8th +Illinois--Summarizes Operations of the Regiment--From First Call to +Mustering Out--An Eye Witness Account--In Training Camps, at Sea, in +France--Service in Argonne Forest--Many Other Engagements--A Thrilling +Record--Battalion Operations in Detail--Special Mention of Companies and +Individuals. + + +Captain John H. Patton, regimental adjutant of the 370th, who commanded +the second battalion through most of its service, presents a summary of +the operations of the regiment from the first call to the mustering out. +Being in charge of the organization's records, his account is detailed, +authentic and highly valuable as supplementing the data of the previous +chapter; gleaned from departmental records and other sources. It carries +additional interest as being the testimony of an eye-witness, one who +participated in the stirring events in a marked and valorous degree. The +recital in Captain Patton's own words, the phrase of a highly trained +and efficient military man, follows: + +Pursuant to the call of the President, under date of July 3, 1917, the +8th Illinois Infantry reported at the various rendezvous on July 25, +1917, as follows: At Chicago, Illinois regimental headquarters; +Headquarters company, Machine Gun company, Supply company, Detachment +Medical Department, and Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H; at +Springfield, Illinois, Company I; at Peoria, Illinois, Company K; at +Danville, Illinois, Company L; at Metropolis, Illinois, Company M. + +On the date the regiment responded to the call Colonel Franklin A. +Denison commanded the regiment, the other Field Officers being +Lieutenant Colonel James H. Johnson, Major Rufus M. Stokes, Major +Charles L. Hunt, Major Otis B. Duncan and Captain John H. Patton, +regimental adjutant. + +The strength of the regiment a short time before responding to the call +was approximately one thousand officers and enlisted men, and orders +having been received to recruit to maximum strength, 3604 enlisted men, +an active recruiting campaign was begun. On July 25, 1917, the strength +was approximately 2,500. Soon afterwards orders were received that the +regiment would be organized according to Minimum Strength Tables of +Organization, which gave it an authorized strength of 2,138 enlisted +men. After reporting that the regiment already had several hundred men +in excess of that strength, authority was granted to retain the excess +men. From this time until demobilized at Camp Grant in March, 1919, the +regiment had from 600 to 1,300 men in excess of its authorized strength, +and upon arrival in France in April, 1918, the entire personnel +consisted of men who had voluntarily enlisted. + +Intensive training was begun immediately after the regiment reported at +the various armories and the public streets in the vicinity were +utilized for this purpose until October 12, 1917, on which date the +various organizations entrained for Camp Logan, Houston, Texas, arriving +a few days later. + +While stationed at Camp Logan, the regiment was engaged in intensive +training. Officers and enlisted men attended the various schools +established by the 33rd Division to which the regiment had been attached +and acquitted themselves with credit. + +At the end of October, 1917, on the date of the closing of the Second +Liberty Loan Campaign, out of a total of 2,166 officers and enlisted men +belonging to the regiment at that time, 1,482 officers and men +subscribed $151,400.00. + +While at Camp Logan, approximately 96 percent of the regiment took out +$10,000.00 War Risk Insurance per man. + +On December 1, 1917, the official designation of the regiment was +changed from the 8th Illinois Infantry to the 370th Infantry. + +On March 6, 1918, the regiment left Camp Logan enroute to Camp Stuart, +Newport News, Va., arriving on March 10, 1918, and immediately taking up +its interrupted intensive training. + +While at Camp Stuart, Va., Lieutenant Colonel James H. Johnson was +discharged from the service, and Major Otis B. Duncan, who had commanded +the 3rd battalion, was promoted to the grade of lieutenant-colonel and +Captain Arthur Williams was promoted to the grade of major and placed in +command of the 3rd battalion. + +On April 6, 1918, the regiment embarked on the S.S. President Grant en +route overseas. In attempting to get out to sea, the vessel ran aground +in Hampton Roads and three days later having been refloated, the journey +overseas was resumed. On account of this delay the journey was begun +without convoy, the warships assigned to this duty having departed as +scheduled on or about April 6, 1918. On April 20, 1918, the steamer was +met by a convoy of torpedo boats which accompanied us to Brest, France, +at which place the regiment arrived on April 22, 1918. + +The following day, April 23, 1918, the regiment debarked and marched to +camp at Pontanezen Barracks, near Brest, and two days later entrained +for Grandvillers (Haut-Rhin), arriving on April 27, 1918, and taking +station. + +The regiment, upon arrival at Grandvillers, was attached to the 73rd +Division, French Army, and orders were given for the reorganization and +equipping of the regiment to conform to that of a French regiment. All +American arms, ammunition and equipment were salvaged and French rifles, +machine guns, ammunition, wheel transportation, packs, helmets and other +necessary equipment furnished. Except for the uniform the regiment was +outfitted exactly as were the French regiments of that division. French +rations were issued with the exception of the wine component, for which +an extra allowance of sugar was substituted. + +The Division sent officers to take charge of the instruction of the +regiment in every phase of the work to be later undertaken and another +period of intensive training was begun. Even French cooks were present +to instruct our cooks in the preparation and conservation of the French +rations. + +After six weeks training at this place, the regiment entrained enroute +to the front, arrived at Ligny-en-Barrios (Meuse) on June 13, 1918, and +moved up toward the lines by easy stages. + +On June 21, 1918, the regiment began occupying positions in the Saint +Mihiel Sector, completing the occupation on June 24, 1918. This being +the first time the regiment had been actually in the lines, the division +commander deemed it advisable to intermingle our troops with French +troops in order that officers and men might observe and profit by close +association with the veteran French troops. Thus the units of the 1st +and 2nd battalions, which had been assigned to the front lines were +intermingled with platoons and companies of the 325th regiment of +infantry. + +Many valuable lessons were learned while in this sector, which was +exceptionally quiet at the time. Except for occasional shelling and some +scattered machine gun and rifle fire, nothing of interest occurred while +in the sector, and there were no casualties. + +On the night of June 30-July 1, 1918, the regiment, having been relieved +in the sector, began withdrawing, and on July 3, 1918, the withdrawal +had been completed without any losses. + +After resting a few days in the region of Lignieres (Meuse), the +regiment entrained en route to the Argonne Forest, arriving behind the +lines on July 6, 1918, the 1st Battalion, under command of Major Stokes, +moving up immediately into the reserve positions at Brabant (S. +Groupement Courcelles) and later into the front lines in the Center of +Resistance de la Foret, Sub-Sector Hermont. + +The 2nd Battalion under command of Major Hunt took station at +Rarecourt, the latter moved up to Locheres (Plateau of Gorgia) at which +place the Major located his Commanding Post. From this position +companies of the 2nd Battalion were sent into the lines alternately, the +companies being relieved after a five days' tour of duty. + +On July 12, 1918, Colonel Franklin A. Denison, who had commanded the +regiment up to this time and had become incapacitated through illness +contracted during the strenuous days incident to the preparation of the +regiment for service in the lines, was relieved from command on this +account and Colonel T.A. Roberts, cavalry, assumed command of the +regiment. + +The 3rd battalion under command of Major Williams, was held in reserve +at Vraincourt, and only Company M of that battalion was sent into the +front lines. This company took up positions in the supporting point at +Buzemont on August 7, 1918, and remained until August 14, 1918. + +On August 1, 1918, the Stokes Mortar platoon under command of Lieutenant +Robert A. Ward took position in the lines in the sub-sector Vaquois, and +on August 4, 1918, took an active part in a coup-de-main arranged by the +French. His mission, filling in the gaps in the French artillery +barrage, was so successfully accomplished that his entire platoon was +highly commended for their work by the commanding general of the +division. + +Although patrols were operating between the lines nightly and the +positions occupied were under artillery, machine gun and rifle fire a +number of times, the only losses sustained during the six weeks in the +Argonne Forest were 1 killed, 1 captured and 4 wounded. + +On the night of August 15-16, 1918, the regiment was relieved from its +positions in the Forest and marched to Rampont and entrained for +villages in the vicinity of Fains (Meuse) for a period of rest, arriving +on August 18, 1918. + +Upon arrival at the new stations, instruction was begun again, more +attention being paid to open warfare than to work incident to trench +warfare. This training proved of great value to the officers and men in +the latter days of the war, when the regiment was actively engaged in +the pursuit of the enemy to the Belgian border. + +On September 11, 1918, the regiment left its various stations and +proceeded by train to Betz, where it detrained and marched to stations +in villages in the vicinity of Mareuil-sur-Ourcq (Meuse). + +On September 11, 1918, Majors Hunt and Williams having become +incapacitated through illness and injury, were relieved from command of +the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, respectively, and Lieutenant Colonel Otis B. +Duncan and Captain John H. Patton were assigned to the command of those +battalions. + +The battles of Chavigny, Leury and the Bois de Beaumont having reduced +the effectives of the 59th French Division, the regiment was placed at +the disposition of the division and was assigned as one of the three +infantry regiments thereof. Upon joining this division the effective +strength of the regiment was approximately double that of either of the +two French regiments; and in future operations a large share of the work +of the division fell to our lot. + +On September 15, 1918, the regiment received orders to move again toward +the front. From Mareuil-sur-Ourcq to the region of St. Bandry (Meuse) the +movement was made in motor trucks. On September 16, 1918, the journey +was resumed, the regiment proceeding by marching. Upon arrival at +Tartier, Companies F and G were sent to Monte Couve (Aisne) to join the +232nd Regiment of Infantry, and Companies I and L pushed forward to +Bagneux (Aisne) to join the 325th Regiment. The 1st battalion proceeded +the next day to the caves in the vicinity of Les Tueries, the 3rd +battalion moved up into the reserve in the region of Antioch Farm with +the remainder of the 2nd battalion. + +As soon as Companies F, G, I and L had moved up and taken position in +the lines opposite Mont des Signes an attack was ordered. Attacks on the +enemy positions on the plateau of Mont des Signes were almost continuous +from the date of arrival of these companies until about September 21, +1918, when they were withdrawn and joined their battalions. These +companies acquitted themselves with credit. One platoon under command of +Sergeant Matthew Jenkins, Company F, took a large section of the enemy +works for which the sergeant was awarded both the French Croix de Guerre +and the American Distinguished Service Cross. + +About the 22nd of September, the regiment for the first time took over a +full regimental sector, the Battalion Stokes relieving the Battalion +Garnier in the positions outlined by La Folie-l'Ecluse on the Canal +l'Oise-l'Aisne and the Farm Gulliminet, the Battalion Patton going into +the support positions at Mont des Tombes and the Battalion Duncan going +into reserve at Tincelle Farm. Colonel Roberts located his commanding +post at Antioch Farm. From the date of arrival in these positions until +the enemy began to retreat on October 12, 1918, the entire area occupied +by the regiment was almost constantly shelled, gas being used +frequently. The front lines were almost constantly under the fire of +enemy minnenwurfers and numerous machine guns located in the Bois de +Mortier, a very dense wood north of the canal. + +On the night of September 26-27, 1918, the Battalion Patton was ordered +to relieve with like units one-half of each of the companies of the +Battalion Stokes in the front lines and soon after the relief was +completed an attack along the l'Oise-l'Aisne Canal was ordered. By the +extreme of effort the remainder of the Battalion Patton was brought up +and having completed the relief of the Battalion Stokes, the attack +began as ordered. The attack continued until October 4th, on which date +all objectives had been gained and the enemy pushed back across the +canal. On September 30th the Battalion Duncan was thrown into the fight +and two companies of the Battalion Patton withdrawn to the support. The +Battalion Duncan was ordered to make a frontal attack which necessitated +an advance across the open fields. This was successfully accomplished, +the battalion being subjected to intense artillery, machine gun and +rifle fire continuously. The Battalion Duncan, having gained its +objectives, the Farm de la Riviere and the railroad south of the canal, +held on tenaciously in spite of the intense fire of the enemy and held +the positions gained until the pursuit began on October 12, 1918, when +it passed into the reserve of the division. + +During the occupancy of the sector, from September 22, 1918, to October +12, 1918, patrols from the three battalions were out night and day +between the lines making necessary reconnaissances. On October 4, 1918, +a volunteer patrol of twenty men under command of Captain Chester +Sanders in an effort to discover whether the enemy had abandoned the +woods, penetrated the Bois de Mortier to a point about 100 yards behind +the enemy positions and having been discovered were fired on from all +sides by numerous machine guns. The patrol returned to our lines intact. +For this exploit Captain Sanders was awarded the French Croix de Guerre +and the patrol received the commendation of the commanding general of +the division. On October 7, 1918, after 5 minutes violent bombardment by +our artillery, three raiding parties from Company F made a dash for the +triangle formed by the railroad, the L'Oise-l'Aisne canal and the +Vauxaillon road. One of these parties gained the enemy trenches along +the canal, ejecting the enemy after a hand grenade fight. All parties +returned to our lines intact though several were wounded. Lieutenant +William Warfield of the Battalion Duncan single-handed took an enemy +machine gun nest which had been harassing his company, and after +disposing of the enemy machine gunners returned to our lines with the +gun. Numerous other acts of gallantry were performed in this sector for +which officers and men received both French and American decorations. + +At 9:20 a.m. on October 12, 1918, the alert was given for a general +advance by the entire division and the battalions assembled at the zones +of assembly previously designated. The Battalion Stokes was given the +mission of clearing the Bois de Mortier and the Battalion Patton was +placed at the disposition of Lieutenant Colonel Lugand of the 232nd +Infantry, and the 3rd battalion was placed in the divisional reserve. +At about 11:00 a.m. the pursuit began, the 1st battalion clearing the +Bois de Mortier and successfully reaching its first objective, +Penancourt, the same date, and continuing the pursuit the next day to a +point west of Molinchart. + +The Battalion Patton, having been assigned as the support battalion of +the 232nd Regiment of Infantry, took up the pursuit via Anizy le +Chateau, Cessieres and the Bois de Oiry, bivouacing the night of October +13th in the vicinity of the Bois. + +These battalions were commended by the commanding general. The Battalion +Stokes for its passage of the exceedingly strong position in the Bois de +Mortier and the 2nd for its well conducted march in pursuit via Anizy le +Chateau. + +On account of the straightening out of the lines due to the retreat of +the enemy, the 59th Division was withdrawn on October 14th and sent back +for rest, the regiment being sent into the St. Gobain Forest and +vicinity for this purpose. Ten of the twelve days in this locality were +spent in hard work on the roads and the last two were given over to the +re-equipping of the regiment. + +On October 22, 1918, Major Rufus M. Stokes was relieved from command of +the 1st battalion and assigned to duty as administrative officer of the +Regimental Combat and Supply Trains. Captain John T. Prout was assigned +to the command of the 1st battalion. + +On October 27th, 1918, the regiment was again ordered into the lines and +at midnight on that date the 2nd battalion moved up into support +positions in the vicinity of Grandlup. + +The 1st battalion on October 29, 1918, moved up into support positions +in the vicinity of the same village. During this time the 3rd battalion +was located at Manneaux Farm in reserve. The battalions remained in +various positions in the vicinity of Grandlup until November 5, 1918, on +which date the enemy again began to retreat, and while thus occupied +were subjected to severe shelling and those units occupying front line +positions to much machine gun and rifle fire; casualties were few +except in Company A stationed in the vicinity of Chantrud Farm, where an +enemy shell fell in the midst of the company at mess, killing +thirty-five men and wounding fifty, thus causing the company to be +withdrawn from the lines. + +On the morning of November 5th, a general advance was ordered and the +enemy retreated before it. The retreat of the enemy was so rapid that +our troops did not catch up with them until about November 8th, on which +date a general attack by the division was ordered. The 2nd battalion on +the left of the division was given the task of clearing out the enemy +from positions along the Hirshon railroad and the Heights of Aubenton. +After an all day fight the battalion reached its objective about +nightfall. The French division on the left did not advance as +anticipated, owing to enemy resistance on their front, and the 2nd +battalion having advanced about two kilometers to the front suffered +severely on account of the exposed flank, three men being killed and two +officers and thirty-three enlisted men being wounded. On the morning of +the 9th the enemy again retreated and the 2nd battalion continued the +pursuit to Goncelin, resting there for the night and on the morning of +the both was ordered to cantonment at Pont d'Any, where it was located +at the taking effect of the armistice. + +On November 6th the 1st battalion took up the pursuit in support of the +Battalion Michel of the 325th Regiment of Infantry, advancing via +Brazicourt and Rapeire to Hill 150 near St. Pierremont. Company C having +passed on into the front lines at the Brazicourt Farm, upon arrival near +St. Pierremont were ordered on the morning of November 6, 1918, to +attack and occupy St. Pierremont, cross the Serre River and take up a +position along the railroad track. The mission of the company was +successfully accomplished in spite of the strong resistance of the +enemy, St. Pierremont being occupied, the river crossed and three pieces +of enemy artillery as well as several machine guns taken. For this +operation Company C was cited and awarded the French Croix de Guerre +with a Palm, the highest French citation received in the regiment. The +battalion continued the pursuit until arrival at Mont Plaisir, when it +was ordered back to Fligny, where it was in cantonment at the taking +effect of the armistice. + +The 3rd Battalion took up the pursuit on November 5th, resting in the +open fields the nights of the 5th and 6th. The battalion in moving up +advanced via Bosmont and Mont Plaisir and passed on into the front lines +at the Rue Larcher on November 7, 1918. In the afternoon of the 8th +orders were received to deliver a cover fire for French units which were +to make an attack on the village of Logny, which was strongly held by +the enemy. Company M, having been assigned for this work, moved out from +Hurtebise and advanced to a position where the cover fire could be +effectively delivered, and opened fire. About this time word was +received from the French commander that his troops could not advance on +account of the severe shell and machine gun fire, and Company M having +arrived at a position where it was safer to go ahead than to retreat, +attacked the town and drove the enemy therefrom. For this action +Lieutenant Osceola A. Browning, commanding Company M, and several others +received the French Croix de Guerre and Sergeant Lester Fossie both the +Croix de Guerre and the American Distinguished Service Cross. On +November 10, 1918, the advance and pursuit was continued. At Etignieres +the battalion was temporarily stopped by intense shell fire. On November +11, 1918, the pursuit was again taken up with Resinowez as the principal +objective. Later the objective was changed to Gue d'Hossus, Belgium, +which objective was reached a few minutes before the taking effect of +the armistice, an enemy combat train of about 50 vehicles being captured +about this time. + +A few days after the armistice, the regiment began to move southward, +taking station in villages in the vicinity of Verneuil-sur-Serre. + +[Illustration: SOME WAR CROSS WINNERS OF 8TH ILLINOIS (370TH INFANTRY). +FRONT ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: CAPT. G.M. ALLEN. LIEUT. O.A. BROWNING. CAPT. +D.J. WARNER. LIEUT. ROY B. TISDELL. STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: LIEUT. ROBT. +P. HURD, LIEUT-COL. OTIS B DUNCAN. MAJOR J.R. WHITE. CAPT. W.B. +CRAWFORD, LIEUT. WM. WARFIELD. CAPT. MATTHEW JACKSON.] + +On December 12, 1918, the regiment formally passed from the French +command and to Brest via Soissons and Le Mans, arriving at the latter +place on January 10, 1919. + +On February 2, 1919, the regiment embarked on the S.S. La France IV, en +route to the U.S., arriving on February 9, 1919, and taking station at +Camp Upton, Long Island, N.Y. + +On February 17, 1919, the regiment left Camp Upton for Camp Grant, +Illinois, via Chicago, where it was accorded a wonderful and +never-to-be-forgotten reception by the citizens of Chicago. + +After arrival at Camp Grant, work incident to the demobilization of the +regiment was commenced. The majority of officers and enlisted men were +discharged from the service during the latter part of February, and +finally on March 12, 1919, orders were issued declaring that the +regiment had ceased to exist. + +The health of the regiment while in the service was exceptional. The +Medical Detachment, under command of Major James R. White, worked +incessantly to protect the health of the command. Before departure for +France a number of cases of pneumonia of a very severe type developed, +but only two deaths resulted. The Medical Detachment was divided among +the various units, Captain Spencer C. Dickerson having charge of the +detachment attached to the 1st battalion, Lieutenant James F. Lawson +that of the 2nd battalion, and Lieutenant Claudius Ballard that of the +3rd battalion. The work of these detachments was at all times of a high +order of excellence, and during engagements both officers and men in +numerous instances went out into the open and rendered first aid to the +wounded after terrific fire. Each man wounded, however slightly, was +given an injection of anti-tetanic serum and as a result no cases of +tetanus were reported, nor were any cases of gas baccilus infection +reported. During the severe fighting around the Guilliminet and de la +Riviere Farms, more help was needed and Lieutenant Park Tancil, dental +surgeon, volunteered to take charge of one of the first aid stations +which was daily receiving showers of shells from the enemy batteries. +Lieutenant Claudius Ballard, though wounded during the fighting, +refused to be evacuated and continued his duties administering to the +wounded. Major James R. White made daily rounds of the first aid +stations in the lines, disregarding the intense fire of the enemy and +personally dressing numbers of wounded. For their heroic conduct in +administering to the wounded under fire, Major White and Lieutenants +Tancil and Ballard as well as several enlisted men of the Medical +Detachment, were awarded the French Croix de Guerre, and Private Alfred +Williamson of the detachment was awarded both the French Croix de Guerre +and the American Distinguished Service Cross. + + * * * * * + +ROSTER OF OFFICERS OLD 8TH ILLINOIS (370th Infantry) + +(All Negroes unless otherwise designated.) + +Field and Staff--F.A. Denison, commanding until July 12, 1918, invalided +home; Col. T.A. Roberts (white), commanding after July 12, 1918; Major +James R. White, surgeon; Major W.H. Roberts (white), operation officer; +Capt. Charles W. Fillmore, personnel officer; Capt. John H. Patton, +commanding 2nd battalion; Capt. James E. Dunjil, assistant to adjutant; +1st Lieut. George Murphy, assistant to adjutant; 1st Lieut. Louis C. +Washington, administrative officer; 2nd Lieut. Noble Sissle, assistant +to administrative officer; 1st Lieut. Park Tancil, dentist; 1st Lieut. +John T. Clemons, chaplain. + +First Battalion--Major Rufus M. Stokes, commanding; 2nd Lieut. M.F. +Stapleton (white), battalion adjutant; Capt. Spencer C. Dickerson, +medical officer; 1st Lieut. Harry W. Jones, battalion supply officer. + +Company A--Capt. Stewart A. Betts, 1st Lieut. John L. McDonald, 1st +Lieut. Robert L. Chavis, 2nd. Lieut. Wycham Tyler, 2nd Lieut. Howard F. +Bell, 2nd Lieut. Willis Stearles. + +Company B--Capt. Stuart Alexander, 1st Lieut. Robert P. Hurd, 1st Lieut. +Franklin McFarland, 1st Lieut. Samuel Ransom, 2nd Lieut. Fred K. +Johnson, 2nd Lieut. Samuel Block. + +Company C--Capt. James H. Smith, 1st Lieut. Samuel S. Gordon, 1st Lieut. +Harry N. Shelton, 1st Lieut. Arthur Jones, 2nd Lieut. Elmer J. Myers, +2nd Lieut. Roy B. Tisdell. + +Machine Gun Company--Captain Devere J. Warner, 1st Lieut. George C. +Lacey, 2nd Lieut. Thomas A. Painter, 2nd Lieut. Bernard McGwin, 2nd +Lieut. Homer C. Kelly, 2nd Lieut. Julian D. Rainey. + +Second Battalion--Capt. John H. Patton, commanding; 1st Lieut. Samuel A. +McGowan, battalion adjutant; 1st Lieut. James F. Lawson, medical +officer; 1st Lieut. Rufus H. Bacote, medical officer; 1st Lieut. William +Nichols, battalion supply officer. + +Company F--Capt. Rufus Reed, 1st Lieut. Carter W. Wesley, 2nd Lieut. +Edward Douglas, 2nd Lieut. Robert A.D. Birchett. + +Company G--Capt. George M. Allen, 1st Lieut. Durand Harding, 1st Lieut. +Gerald C. Bunn, 1st Lieut. Harvey E. Johnson, 2nd Lieut. Clarence H. +Bouchane. + +Company H--Capt. James C. Hall, 1st Lieut Harry L. Allen, 1st Lieut. +George L. Amos, 1st Lieut Binga Dismond, 2nd Lieut Lawrence Willette, +2nd Lieut. John A. Hall. + +Machine Gun Company No. 2--Capt. Lilburn Jackson, 2nd Lieut. Frank T. +Logan, 2nd Lieut. Junius Walthall, 2nd Lieut. William A. Barnett. + +Third Battalion--Lieut. Col. Otis B. Duncan, commanding; 2nd Lieut. +Stanley B. Norvell, battalion adjutant; 1st Lieut. Claudius Ballard, +medical officer; 1st Lieut. William J. Warfield, battalion supply +officer. + +Company I--Capt Lorin O. Sanford, 1st Lieut. Howard R. Brown, 2nd Lieut. +D. Lincoln Reid, 2nd Lieut. Edmond G. White, 2nd Lieut. Oswald Des +Verney, 2nd Lieut. Harry J. Douglas. + +Company L--Capt. William B. Crawford, 1st Lieut. Frank Robinson, provost +officer; 1st. Lieut Frank W. Bates, 2nd Lieut. James H. Peyton, 2nd +Lieut Luther J. Harris. + +Company M--Capt. Edward W. Spearman, 1st Lieut Osceola A. Browning, 1st +Lieut. Jerome L. Hubert, 2nd Lieut. Lawson Price, 2nd Lieut. Irving T. +Howe, 2nd Lieut. Larkland F. Hewitt. + +Machine Gun Company No. 3--Capt. Matthew Jackson, 1st Lieut. William +C.P. Phillips, 2nd Lieut. Charles C. Jackson, 2nd Lieut Clyde W. +Donaldson, 2nd Lieut George F. Proctor. + +Special Units + +Headquarters Company--Capt. Lewis E. Johnson, 1st Lieut Robert A.J. +Shaw, 1st Lieut. Benote H. Lee, 2nd Lieut Elias F.E. Williams, pioneer +officer; 2nd Lieut. Rufus B. Jackson, Stokes mortar; 2nd Lieut. Reginald +W. Harang, signal officer. + +Supply Company--Capt. Lloyd G. Wheeler, 1st Lieut. Harry Wheeler, 1st +Lieut. James A. Riggs, 1st Lieut. Dan M. Moore, medical officer; 2nd +Lieut Augustus M. Fisher, veterinary surgeon. + +Depot Company K--Capt Wm. H. Lewis, commanding; 2nd Lieut. Alvin M. +Jordan, adjutant; 1st Lieut. Norman Garrett, 1st Lieut. Napoleon B. Roe, +dentist; 1st Lieut. George W. Antoine, medical officer; 2nd Lieut Avon +H. Williams; 2nd Lieut. Edward L. Goodlett, 2nd Lieut Frank Corbin, 2nd +Lieut Frederick L. Slade, 2nd Lieut. Walter H. Aiken, 2nd Lieut. Rufus +A. Atkins, 2nd Lieut James T. Baker, 2nd Lieut. John S. Banks, 2nd +Lieut. Marcus A. Bernard, 2nd Lieut. Charles E. Bryant, 2nd Lieut Henry +H. Carr, 2nd Lieut. Horace E. Colley, 2nd Lieut. Ira R. Collins, 2nd +Lieut. Charles H. Conley, 2nd Lieut. Bernie B. Cowan, 2nd Lieut. Flenoid +Cunningham, 2nd Lieut. Frank P. Dawson, 2nd Lieut. Samuel A. Dillard, +2nd Lieut. John W. Harris. + +ROLL OF HONOR + +Heroes of Old 8th Illinois + +Negro National Guardsmen known in France as the 370th Infantry, who were +decorated with the Croix de Guerre. The exploits of some of these men +and also of some of those in the appended list decorated with the +Distinguished Service Cross, are mentioned in the chapters devoted to +the regiment. + + Col. T.A. Roberts (white) + Lieut. Col. Otis B. Duncan + Major James R. White + Capt. John H. Patton + Capt. Chester Sanders + Capt. John T. Prout + Capt. Samuel R. Gwynne + Capt. Devere J. Warner + Capt. Wm. B. Crawford + Capt. George M. Allen + Capt. James C. Hall + Capt. Stuart Alexander + Capt. Mathew Jackson + Capt. James H. Smith + Lieut. Park Tancil + Lieut. Osceola A. Browning + Lieut. George C. Lacey + Lieut. Frank Robinson + Lieut. Claudius Ballard + Lieut. Charles C. Jackson + Lieut. William J. Warfield + Lieut. Samuel S. Gordon + Lieut. Robert P. Hurd + Lieut. Henry N. Shelton + Lieut. Henry P. Cheatham + Lieut. Stanley B. Norvell + Lieut. Roy B. Tisdell + Lieut. Thomas A. Painter + Lieut. Lawson Price + Lieut. Lincoln D. Reid + Lieut. Elmer J. Myers + Sergt. Norman Henry + Sergt. Clarence T. Gibson + Sergt. Matthew Jenkins + Sergt. Cecil Nelson + Sergt. Howard Templeton + Sergt. Chas. T. Monroe + Sergt. Derry Brown + Corp. James R. Brown + Corp. Lewis Warner + Corp. Joseph Henderson + Corp. Maceo A. Tervalon + Corp. William Stevenson + Corp. Emil Laurent + Corp. Charles T. Brock + Pvt. Nathaniel C. White (deceased) + Pvt. Robert Pride + Pvt. George B. White + Pvt. Howard Sheffield + Pvt. Cornelius Robinson + Pvt. Ulysses Sayles + Pvt. William Cuff (deceased) + Pvt. Hugh Givens + Pvt. Arthur Johnson + Pvt. Rufus Pitts + Pvt. Olbert Dorsey + Pvt. William Hurdle + Pvt. Bee McKissic + Pvt. Jonas Paxton + Pvt. Harry Pearson + Pvt. Paul Turlington + Pvt. Reed J. Brown + Pvt. Paul Johnson + Pvt. Reedy Jones + Pvt. Alonzo Keller + Pvt. Leroy Lindsay + Pvt. Lavern Massey + Pvt. Josiah Nevees + Pvt. Ira Taylor + Pvt. Jesse Ferguson + Pvt. William M. Robinson + +Awarded Distinguished Service Crosses by General Pershing: + + Capt. William B. Crawford + Lieut. William J. Warfield + Sergt. Norman Henry + Sergt. Ralph Gibson + Sergt. Robert Barnes + Sergt. Charles T. Monroe + Sergt. Emmett Thompson + Sergt. Lester Fossie + Sergt. Matthew Jenkins + Pvt. Tom Powell (deceased) + Pvt. Andrew McCall + Pvt. Wm. Cuff (deceased) + Pvt. Spirley Irby + Pvt. Alfred Williamson + Pvt. William G. Hurdle + Pvt. Harry Pearson + Pvt. Alonzo Walton + Pvt. Leroy Davis + Pvt. James Fuquay + Pvt. Nathaniel C. White (deceased) + Pvt. Arthur Johnson + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +BLOOD OF THE BLACK AND WHITE IN ONE RIVULET OF DEPARTING LIFE + + +LINCOLN'S PROPHETIC WORDS--NEGROES ALONGSIDE BEST SOLDIERS IN THE +WORLD--HOLD THEIR OWN--THE 372ND REGIMENT--BRIGADED WITH VETERANS OF THE +MARNE--FAMOUS "RED HAND" DIVISION--OCCUPY HILL 304 AT VERDUN--NINE DAYS +BATTLE IN "BLOODY ARGONNE"--ADMIRATION OF THE FRENCH--CONSPICUOUS +COMPONENTS OF 372ND--CHRONOLOGY OF SERVICE. + + They will probably help in some trying time to keep the jewel of + liberty in the family of freedom.--Abraham Lincoln. + +Prophetic words uttered by the Great Emancipator concerning the Negroes +of America. The Negroes helped. They would have helped in much greater +measure had they been given the opportunity. + +Fighting for the first time on the soil of the world's most famous +battleground--Europe--and for the first time brought into direct +comparison with the best soldiers of the world, they proved themselves +able to hold their own where tests of courage, endurance and +aggressiveness were most severe. + +They fought valiantly in the vicinity of Chateau Thierry, on the Vesle, +on the Aillette, in the Argonne, and various other sectors; and in the +final drive at Metz. They vanquished the Germans who opposed them; the +heaviest fire of the enemy failing to stop their advance. + +No part of the 93rd Division made a more gallant record than the 372nd +regiment. Throughout its service in France it was a part of the famous +French 157th Division known as the "Red Hand" division, under the +command of General Goybet. It was this division which first opposed the +Huns at the Marne in 1914. To brigade the Negro soldiers with such +famous veterans was a rare mark of distinction and placed the black men +on their mettle at all times. + +The 372nd arrived in France on April 14 and went into training with the +French eleven days later. On May 29 the regiment took over a sector in +the Argonne and on June 20 was sent to the trenches just west of Verdun, +occupying the famous battle-swept Hill 304, and sections at Four de +Paris and Vauquois. On Hill 304 thousands of French and Germans had +fallen as the battle line swung back and forward. That this hill was +given to the Negroes to hold demonstrated that as soldiers they had +already won the confidence of the French. + +The regiment's first engagement was in the Champagne sector with +Monthois as an objective. Here came the real test. The Negroes were +eager to get into the fight. They cheered and sang when the announcement +came that their opportunity had arrived--but the question was; back of +their enthusiasm had they the staying qualities drilled into European +troops through centuries of training in the science of warfare. + +The answer was that some of the heaviest and most effective fighting of +the day was done by the Negro regiment. From June 6th to September 10th, +the 372nd was stationed in the bloody Argonne forest or in the vicinity +of Verdun. On the night of September 25th they were summoned to take +part in the Argonne offensive and were in that terrific drive, one of +the decisive engagements of the war, from September 28th to October 7th. + +In the nine days' battle the Negroes not only proved their fighting +qualities in an ordeal such as men rarely have been called upon to face, +but these qualities in deadly striking power and stubborn resistance in +crises, stood out with such distinction that the coveted Croix de Guerre +was bestowed upon the regiment. + +The casualty list of the 372nd in this and previous fighting carried 500 +names of men killed, wounded and gassed. For their achievements they +were at once cited for bravery and efficiency in General Orders from the +corps commander transmitted through their French divisional chief. It +was dated October 8th and read as follows: + + In transmitting you with legitimate pride the thanks and + congratulations of General Garnier Duplessis, allow me, my dear + friends of all ranks, American and French, to address you from the + bottom of the heart of a chief and soldier, the expression of + gratitude for the glory you have lent to our good 157th Division. + During these nine days of hard fighting you have progressed eight + kilometers (4.8 miles) through powerfully organized defenses, taken + 600 prisoners, captured 15 heavy guns, 20 minenwerfers and nearly + 150 machine guns, secured an enormous amount of engineering + material and important supplies of artillery ammunition, and + brought down by your fire three enemy aeroplanes. The "Red Hand" + sign of the division, has, thanks to you, become a bloody hand + which took the Boche by the throat and made him cry for mercy. You + have well avenged our glorious dead. GOYBET. + +In a communication delivered to the colonel of the regiment on October +1st, General Goybet said: + + Your troops have been admirable in their attack. You must be proud + of the courage of your officers and men, and I consider it an honor + to have them under my command. The bravery and dash of your + regiment won the admiration of the Moroccan Division, who are + themselves versed in warfare. Thanks to you, during these hard + days, the division was at all times in advance of all other + divisions of the Army Corps. I am sending you all my thanks and beg + you to transmit them to your subordinates. I call on your wounded. + Their morale is higher than any praise. + +The high honor of having its flag decorated with the Croix de Guerre was +bestowed upon the regiment in the city of Brest just a few days before +it embarked for the return to America. Vice Admiral Moreau, the French +commander of the port of Brest, officially represented his government +in, the ceremony. It was intended as France's appreciation of the +services of these Negro fighters. + +The decoration took place at one of the most prominent points in the +city and was witnessed by thousands of French soldiers and civilians, as +well as by sailors and soldiers of several nations. + +One of the conspicuous components of the 372nd was the battalion, formed +from what formerly was known as the 1st Separate Battalion of the +District of Columbia National Guard. This famous old Washington +organization has a long, proud history. Many of the members were +veterans of the Spanish-American war. At the close of the European war, +the organization numbered 480 men from the city of Washington, twenty of +whom had been decorated one or more times for individual bravery under +fire. + +The battalion was first assembled at Potomac Park on the Speedway in +Washington, shortly after the declaration of war. The men spent almost +half a year at the camp, during which time they had the important +assignment of guarding railway and highway bridges and adjacent points +around the National Capitol. They also had the proud distinction of +guarding the secret archives and departments at Washington, a duty which +required unquestioned loyalty and for which the Negroes were well +selected. + +It seemed at the time an inconspicuous bit of war time soldiering, and +they were long trying days to the men. But it was a service which +required intelligence and nerve, as the likelihood was great that the +enemy's agents in this country would strike in the vicinity of the seat +of government. That such responsible duty was delegated to the Negroes +was a high compliment from the military authorities. The manner in which +they discharged the duty is shown in the fact that no enemy depredations +of any consequence occurred in the vicinity of Washington. + +After a period of training at Camp Stewart, Newport News, Va., the +battalion was sent to France. Its colored commander was dead. Other +colored officers were soon superseded, leaving the chaplain, Lieutenant +Arrington Helm, the only colored officer attached to the organization. + +Arriving at St. Nazaire, France, April 14, 1918, the battalion was soon +sent to Conde en Barrois, where it underwent a period of intensive +training with special preparation for sector warfare. The instructors +were French. Lessons were hard and severe, but the instructors +afterwards had much cause for pride in their pupils. + +From the training camp the battalion and regiment proceeded to the +Argonne front, at first settling in the vicinity of La Chalade. It was +there the soldiers received their first taste of warfare, and it was +there their first casualties occurred. + +September 13th the outfit withdrew and retired to the rear for a special +training prior to participation in the general attack from Verdun to the +sea. On the morning of September 28th the District of Columbia battalion +was sent to the front to relieve a regiment of famous Moroccan shock +troops. It was at this time that the Champagne offensive took such a +decided turn and the Washington men from that time on were taking a most +active and important part in the general fighting. They distinguished +themselves at Ripont just north of St. Menehold. They suffered greatly +during their valiant support of an advanced position in that sector. +Despite its losses the battalion fought courageously ahead. Prior to +that it had occupied Hill 304 at Verdun. It had the distinction of being +the first American outfit to take over that sector. The battalion fought +doggedly and bravely at Ripont and succeeded in gaining much valuable +territory, as well as enemy machine guns and supplies and ninety Hun +prisoners. + +Later the battalion held a front line position at Monthois, and it +finally formed a salient in the line of the 9th French Army Corps. It +was subjected to a long period of gruelling fire from the Boches' famous +Austrian 88s and machine guns, and an incessant barrage from German +weapons of high caliber. + +The regiment moved south to the Vosges, where the battalion took up a +position in sub-sector B, in front of St. Marie Aux Mines, where it was +situated when word of the armistice came. + +The record of the Negro warriors from the District of Columbia is very +succinctly contained in a diary kept by Chaplain Lieutenant Arrington +Helm. It relates the activities of the unit from the time they sailed +from Newport News, March 30, 1917, until the end of the war. It is also +a condensed account of the major operations of the 372nd regiment. The +diary follows: + +March 30--Embarked from Newport News, Va., for overseas duty on the +U.S.S. Susquehanna. + +April 17--Disembarked at St. Nazaire and marched to rest camp. + +April 21--Left rest camp. Base section No. 1 and entrained for +Vaubecourt. + +April 23--Arrived at Vaubecourt at 7 p.m. Left Vaubecourt at 8:30 p.m. +and hiked in a heavy rainstorm to Conde en Barrois. + +April 25--Assigned to school under French officers. + +May 26--Left Conde en Barrois at 8 a.m. in French motor trucks for Les +Senades. + +May 29--Our regiment today took over the sector designated as Argonne +West. + +May 31--In front line trenches. + +June 20--Changed sectors, being assigned to the Vauquois sector, a +sub-sector of the Verdun front. The 157th Division is stationed in +reserve. The enemy is expected to attack. + +July 13--Left for Hill 304 on the Verdun sector. Colonel Young has been +relieved from command and Colonel Herschell Tupes has assumed command. + +July 25--Left Sivry la Perche to take over Hill 304. Arrived at Hill 304 +at 9 p.m. + +August 16--Heavily shelled by regiment of Austrians opposing us. Two +Americans and one Frenchman in the regiment killed. + +August 20--Lieutenant James Sanford, Company A, captured by the Germans. + +August 21--Fight by French and German planes over our lines. Very +exciting. + +September 8--Left Hill 304. Relieved by 129th infantry of the 33rd +Division. Hiked in rain and mud for Brocourt. + +September 14--Arrived at Juvigny at noon. + +September 17--Left Juvigny for Brienne la Chateau at 8 p.m. Passed +through Brienne la Chateau and reached Vitray la Francois this +afternoon. The city is near the Marne. + +September 18--Hiked to Jessecourt. All colored officers left the +regiment today. + +September 28--Arrived at Hans. The regiment was in action in the +vicinity of Ripont. The third battalion took up a battle position near +Ripont. + +September 29--The third battalion went over the top. The Germans are in +retreat. Our positions are being bombarded. The machine gun fire is +terrific and 88 millimeter shells are falling as thick and fast as +hailstones. We are unable to keep up with the enemy. This afternoon it +is raining. This makes it bad for the wounded of whom there are many. + +September 30--The first battalion is now on our right and advancing fast +despite the rain and mud. The machine gun opposition is strenuous. Our +casualties are small. We have captured a large number of prisoners. + +October 1--Our advance is meeting with increased opposition. The enemy +has fortified himself on a hill just ahead. The ground prevents active +support by the French artillery. Still we are giving the Germans no +rest. They are now retreating across the valley to one of their supply +bases. The enemy is burning his supplies. We have taken the village at +Ardeuil. Our losses have been heavy but the Germans have lost more in +killed, wounded and taken prisoner than have our forces. On our right +the first battalion has entered the village of Sechault, after some hard +fighting by Company A. + +October 4--The Second battalion is going in this morning. We are resting +at Vieux three kilometers from Monthois, one of the enemy's railroad +centers and base hospitals. The enemy is destroying supplies and moving +wounded. We can see trains moving out of Monthois. Our artillery is +bombarding all roads and railroads in the vicinity. The enemy's fire is +intense. We expect a counterattack. + +October 5--The enemy's artillery has opened up. We are on the alert. +They have attacked and a good stiff hand to hand combat ensued. The +Germans were driven back with heavy losses. We have taken many prisoners +from about twelve different German regiments. We continued our advance +and now are on the outskirts of Monthois. + +October 6--The enemy is throwing a stiff barrage on the lines to our +left where the 333rd French Infantry is attacking. We can see the Huns +on the run. The liaison work of the 157th Division is wonderful; not the +slightest gap has been left open. Our patrols entered Monthois early +this morning and were driven out by machine gun fire, but returned with +a machine gun and its crew. We will be relieved by the 76th infantry +regiment at 8 p.m. We hiked over the ground we had fought so hard to +take to Minnecourt, where the regiment proceeded to reorganize. + +October 12--Left Valmy today and continued to Vignemont. + +October 13--Arrived at Vignemont. Hiked fifteen kilometers to St. +Leonard. + +October 15--Left St. Leonard for Van de Laveline in the Vosges. We +arrived at Van de Laveline at 10:15 p.m. and took over a sector. + +November 11--A patrol of Company A took several prisoners from a German +patrol. Received word of the signing of the armistice at 11 a.m. today. +Martial music was played. The colors of the regiment are displayed in +front of the post command. + +It is related that the Washington fighters, as well as the other members +of the 372nd regiment, received the news of the armistice with more of +disappointment than joy, for they had made all preparations to advance +with the French through Lorraine. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +COMRADES ON THE MARCH. BROTHERS IN THE SLEEP OF DEATH. + + +POLICY OF SUBSTITUTING WHITE OFFICERS---INJUSTICE TO CAPABLE +NEGROES--DISAPPOINTMENT BUT NO OPEN RESENTMENT--SHOWED THEMSELVES +SOLDIERS--INTENSER FIGHTING SPIRIT AROUSED--RACE FORGOTTEN IN PERILS OF +WAR--BOTH WHITES AND BLACKS GENEROUS--AFFECTION BETWEEN OFFICERS AND +MEN--NEGROES PREFERRED DEATH TO CAPTIVITY--OUTSTANDING HEROES OF 371ST AND +372ND--WINNERS OF CROSSES + + +Changing from Negro to white officers was in accordance with the +military policy of the American Government; the generic inspiration and +root being found in national prejudice, incident to the institution of +slavery and the spirit of racial caste and narrowness, that still +disgraces it. Doubt was pretended to be entertained of the ability of +the colored man to command, and although there were not lacking +champions for the policy of placing capable Negroes in command of Negro +units, the weight of opinion; superinduced and fostered by racial +prejudice, inclined to the opposite course. + +In the light of the fine record made by such Negro officers as were +given responsible commands, let us hope for the future honor of the +nation; preening herself as being in the vanguard of the progressive +commonwealths of the age, that a policy so unjust, narrow and unworthy +will; as quickly as feasible be abandoned. In favor of Negro commanders +is the additional testimony of high French generals, who knew no color +distinction and could see no reason why a Negro should not command his +own race troops if he had intelligence, courage and military skill. +Indeed there are not wanting in the annals of French warfare brilliant +examples where men of African blood commanded not only mulattoes and +blacks, but heroic whites as well. It is not of record that those white +Frenchmen showed any reluctance to follow such leaders or viewed them +with less affection than they did their white officers. + +One should not say that the Negro troops would have fought any better +under the men of their own race. They achieved all possible glory as it +was. They simply did their duty whether their officers were white or +black. But that they did not fight any the less valiantly or efficiently +under men of their own race is abundantly proven by the record of the +370th, or the 8th Illinois as the soldiers and their people still prefer +to call it; and other units which had Negroes in responsible positions. + +That there was disappointment, chagrin and anger in the rank and file of +the Negro soldiers when their own officers were taken from them and +white men substituted was natural and quite to be expected. + +However, there was little open murmuring. While the Negro regarded the +removal of the officers who had trained him and were, in a sense, his +comrades, unfair and uncalled for, his fighting spirit, seemed to burn +with an intenser heat; a determination to do his best to show and shame +the spirit that robbed him of his own race leaders, and at the same time +convince his white commanders of the stuff he was made of. + +There was much disappointment in the ranks of the District of Columbia +battalion, when the place of its old leader was taken by Major Clark L. +Dickson, twenty-seven years of age, one of the youngest--if not the +youngest--of battalion commanders in the American army. But their +disappointment was soon allayed, for Major Dickson made an enviable +record. He received the Croix de Guerre with this citation: + + "Most efficient officer, valorous and intrepid, acting in dual + capacity as regimental adjutant and operation officer. Displayed + the utmost energy in issuing operation orders during the period + between September 26th and October 6th, 1918, and especially + distinguished himself in crossing a roadway under violent artillery + fire to give assistance to a wounded brother officer. His clear + view of the situation at all times and the accuracy with which he + issued the necessary orders required of him, contributed largely to + the success of the regiment." + +Many of his men have stated that the citation only hinted at the real +accomplishments of Major Dickson. + +In the rigors of war and the perils of battle, men serving side by side, +forget race. They simply realize that they are sharing hardships in +common; are beset by a common foe and are the subjects of common +dangers. Under such circumstances they become comrades. They learn to +admire each other and willingly give to each other a full measure of +praise and appreciation. The Negro soldiers generally, have expressed +unstintedly, approbation and praise of their white officers; and the +officers have been equally generous. Here is an appreciation by one of +the officers of the 372nd regiment, Lieutenant Jerome Meyer of +Washington, concerning the men of that organization: + + "Casualties were heavy because the colored lads fought to the last, + cheerfully accepting death in preference to captivity. Their + adeptness in mastering the throwing of hand grenades and in + operating the machine guns quickly won them the esteem of the + French. Remember, that the colored lads were quite new to warfare. + But in the Champagne they fought with a persistence and courage + that enabled them to hold permanently the ground they gained and + won for many of them their decorations. Not a few of the prisoners + taken by the regiment declared that the Germans were in positive + fear of the Negroes, who, they complained, would never quit even + under terrible fire." + +One of the outstanding heroes of the 372nd regiment was Sergeant Ira +Payne, of 325 Fifteenth Street, Washington, D.C. He won the Croix de +Guerre and the Distinguished Service Cross, and according to his +comrades, "was not afraid of the devil himself." His story as related by +himself on his return home, follows: + + "During the fighting at Sechault the Germans were picking off the + men of my platoon from behind a bush. They had several machine guns + and kept up a deadly fire in spite of our rifle fire directed at + the bush. We did our best to stop those machine guns, but the + German aim became so accurate that they were picking off five of my + men every minute. We couldn't stand for that. + + "Well, I decided that I would get that little machine gun nest + myself, and I went after it. I left our company, detoured, and, by + a piece of luck got behind the bush. I got my rifle into action and + 'knocked off' two of those German machine gunners. That ended it. + The other Germans couldn't stand so much excitement. The Boches + surrendered and I took them into our trenches as prisoners." + +Not a long story for such an able and courageous exploit, yet it +contains the germ for an epic recital on bravery. + +First Sergeant John A. Johnson a colored member of Company B, was +decorated with the Croix de Guerre with palm for exceptional bravery +during a charge over the top, and for capturing single-handed, two Hun +soldiers who later proved valuable as sources of information. Sergeant +Johnson's home was at 1117 New Jersey Avenue, Washington, D.C. He was +equally reticent about boasting of his deeds. + + "Near Sechault during the time the District men were making a big + effort to capture the town," said Johnson, "I was put in the front + lines not fifty feet away from the enemy. A greater part of the + time I was exposed to machine gun fire. I suppose I got my medal + because I stuck to my men in the trenches and going over the top. + Quite a few of the boys were bumped off at that point." + +Another hero was Benjamin Butler, a private. The citation with his Croix +de Guerre read: "For displaying gallantry and bravery and distinguishing +himself in carrying out orders during the attack on Sechault, September +29, 1918, under heavy bombardment and machine gun fire." + + "I did very little," Butler said. "During this fight with several + others, I carried dispatches to the front line trenches from + headquarters. They decorated me, I suppose, because I was the only + one lucky enough to escape being knocked off." + +Private Charles E. Cross of 1157 Twenty-first street, Washington, D.C. +was awarded the Croix de Guerre, his citation reading: "For his speed +and reliability in carrying orders to platoons in the first line under +the enemy's bombardment on September 29, 1918." In some cases he had to +creep across No Man's Land and a greater part of the time was directly +exposed to the enemy's fire. + +Private William H. Braxton, a member of the machine gun company of the +regiment, whose residence was at 2106 Ward Place, Washington D.C., +received the Croix de Guorre for "displaying zealous bravery." + + "An enemy party," reads his citation, "having filtered through his + platoon and attacked same in the rear. Private Braxton displayed + marked gallantry in opening fire on the enemy and killing one and + wounding several others, finally dispersing the entire party." + + "The men who stuck by me when death stared them in their faces," + said Braxton, "deserve just as much credit as I do. I was only the + temporary leader of the men." + +Corporal Depew Pryor, of Detroit, Michigan, was awarded the Medal +Militaire, one of the most coveted honors within the gift of the French +army, as well as the American Distinguished Service Cross. Pryor saw +Germans capture a Frenchman. Grabbing an armful of grenades, he dashed +upon the Germans killing, wounding or routing a party of ten and +liberating the Frenchman. + +Sergeant Bruce Meddows, 285 Erskine street, Detroit, Michigan, brought +home the Croix de Guerre with silver star, which he won for bringing +down an aeroplane with an automatic rifle. + +To have forty-six horses which he drove in carting ammunition up to the +front lines, killed in five months was the experience of Arthur B. +Hayes, 174 Pacific Avenue, Detroit, Michigan. He returned home sick, +with practically no wounds after risking his life daily for months. + +Sergeant George H. Jordan of Company L, whose home was in Boston, Mass., +won the Croix de Guerre and palm for taking charge of an ammunition +train at Verdun, when the commanding officer had been killed by a shell. +He saved and brought through eight of the seventeen wagons. + +Lieutenant James E. Sanford of Washington, D.C., one of the early Negro +officers of the 372nd, was captured in Avocourt Woods near Verdun, +August 19, 1918. He was endeavoring to gain a strategic position with his +men when he was met by an overpowering force concealed behind +camouflaged outposts, he was taken to Karlsruhe and transferred to three +other German prison camps, in all of which he suffered from bad and +insufficient food and the brutality of the German guards. + +[Illustration: U.S. FLAG AND 369TH REGIMENT FLAG, DECORATED WITH CROIX +DE GUERRE AT UNGERSHEIM, ALSACE, FRANCE.] + +[Illustration: THE 369TH INFANTRY IN REST BILLETS AT MAFFRECOURT, +FRANCE. HENRY JOHNSON. ONE OF FOREMOST HEROES OF THE WAR. WITH HIS +FAMOUS SMILE. IN RIGHT FOREGROUND.] + +[Illustration: THE JOKE SEEMS TO BE ON THE LAD AT THE LEFT.] + +[Illustration: A FEW OF THE MANY GUNS CAPTURED FROM THE GERMANS.] + +[Illustration: AMERICANS IN PRISON CAMP. PRISONERS ARE AMUSED LISTENERS +WHILE JOVIAL NEGRO FIGHTER RELATES AN EPISODE OF WAR LIFE TO A GERMAN +OFFICER.] + +[Illustration: ARTHUR JOHNSON, A DOUGHBOY OF THE 8TH ILLINOIS (370TH +INFANTRY), WINNER OF CROIX DE GUERRE AND THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE +CROSS.] + +[Illustration: GAME PROBABLY IS STRIP POKER AS TWO MEN HAVE ALREADY +DISCARDED THEIR SHIRTS. ONE HAS A LARGE SAFETY PIN FOR INSTANT USE. BUT +THEN, NOTE THE HORSESHOE ON HIS SHOE.] + +[Illustration: KITCHEN POLICE ON BOARD THE CELTIC. THERE IS ALWAYS SOME +DUTY FOR UNCLE SAM'S MEN ON LAND OR SEA.] + +[Illustration: MINSTRELS ON BOARD THE "SAXONIA." TYPICAL GROUP ORGANIZED +ON THE TRANSPORTS TO ENTERTAIN WOUNDED BOYS RETURNING FROM FRANCE.] + +[Illustration: MEN WHO HANDLED THE CANNONS. PART OF SQUADRON A, 351ST +FIELD ARTILLERY. ON TRANSPORT LOUISVILLE.] + +[Illustration: LIEUT. MAXOM AND HIS BAND, WHO SAW DISTINGUISHED SERVICE +IN FRANCE.] + +[Illustration: GROUP ON EDGE OF PIER WAITING TO ENTRAIN FOR +DEMOBILIZATION CAMP. PART OF THE 351ST ARTILLERY UNIT SPECIALLY +MENTIONED BY GENERAL PERSHING.] + +[Illustration: SALVATION ARMY LASSIES HANDING OUT CHOCOLATE TO TWO +SOLDIERS OF 351ST ARTILLERY.] + +[Illustration: HEROES OF 351ST ARTILLERY GREETING FRIENDS AFTER +DEBARKING FROM THE TRANSPORT LOUISVILLE.] + +Major Johnson led his battalion of the 372nd in an attack in the +Champagne which resulted in the capture of a German trench, 100 +prisoners, an ammunition dump, thirty machine guns and two howitzers. He +received the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor decoration from the +French, as well as the Distinguished Service Cross from General +Pershing. + +Company B of the 372nd, took at Sechault in a raid, seventy-five +prisoners and four machine guns. + +One of the distinguished units of the 372nd, was the old and famous +Company L of the Massachusetts National Guard. This unit was assembled +at Camp Devens and left soon after the declaration of war for the south. +It was stationed for a time at Newport News, and was then incorporated +with the 372nd, went to France with that organization and saw its share +of service throughout the campaign. Other distinguished units were the +well known Ninth Ohio Battalion National Guard, and National Guard +companies from Connecticut, Maryland and Tennessee. + +Brigaded with the 372nd in the French "Red Hand" division, was another +Negro regiment, the 371st, made up principally of selectives from South +Carolina. It was commanded by Colonel P.L. Miles. Among the officers +were Major Thomas Moffatt and Captain William R. Richey from Charleston. + +The regiment saw practically the same service as the 372nd under General +Goybet, was mentioned in divisional and special orders, was decorated by +Vice Admiral Moreau, Maritime Prefect of Brest, at the same time the +honor was conferred on the 372nd. The two regiments were together for +seven months. The men of the 371st especially distinguished themselves +at Crete des Observatories, Ardeuil and in the plains of Monthois. +Seventy-one individual members received the Croix de Guerre and some the +Distinguished Service Cross. Among the latter were the following: + +Sergeant Lee R. McClelland, Medical Detachment, home address, Boston, +Mass., for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 30, +1918. + +Corporal Sandy E. Jones, Company C, home address Sumter, S.C.; for +extraordinary heroism in action in the Champagne, September 28 and 29, +1918. + +Private Bruce Stoney, Medical Detachment, home address, Allendale, S.C.; +for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 29, 1918. + +Private Charlie Butler, Machine Gun Company, home address, McComb, +Miss.; for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 29, +1918. + +Private Willie Boston, Machine Gun Company, home address, Roopville, +Ga.; for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 29, +1918. + +Private Tillman Webster, Machine Gun Company, home address, Alexandria, +La.; for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 29, +1918. + +Private Ellison Moses, Company C, home address, Mayesville, S.C.; for +extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 30, 1918. + +Private Hunius Diggs, Company G, home address, Lilesville, N.C.; for +extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 30, 1918. + +The two regiments, besides the regimental Croix de Guerre, awarded for +gallantry in the Champagne, won individual decorations amounting in the +aggregate to 168 Croix de Guerre, 38 Distinguished Service Crosses, four +Medal Militaire and two crosses of the Legion of Honor. + +An incident of the service of the 371st and particularly emphasizing the +honesty and faithfulness of the Negro Y.M.C.A. and the regiment's +medical detachment, was the case of Prof. H.O. Cook, a teacher in the +Lincoln High School at Kansas City, Mo. Professor Cook, a Y.M.C.A. man +attached to the sector which the 371st was holding during the great +offensive in September, went with the men to the front line trenches and +rendered valuable aid among the wounded until he was gassed. Owing to +the fact that there were no facilities at that particular time, for the +safe keeping of money and valuables, he carried on his person more than +150,000 francs (in normal times $30,000) which boys in the regiment had +given him to keep when they went over the top. + +After being gassed he was walked over for an hour before being +discovered. The money was found and sent by Sergeant Major White also +colored, to general headquarters at Chaumont. When Prof. Cook was +discharged from the hospital and made inquiry about the money, it was +returned to him. Not a cent was missing. Colonel Miles recommended that +General Pershing award Prof. Cook a Distinguished Service Cross. + +The men of the 93rd Division and other Negro divisions and organizations +will never forget their French comrades and friends. It was a lad of the +371st regiment who wrote the following to his mother. The censor allowed +the original to proceed but copied the extract as a document of human +interest; in that it was a boyish and unconscious arraignment of his own +country--for which he with many thousands of others, were risking their +lives. + + "Mammy, + these French people don't bother with no color line business. They + treat us so good that the only time I ever know I'm colored is when + I look in the glass." + +The 371st regiment had 123 men killed in action and about 600 wounded or +gassed. The casualties of the 372nd consisted of 91 killed in action and +between 600 and 700 wounded or gassed. Like the other Negro regiments of +the 93rd Division, there was comparatively little sickness among the +men, outside of that induced by hard service conditions. + + +HEROES OF THE 371ST AND 372ND. + +The names listed below are cross and medal winners. The exploits of some +are told in detail in the chapters devoted to their regiments. There are +many known to have received decorations whose names are not yet on the +records. + + Cross of the Legion of Honor + 372ND REGIMENT. + Major Johnson + + Medal Militaire + 372ND REGIMENT. + Corp. Depew Pryor + Corp. Clifton Morrison + Pvt. Clarence Van Allen + + Distinguished Service Cross + 371ST REGIMENT. + Sergt Lee R. McClelland + Corp. Sandy E. Jones + Pvt. Bruce Stoney + Pvt. Charlie Butler + Pvt. Willie Boston + Pvt. Tillman Webster + Pvt. Ellison Moses + Pvt. Hunius Diggs + + 372ND REGIMENT + Major Johnson + Sergt. Ira M. Payne + Corp. Depew Pryor + + Croix de Guerre + 372ND REGIMENT. + Col. Herschell Tupes + Major Johnson + Major Clark L. Dickson + Lieut. Jerome Meyer + Sergt. Major Samuel B. Webster + Sergt. John A. Johnson + Sergt. Ira M. Payne + Sergt James A. Marshall + Sergt. Norman Jones + Pvt. Warwick Alexander + Pvt. George H. Budd + Pvt. Thomas A. Frederick + Pvt. John S. Parks + Pvt. Charles H. Murphy + Pvt. William N. Mathew + Pvt. Ernest Payne + Sergt. Homer Crabtree + Sergt. Norman Winsmore + Sergt. William A. Carter + Sergt. George H. Jordan + Sergt. Bruce Meddows + Sergt. Harry Gibson + Corp. John R. White + Corp. Benjamin Butler + Corp. March Graham + Pvt. Joseph McKamey + Pvt. William Dickerson + Pvt. William Johnson + Pvt. Walter Dennis + Pvt. Charles E. Cross + Pvt. William H. Braxton + Pvt. Nunley Matthews + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +MID SHOT AND SHELL + + +IN TRENCH AND VALLEY--THE OPEN PLAIN--ON MOUNTAIN TOP--IN NO MAN'S +LAND--TWO CLASSES OF NEGRO SOLDIERS CONSIDERED--TRAINED GUARDSMEN AND +SELECTIVES--GALLANT 92ND DIVISION--RACE CAN BE PROUD OF IT--HAD SIX +HUNDRED NEGRO OFFICERS--SETS AT REST ALL DOUBTS--OPERATIONS OF THE +DIVISION--AT PONT A MOUSSON--GREAT BATTLE OF METZ--SOME +REFLECTIONS--CASUALTIES CONSIDERED + + +History, as made in France by the Negro soldier, falls naturally into +two divisions; that which was made by the bodies of troops which had an +organization prior to the war, and whether trained or not, could lay +claim to an understanding of the first principles of military science; +and that made by the raw selectives--the draft soldiers--to whom the art +of war was a closed book, something never considered as likely to affect +their scheme of life and never given more than a passing thought. + +We have followed the first phase of it in the wonderful combat-records +of the colored National Guard, its volunteers and recruits. We have seen +them like a stone wall bearing the brunt of attack from the finest shock +troops of the Kaiser's Army. We have seen them undaunted by shot and +shell, advancing through the most terrific artillery fire up to that +time ever concentrated; rout those same troops, hold their ground and +even advance under the most powerful counter attack which the enemy +could deliver. We have followed them from trench to plain, to valley and +into the mountains and read the story of their battles under all those +varying conditions. We have pitied them in their trials, sympathized +with their wounded and ill, been saddened by their lists of dead and +finally have seen the survivors come home; have seen them cheered and +feted as no men of their race ever were cheered and feted before. + +Much of the nation's pride in them was due to the fact that it knew them +as fighting men; at least as men who were organized for fighting +purposes before the war. When they marched away and sailed we had +confidence in them; were proud of their appearance, their spirit, their +willingness to serve. The country felt they would not fail to clothe +with luster their race and maintain the expectations of them. That they +fulfilled every expectation and more; had come back loaded with honors; +finer, manlier men than ever, increased the nation's pride in them. + +Now we come to a contemplation of the other class; the men who knew +nothing of military life or military matters; who, most of them, wished +to serve but never dreamed of getting the opportunity. Many of them +employed in the cotton fields or residing in the remote corners of the +country, hardly knew there was a war in progress. Some of them realized +that events out of the ordinary were transpiring through the suddenly +increased demand for their labor and the higher wages offered them. But +that Uncle Sam would ever call them to serve in his army and even to go +far across seas to a shadowy--to them, far off land, among a strange +people; speaking a strange language, had never occurred to most of them +even in dreams. + +Then all of a sudden came the draft summons. The call soon penetrated to +the farthest nooks of our great land; surprised, bewildered but happy, +the black legions began to form. + +It already has been noted that with the exception of the 371st regiment, +which went to the 93rd Division, the selectives who saw service in the +fighting areas, were all in the 92nd Division. This was a complete +American division, brigaded with its own army, commanded through the +greater part of its service by Major General Ballou and towards the end +by Major General Martin. + +While the 92nd Division as a whole, did not get into the heavy fighting +until the last two weeks of the war, individual units had a taste of it +earlier. Service which the division as a whole did see, was some of the +most severe of the war. The Negroes of the country may well be proud of +the organization, for its record was good all the way through and in the +heavy fighting was characterized by great gallantry and efficiency. + +One of the outstanding features of the division was the fact that it had +about six hundred Negro commissioned officers. Its rank and file of +course, was composed exclusively of Negro soldiers. The fine record of +the division must forever set at rest any doubts concerning the ability +of Negro officers, and any questions about Negro soldiers following and +fighting under them. It was a splendid record all the way through, and +Negro officers rendered excellent service at all times and under the +most trying circumstances. Many of these officers, be it understood, +were entirely new to military life. Some had seen service in the +National Guard and some had come up from the ranks of the Regular Army, +but the majority of them were men taken from civilian life and trained +and graduated from the officer's training camps at Fort Des Moines, Camp +Taylor, Camp Hancock and Camp Pike. A few received commissions from the +officers' training schools in France. + +The 92nd Division was composed of the 183rd Infantry Brigade, consisting +of the 365th and 366th Infantry Regiments and the 350th Machine Gun +Battalion; the 184th Infantry Brigade, composed of the 367th and 368th +Infantry Regiments and the 351st Machine Gun Battalion; the 167th +Artillery Brigade consisting of the 349th, 350th and 351st Artillery +Regiments; and the 349th Machine Gun Battalion, the 317th Trench Mortar +Battalion, the 317th Engineers' Regiment, the 317th Engineers' Train, +the 317th Ammunition Train, the 317th Supply Train, the 317th Train +Headquarters, the 92nd Military Police Company; and the Sanitary Train, +comprising the 365th, 366th 367th and 368th Field Hospital and Ambulance +Companies. + +Briefly summarized, the operations of the 92nd Division may be stated +as follows: Arrived in France the summer of 1918. After the usual period +of intensive training in the back areas it was divided into several +groups for training alongside the French in front line trenches. + +In August they took over a sector in the St. Die region near the +Lorraine border. September 2nd they repulsed an enemy raid at +LaFontenelle. On September 26th the division was a reserve of the First +Army Corps in the first phase of the Meuse-Argonne offensive. + +On October 10th they moved to the Marbache sector in the vicinity of +Pont a Mousson. November 10th they advanced, reaching Bois Frehaut and +Bois Cheminot, capturing 710 prisoners. These positions were being +consolidated on November 11th when the armistice put an end to the +fighting. Of course there was fighting by some units of the division +from the time early in the summer when they went into the trenches. + +When the Marbache sector was taken over by the 92nd Division, "No Man's +Land" was owned by the Germans and they were aggressively on the +offensive. They held Belie Farm, Bois de Tete D'Or, Bois Frehaut, +Voivrotte Farm, Voivrotte Woods, Bois Cheminot and Moulin Brook. Raids +and the aggressiveness of the patrols of the 92nd Division changed the +complexion of things speedily. They inflicted many casualties on the +Germans and took many prisoners. + +Each of the places named above was raided by the doughty black men as +was also Epley, while their patrols penetrated north nearly to the east +and west line through Pagny. The Germans were driven north beyond +Frehaut and Voivrotte to Cheminot bridge. In their desperation they +tried to check the Americans by an attempt to destroy the bridge over +the Seille river. They succeeded in flooding a portion of the adjacent +country; these tactics demonstrating that they could not withstand the +Negro soldiers. West of the Seille river excellent results followed the +energetic offensive, the Germans losing heavily in killed, wounded and +prisoners. In nearly every instance the raids were conducted by Negro +line officers. + +Up to this time the division as a whole, had never been in a major +battle. The only regiment in it that had seen a big engagement was the +368th infantry, which took part in the action in the Argonne Forest in +September. + +The division's chance came in the great drive on Metz, just before the +end of the war. They were notified at 4 o'clock Sunday morning, November +10th. The motto "See it through" of the 367th infantry, known as the +"Buffaloes," echoed through the whole division. + +They began their advance at 7 o'clock from Pont a Mousson. Before them +was a valley commanded by the heavy guns of Metz and by innumerable +nests of German machine guns. The Negroes seemed to realize that here +for the first time was the opportunity to show their mettle--that for +the first time they were going to battle as a division. A sense of race +pride seemed to stir and actuate every man. Here was a chance to show +what this great body, composed of cotton-field Negroes, of stevedores, +mechanics, general laborers, trades, professional men and those from all +walks of civilian life who but recently had taken up the profession of +arms, could do. An opportunity to enact a mighty role was upon them, and +they played it well. + +Not only were the black infantry and machine gun units up at the front; +in the thickest of it, but the artillery--the 167th Brigade--was on the +line behaving like veterans. They laid down a barrage for the infantry +that was wonderfully effective. They established a reputation which has +been made by but few, among French, British or Americans, of laying down +a barrage that did not entrap; and fatally so, their own comrades. + +It was a glorious day for the division. The casualty roll was heavy for +the sector was strongly fortified and the enemy made a most determined +resistance. Metz is considered by experts to be the strongest fortified +inland city in the world. + +Indeed it is almost as strong, if not quite so, as Gibraltar or the +Dardanelles. But from the way the Americans hammered at it, military +authorities say that only the signing of the armistice prevented the +taking of it by assault. As it was, the close of fighting saw Negro +troops on German soil. + +The fortitude and valor of the Negroes, especially in the action against +Metz, won them high praise from their commanding officers. Entire units +were decorated by the French with the Croix de Guerre. Fourteen Negro +officers and forty-three enlisted men were cited for bravery in action +and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Pershing. This is +a splendid showing considering that up to November 10th, 1918, the +greater portion of the division had to content itself with making daily +and nightly raids on the German front line trenches to harass the foe +and capture prisoners. This, however, required daring and courage and, +in some ways, was more trying and dangerous than being in a big +engagement. A total of 57 citations by the American military +authorities, besides honors bestowed by the French, is a splendid +showing for a division which won most of its honors during its first +great baptism of fire. + +The casualties of the 92nd Division amounted to an aggregate of 1,511 of +all kinds. Six officers were killed in action and one died from wounds. +Among the non-commissioned officers and privates 103 were killed in +action, 50 died from wounds, 47 were missing in action and five were +taken prisoner. Forty enlisted men died from disease. Sixteen officers +and 543 enlisted men were wounded; thirty-nine officers and 661 enlisted +men were gassed. The number of gassed was unusually large, a reason +being, perhaps, that the men in the front line trenches were +exceptionally daring in making raids into the enemy's territory. One of +the main reliances of the Germans against these raids was poison gas, a +plentiful supply of which they kept on hand at all times, and which they +could utilize quickly and with great facility. + +The small number in this division who were taken prisoner by the enemy +verifies the assertion made before that the Negro would sacrifice his +life or submit to deadly wounds rather than be captured. When only five +out of a total of about 30,000 fell into the Germans' hands alive, it +gives some idea of the desperate resistance they put up. Perhaps the +stories they had heard about the wanton slaughter of prisoners by the +Hun or the brutalities practiced on those who were permitted to live, +had something to do with the attitude of the Negroes against being +captured; but a more likely solution is that their very spirit to +advance and win and to accept death in preference to being conquered, +caused the small number in the prisoner list, and the large number in +the lists of other casualties. + +Considering the desperate advance made by the 92nd Division from Pont a +Mousson the morning of November 10th, through a valley swept by the +tremendous guns of Metz and thousands of machine guns, the casualty list +really is slight. + +Advancing over such dangerous ground to gain their objective, it appears +miraculous that the division was not wiped out, or at least did not +suffer more heavily than it did. An explanation of this seeming miracle +has been offered in the rapidity of the advance. + +No two battles are ever fought alike. Offensives and defensives will be +planned along certain lines. Then will suddenly obtrude the element of +surprise or something that could not be foreseen or guarded against, +which will overturn the most carefully prepared plans. + +No soldiers in the world were ever trained to a higher degree of +efficiency than the Germans. Mathematical precision ruled everywhere; +the ultimate detail had been considered; and all students of military +matters were forced to admit that they had reduced warfare seemingly, to +an exact science. But it was a mistake. The Germans were the victims of +surprise times innumerable. Some of the greatest events of the war, +notably the first defeat at the Marne in its strategic features, was a +complete surprise to them. + +Everything about war, can, it seems, be reduced to a science except +strategy. Certain rules can be laid down governing strategy, but they do +not always work. Generally speaking, it is psychology; something which +exists in the other man's mind. To read the other man's mind or make a +good guess at it, defeats the most scientifically conceived strategy. +Napoleon outwitted the best military brains and was himself the greatest +strategist of his time, because he invariably departed from fixed +military customs and kept his opponent entirely at sea regarding what he +was doing or intended to do. Very seldom did he do the thing which his +enemy thought he would do; which seemed most likely and proper according +to military science. He thought and acted quickly in crises, relied +constantly on the element of surprise and invented new strategy on the +spur of the moment. + +It was the big new strategy, the big new surprises, with which the +Germans found themselves unable to cope. The strategy of Foch which +developed in the offensive shortly after the battle of Chateau Thierry +in July and was well under way in the early part of August, was a +surprise to the Germans. Pershing surprised them in his St. Mihiel and +following operations, especially the battles of Argonne Forest, and had +a greater surprise in store for them in the Lorraine campaign had the +war continued. + +Perhaps the Germans figured at Metz, that owing to the extreme +difficulty of the ground to be covered, their strong fortifications and +great gun power, any advance, especially of Negro troops, would be slow. +They accordingly timed their artillery action and their defensive +measures for a slow assault. + +But they were surprised again. Officers could not hold back the Negro +fighters and German guns and soldiers could not stop them. They plunged +on to Preny and Pagny, and they rushed into the Bois Frehaut, and held +for thirty-six hours, this place from which picked Moroccan and +Senegalese troops were forced to retreat in ten minutes after they had +entered it. The Bois Frehaut was an inferno under the murderous fire of +the Germans. Holding it for thirty-six hours and remaining there until +hostilities ceased, it is surprising that the casualty list of the 92nd +Division did not amount to many times 1,511. + +It is not intended to convey the impression that the Negroes were +entirely responsible for the victory before Metz. Many thousands of +white troops participated and fought just as valiantly. But this History +concerns itself with the operations of Negro soldiers and with bringing +out as many of the details of those operations as the records at this +time will supply. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE LONG, LONG TRAIL + + +OPERATIONS OF 368TH INFANTRY--NEGROES FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MARYLAND AND +SOUTH--IN ARGONNE HELL--DEFEAT IRON CROSS VETERANS--VALIANT PERSONAL +EXPLOITS--LIEUTENANT ROBERT CAMPBELL--PRIVATE JOHN BAKER--OPERATIONS OF +367TH INFANTRY--"MOSS'S BUFFALOES"--365TH AND 366TH REGIMENTS--THE GREAT +DIVIDE--THEIR SOULS ARE MARCHING ON--PRAISED BY PERSHING--SOME CITATIONS + + +When the history of the 92nd Division is written in detail, much +prominence will necessarily be given to the operations of the 368th +Infantry. This unit was composed of Negroes mostly from Pennsylvania, +Maryland and the Southern states. They went abroad happy, light-hearted +boys to whom any enterprise outside of their regular routine was an +adventure. They received adventure a plenty; enough to last most of them +for their natural lives. They returned matured, grim-visaged men who had +formed a companionship and a comradeship with death. For months they +were accustomed to look daily down the long, long trail leading to the +Great Divide. They left behind many who traveled the trail and went over +the Divide. Peril was their constant attendant, danger so familiar that +they greeted it with a smile. + +It has been noted that this unit of the division saw real service prior +to the campaign leading from Pont Mousson to Metz. Their first action +was in August in the Vosges sector. This was largely day and night +raiding from front line trenches. A month later they were in that bit of +hell known as the Argonne Forest, where on September 26th, they covered +themselves with glory. + +They were excellent soldiers with a large number of Negro officers, +principally men who had been promoted from the ranks of non-commissioned +officers in the Regular Army. + +Their commander during the last six weeks of the war, the time when they +saw most of their hard service, was Lieutenant Colonel T.A. Rothwell, a +Regular Army officer. He went abroad as commander of a machine gun +battalion in the 80th Division, later was transferred to the 367th +infantry and finally to the 368th. Many of the officers of the latter +organization had served under Colonel Rothwell as non-commissioned +officers of the Regular Army. He paid them a high tribute in stating +that they proved themselves excellent disciplinarians and leaders. He +was also very proud of the enlisted men of the regiment. + + "The Negroes proved themselves especially good soldiers during gas + attacks," said Colonel Rothwell, "which were numerous and of a very + treacherous nature. During the wet weather the gas would remain + close to the ground and settle, where it was comparatively + harmless, but with the breaking out of the sun it would rise in + clouds suddenly and play havoc with the troops." + +Green troops as they were, it is related that there was a little +confusion on the occasion of their first battle, when the regiment +encountered barbed wire entanglements for the first time at a place in +the woods where the Germans had brought their crack gunners to keep the +line. But there was no cowardice and the confusion soon subsided. They +quickly got used to the wire, cut their way through and cleaned out the +gunners in record time. + +Every one of the enemy picked up in that section of the woods was +wearing an iron cross; the equivalent of the French Croix de Guerre or +the American Distinguished Service Cross. It showed that they belonged +to the flower of the Kaiser's forces. But they were no match for the +"Black Devils," a favorite name of the Germans for all Negro troops, and +applied by them with particular emphasis to these troops and others of +the 92nd Division. + +On October 10th, the regiment went to Metz and took part in all the +operations leading up to that campaign and the close of the war. In the +Argonne, before Metz and elsewhere, they were subjected constantly to +gas warfare. They behaved remarkably well under those attacks. + +Major Benjamin P. Morris, who commanded the Third Battalion, has stated +that in the drive which started September 26th, he lost nearly 25 per +cent of his men through wounding or gassing. The battalion won eight +Distinguished Service Crosses in that attack and the Major was +recommended for one of the coveted decorations. + +The regiment lost forty-four men killed in action, thirteen died from +wounds and eight were missing in action. The list of wounded and gassed +ran over three hundred. + +Individual exploits were quite numerous and were valiant in the extreme. +Here is an instance: + +It became necessary to send a runner with a message to the left flank of +the American firing line. The way was across an open field offering no +covering or protection of any kind, and swept by heavy enemy machine gun +fire. + +Volunteers were called for. A volunteer under such circumstances must be +absolutely fearless. The slightest streak of timidity or cowardice would +keep a man from offering his services. Private Edward Saunders of +Company I, responded for the duty. Before he had gone far a shell cut +him down. As he fell he cried to his comrades: + +"Someone come and get this message. I am wounded." + +Lieutenant Robert L. Campbell, a Negro officer of the same company +sprang to the rescue. He dashed across the shell-swept space, picked up +the wounded private, and, with the Germans fairly hailing bullets around +him, carried his man back to the lines. There was the case of an officer +who considered it more important to save the life of a heroic, valuable +soldier than to speed a message. Besides the wounded man could proceed +no farther and there were other ways of getting the message through and +it was sent. + +[Illustration: WOUNDED NEGRO SOLDIERS CONVALESCING IN BASE HOSPITAL. IN +THE PICTURE ARE TWO COLORED WOMEN AMBULANCE DRIVERS.] + +[Illustration: SAMPLE OF IDENTITY CARD CARRIED BY SOLDIERS OF THE +AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES. EACH IDENTIFICATION WAS PRINTED IN +ENGLISH AND FRENCH AND INCLUDED A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE OWNER. THE NUMBER ON +THE CARD CORRESPONDING WITH A METAL TAG ON THE MAN'S ARM.] + +[Illustration: NEGRO OFFICERS OF 366TH INFANTRY WHO ACHIEVED +DISTINCTION IN FRANCE. LEFT TO RIGHT. LIEUT C.L. ABBOTT, CAPT. JOS. L. +LOWE, LIEUT. A.R. FISHER, CAPT. E. WHITE.] + +[Illustration: DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS OF THE 6TH ILLINOIS (370TH +INFANTRY). FIRST ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT, CAPT. D.J. WARNER, A.H. JONES. +LIEUT. E.G. WHITE, LIEUT. J.D. RAINEY, LIEUT. BERNARD McGWIN. SECOND +ROW--LIEUT. LUTHER J. HARRIS, LIEUT. ALVIN M. JORDAN, LIEUT. E.L. +GOODLETT, LIEUT. J.T. BAKER. THIRD ROW, LIEUT. F.J. JOHNSON, LIEUT. +JEROME L. HUBERT.] + +[Illustration: DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS OF 8TH ILLINOIS (370TH INFANTRY). +LEFT TO RIGHT, LIEUT. LAWSON PRICE, LIEUT. O.A. BROWNING, LIEUT. W. +STEARLES, CAPT. LEWIS E. JOHNSON, LIEUT. EDMOND G. WHITE, LIEUT. F.W. +BATES, LIEUT. E.F.E. WILLIAMS, LIEUT. BINGA DISMOND.] + + [Illustration: COLONEL CHARLES YOUNG, RANKING NEGRO OFFICER OF THE +REGULAR ARMY. ONE OF THREE WHO HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED FROM THE UNITED +STATES MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT. A VETERAN OFFICER OF THE +SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR AND WESTERN CAMPAIGNS. DETAILED TO ACTIVE SERVICE, +CAMP GRANT, ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS. DURING THE WORLD WAR.] + +[Illustration: TWO NOTED PARTISANS OF THE ALLIES IN THE GREAT WORLD +WAR: MRS. J.H.H. SENGSTACKE, AND HER FAMOUS SON, ROBERT SENGSTACKE +ABBOTT, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF THE CHICAGO DEFENDER. IT WAS MRS. +SENGSTACKE WHO, WHEN THE DEFENDER HAD REACHED THE ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND +MARK OF ITS CIRCULATION, STARTED THE PRESS THAT RAN OFF THE EDITION, +FLAMING WITH CHEER AN INSPIRATION FOR "OUR BOYS" IN THE TRENCHES "OVER +THERE."] + +[Illustration: REUNITED AND HAPPY. LIEUT. COLONEL OTIS B. DUNCAN OF 8TH +ILLINOIS (370TH INFANTRY), WHO CAME OUT OF THE WAR THE RANKING NEGRO IN +THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES; HIS FATHER AND MOTHER.] + +[Illustration: MISS VIVIAN HARSH, MEMBER CHICAGO CHAPTER OF CANTEEN +WORKERS, PASSING OUT SMOKES TO RETURNED SOLDIERS OF 8TH ILLINOIS (370TH +INFANTRY).] + +[Illustration: OFFICERS OF 8TH ILLINOIS (370TH INFANTRY). DECORATED BY +FRENCH FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION. LEFT TO RIGHT. LIEUT. THOMAS A. PAINTER, +CAPT. STEWART ALEXANDER, LIEUT. FRANK ROBINSON.] + +For the valor shown both were cited for the Distinguished Service +Cross. Lieutenant Campbell's superiors also took the view that in that +particular instance the life of a brave soldier was of more importance +than the dispatch of a message, for as a result, he was recommended for +a captaincy. + +Another single detail taken from the same Company I: + +John Baker, having volunteered, was taking a message through heavy shell +fire to another part of the line. A shell struck his hand, tearing away +part of it, but the Negro unfalteringly went through with the message. + +He was asked why he did not seek aid for his wounds before completing +the journey. His reply was: + + "I thought that the message might contain information that would + save lives." + +Has anything more heroic and unselfish than that ever been recorded? +Nature may have, in the opinions of some, been unkind to that man when +she gave him a dark skin, but he bore within it a soul, than which there +are none whiter; reflecting the spirit of his Creator, that should prove +a beacon light to all men on earth, and which will shine forever as a +"gem of purest ray serene" in the Unmeasurable and great Beyond. + +Under the same Lieut. Robert Campbell, a few colored soldiers armed only +with their rifles, trench knives, and hand grenades, picked up from +shell holes along the way, were moving over a road in the Chateau +Thierry sector. Suddenly their course was crossed by the firing of a +German machine gun. They tried to locate it by the sound and direction +of the bullets, but could not. To their right a little ahead, lay a +space covered with thick underbrush; just back of it was an open field. +Lieutenant Campbell who knew by the direction of the bullets that his +party had not been seen by the Germans, ordered one of his men with a +rope which they happened to have, to crawl to the thick underbrush and +tie the rope to several stems of the brush; then to withdraw as fast as +possible and pull the rope making the brush shake as though men were +crawling through it. The purpose was to draw direct fire from the +machine gun, and by watching, locate its position. + +The ruse worked. Lieutenant Campbell then ordered three of his men to +steal out and flank the machine gun on one side, while he and two others +moved up and flanked it on the other side. + +The brush was shaken more violently by the concealed rope. The Germans, +their eyes focused on the brush, poured a hail of bullets into it. +Lieutenant Campbell gave the signal and the flanking party dashed up; +with their hand grenades they killed four of the Boches and captured the +remaining three--also the machine gun. There was an officer who could +think and plan in an emergency, and evolve strategy like a Napoleon. + +First Lieutenant Edward Jones, of the Medical Corps of the regiment, was +cited for heroism at Binarville. On September 27th Lieutenant Jones went +into an open area subjected to direct machine gun fire to care for a +wounded soldier who was being carried by another officer. While dressing +the wounded man, a machine gun bullet passed between his arms and body +and a man was killed within a few yards of him. + +In a General Order issued by the commander of the division, General +Martin, Second Lieutenant Nathan O. Goodloe, one of the Negro officers +of the regimental Machine Gun Company, was commended for excellent work +and meritorious conduct. During the operations in the Argonne forest, +Lieutenant Goodloe was attached to the Third Battalion. In the course of +action it became necessary to reorganize the battalion and withdraw part +of it to a secondary position. He carried out the movement under a +continual machine gun fire from the enemy. General Martin said: +"Lieutenant Goodloe's calm courage set an example that inspired +confidence in his men." + +General Martin also cited for meritorious conduct near Vienne le +Chateau, Tom Brown, a wagoner, who as driver of an ammunition wagon, +displayed remarkable courage, coolness and devotion to duty under fire. +Brown's horses had been hurled into a ditch by shells and he was +injured. In spite of his painful wounds he worked until he had +extricated his horses from the ditch, refusing to quit until he had +completed the work even though covered with blood from his hurts. + +Private Joseph James of the 368th, received the Distinguished Service +Cross for extraordinary heroism in action, September 27th, in the +Argonne forest. + +A regiment of the 92nd Division which gained distinction, received its +share of decorations and was mentioned several times in General Orders +from the high officers, was the 367th Infantry, "Moss's Buffaloes." This +title was attached to them while they were undergoing training at +Yaphank, N.Y., under Colonel James A. Moss of the Regular Army. It stuck +to the outfit all through the war and became a proud title, a synonym of +courage and fighting strength. + +The 367th went to France in June 1918 and spent two months training back +of the lines. It was sent to supporting trenches August 20th and finally +to the front line at St. Die, near Lorraine border. It remained there +until September 21st and was then transferred to the St. Mihiel salient +where Pershing delivered his famous blow, the one that is said to have +broken the German heart. It was at any rate, a blow that demonstrated +the effectiveness of the American fighting forces. In a few days the +overseas commander of the Yankee troops conquered a salient which the +enemy had held for three years and which was one of the most menacing +positions of the entire line. + +On October 9th, the regiment was sent to the left bank of the Moselle, +where it remained until the signing of the armistice. + +Colonel Moss was taken from combatant duty early in October to become an +instructor at the training school at Gondrecourt, the regiment passing +under the command of Colonel W.J. Doane. + +Composed of selectives mostly from the state of New York, the regiment +was trained with a view to developing good assault and shock troops, +which they were. + +Casualties of all descriptions in the 367th, amounted to about ten per +cent of the regimental strength. A number of decorations for personal +bravery were bestowed, and the regiment as a whole was cited and praised +by General Pershing in his review of the 92nd Division at Le Mans. + +The entire First Battalion of the 367th, was cited for bravery and +awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French. The citation was made by the +French Commission because of the splendid service and bravery shown by +the regiment in the last engagement of the war, Sunday and Monday, +November 10th and 11th in the drive to Metz. The men went into action +through the bloody valley commanded by the heavy guns of Metz, and held +the Germans at bay until the 56th regiment could retreat, but not until +it had suffered a heavy loss. The First Battalion was commanded by Major +Charles L. Appleton of New York, with company commanders and +lieutenants, Negroes. + +Another distinguished component of the 92nd Division was the 365th +Infantry made up of selectives principally from Chicago and other parts +of Illinois. This regiment saw about the same service as the 367th, +perhaps a little more severe, as the casualties were greater. In the +action at Bois Frehaut in the drive on Metz, the 365th lost forty-three +men killed in action and dead from wounds. In addition there were +thirty-two missing in action, most of whom were killed or succumbed to +wounds. About 200 were wounded or gassed. + +In General Orders, issued by the commander of the division, a number of +Negro officers, non-commissioned officers and privates of the 365th were +commended for meritorious conduct in the actions of November 10th and +11th. Those named were; Captain John H. Allen, First Lieutenants Leon F. +Stewart, Frank L. Drye, Walter Lyons, David W. Harris, and Benjamin F. +Ford; Second Lieutenants George L. Games and Russell C. Atkins; +Sergeants Richard W. White John Simpson, Robert Townsend, Solomon D. +Colson, Ransom Elliott and Charles Jackson; Corporals Thomas B. +Coleman, Albert Taylor, Charles Reed and James Conley, and Privates Earl +Swanson, Jesse Cole, James Hill, Charles White and George Chaney. + +Captain Allen of the Machine Gun Company of the 365th, died in France of +pneumonia. Only a short time before his death he had been awarded the +Distinguished Service Cross by General Pershing, for exceptional +gallantry before Metz. + +Private Robert M. Breckenridge of Company B, 365th regiment, also gave +his life in France, but had received the Distinguished Service Cross for +extraordinary heroism in action at Ferme de Belwir, October 29th, 1918. + +Corporal Russell Pollard of Company H received his Distinguished Service +Cross shortly before his return home. He was cited for extraordinary +heroism in action in the first days battle at Metz. + +The remaining infantry regiment of the Division not heretofore specially +mentioned, was the 366th, a highly efficient organization of selectives +assembled from the mobilization and training camps of various sections +of the country. Like the other regiments of the division, the greater +number of these men were assembled in the autumn of 1917, trained +continuously in this country until the early part of the summer of 1918, +sent to France and given at least two months' intensive training there. +During the training periods their instructors were mostly officers from +the Regular Army or the military instruction schools of this country and +France. Some English officers also assisted in the training. That they +possessed the requisite intelligence for absorbing the instruction they +received is evidenced by the high type of soldier into which they +developed, their records in battle, and the unstinted praise which they +received from their superior officers, the French commanders and others +who witnessed or were familiar with their service. + +The 366th went through the campaign in the Marbache sector and suffered +all its rigors and perils. In the final two days of fighting they were +right at the front and achieved distinction to the extent that in the +review at Le Mans they also were singled out by General Pershing for +special commendation. During the campaign the regiment had a loss of +forty-three men killed in action or died of wounds. Seven men were +missing in action. The wounded and gassed were upwards of 200. + +In General Orders issued by the commander of the division, First +Lieutenant John Q. Lindsey was cited for bravery displayed at Lesseux; +Sergeant Isaac Hill for bravery displayed at Frapelle and Sergeant +Walter L. Gross for distinguished service near Hominville. These men +were all colored and all of the 366th regiment. + +Wherever men were cited in General Orders or otherwise, it generally +followed that they received the Distinguished Service Cross or some +other coveted honor. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +GLORY THAT WONT COME OFF + + +167TH FIRST NEGRO ARTILLERY BRIGADE--"LIKE VETERANS" SAID PERSHING--FIRST +ARTILLERY TO BE MOTORIZED--RECORD BY DATES--SELECTED FOR LORRAINE +CAMPAIGN--BEST EDUCATED NEGROES IN AMERICAN FORCES--ALWAYS STOOD BY THEIR +GUNS--CHAPLAIN'S ESTIMATE--LEFT SPLENDID IMPRESSION--TESTIMONY OF FRENCH +MAYORS--CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR--SOLDIERLY QUALITIES. + + +To the 92nd Division belonged the distinction of having the first +artillery brigade composed entirely of Negroes, with the exception of a +few commissioned officers, ever organized in this country. In fact, the +regiments composing the brigade, the 349th, the 350th and 351st were the +first complete artillery regiments of Negroes and the only important +Negro organizations in the artillery branch of the service, ever formed +in this country. + +Their record was remarkable considering the brief time in which they had +to distinguish themselves, and had the war continued, they would surely +have gained added glory; General Pershing in the review at Le Mans +complimenting them particularly, stating that when the armistice came he +was planning important work for them. Following are the general's words +which brought much pride to the organization: + + "Permit me to extend to the officers and men of the 167th Field + Artillery Brigade, especially the 351st regiment, my + congratulations for the excellent manner in which they conducted + themselves during the twelve days they were on the front. The work + of the unit was so meritorious that after the accomplishments of + the brigade were brought to my attention I was preparing to assign + the unit to very important work in the second offensive. You men + acted like veterans, never failing to reach your objective, once + orders had been given you. I wish to thank you for your work." + +The unit was organized largely from men of Western Pennsylvania, the +District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Camp Meade, near +Washington, D.C., was their principal training point from the fall of +1917 until June, 1918, when they went abroad. + +To the brigade belongs the additional distinction of being the first in +the service to be motorized. Tractors hauled the big guns along the +front at a rate of twelve miles an hour, much better than could have +been done with horses or mules. + +Brigadier General W.E. Cole commanded the unit until about the middle of +September, 1918, when he was elevated to a major generalship and the +command of the 167th passed to Brigadier General John H. Sherburne. In a +General Order issued by the latter shortly before he left the unit, he +said: + + "I will ever cherish the words of the Commander in Chief, the + compliment he paid, in all sincerity to this brigade, when he + watched it pass in review. I wish the brigade to understand that + those words of appreciation were evoked only because each man had + worked conscientiously and unflaggingly to make the organization a + success. The men went into the line in a manner to win the praise + of all." + +The history of the brigade from the time it left Camp Meade until the +end of the war may be summarized as follows: + +June 27--Disembarked from ship at Brest, France. + +July 2--Started for the training area, reaching there July 4. + +July 5--Began a period of six weeks training at Lathus in the +Montmorillion section. + +August 20--Went to La Courtine and remained until September 16th, +practicing at target range. Its gun squads excelled in target work and +the brigade, especially the 351st regiment, won distinction there. + +October 4--Finished training at La Courtine and moved into a sector +directly in front of Metz, where about three weeks were spent in +obtaining the tractors and motor vehicles necessary for a completely +motorized artillery outfit. + +October 25--Preparing for action. The enemy had noted the great +movement of troops in the vicinity and German planes constantly hovered +over the unit dropping missiles of death upon it. + +The brigade supported the infantry of the division in its attacks on +Eply, Cheminot, Bouxieres, Bois Frehaut, Bois La Cote, Champey, +Vandieres, Pagny and Moulin Farm. Attacks of more than mediocre +importance were: Pagny, November 4 and 5; Cheminot, November 6, Epley, +November 7; Bois Frehaut, November 10; Bois La Cote and Champey, +November 11. + +In addition to those attacks certain machine gun nests of the enemy were +destroyed and strategic points were bombarded. During the entire advance +the batteries of the brigade were in front positions and very active. +The attack on Bois La Cote and Champey began at 4:30 in the morning and +ended just fifteen minutes before the beginning of the armistice. During +the engagement the batteries kept up such a constant fire that the guns +were almost white with heat. + +Private Carl E. Southall of 2538 Elba street, Pittsburgh, Pa., claims to +have fired the brigade's last shot. He was a member of Battery D, 351st +regiment. When the watch showed the last minute of the war, he jumped +forward, got to the gun ahead of his comrades and fired. + +Had the war continued the artillery brigade would have taken part in the +offensive which was to have begun after November 11 with twenty French +and six American divisions investing Metz and pushing east through +Lorraine. + +The history of one regiment in the artillery outfit is practically the +same as another, with the exception that the 351st seems to have had the +most conspicuous service. This unit of the brigade was commanded by +Colonel Wade H. Carpenter, a West Pointer. + +Owing to the technical requirements, a thorough knowledge of mathematics +especially being necessary before one can become a good non-commissioned +or commissioned officer of artillery, this branch of the service appeals +to men of schooling. It has been claimed that the 351st regiment +contained the best educated group of Negroes in the American forces; +most of them being college or high school men. They were praised highly +by their officers, especially by Colonel Carpenter: + + "When the regiment trained at Camp Meade," he said, "the men showed + the best desire, to make good soldiers. In France they outdid their + own expectations and shed glory for all. + + "We didn't get into action until October 28th, but after that we + kept at the Germans until the last day. + + "The men of the 351st were so anxious to get into service that + before they were ordered to the front they found it difficult to + restrain their impatience at being held back. However, their long + training in France did them a lot of good, the experience of being + taught by veteran Americans and Frenchmen proving of great value + when it came to actual battle. + + "They never flinched under fire, always stood by their guns and + made the famous 155 millimeter French guns, with which we were + equipped, fairly smoke. + + "I have been a regular army man for many years, and have always + been in command of white troops. Let me say to you that never have + I commanded a more capable, courageous and intelligent regiment + than this. It would give me the greatest pleasure to continue my + army career in command of this regiment of Negroes. + + "Not only was their morale splendid but they were especially ready + to accept discipline. They idolized their officers and would have + followed them through hell if necessary. + + "Fortunately, though many were wounded by shrapnel and a number + made ill by gas fumes, we suffered no casualties in the slain + column. About twenty-five died of sickness and accidents, but we + lost none in action. + + "When the armistice came our hits were making such tremendous + scores against the enemy that prisoners taken by the Americans + declared the destruction wrought by the guns was terrific. On the + last day and in the last hour of the war our guns fairly beat a + rat-a-tat on the enemy positions. We let them have it while we + could." + +Lieutenant E.A. Wolfolk, of Washington, D.C., chaplain of the regiment, +said: + + "The morale and morals of the men were splendid. Disease of the + serious type was unknown. The men were careful to keep within + bounds. They gave their officers no trouble, and each man strove to + keep up the high standard expected of him. From the time we reached + France in June, 1918, until the time we quit that country we worked + hard to maintain a clean record and we certainly succeeded." + +At the Moselle river, Pont a Mousson and Madieres, the regiment first +saw action. The first and second battalions went into action immediately +in the vicinity of St. Genevieve and Alton. The third battalion crossed +the river and went into action in the vicinity of Pont a Mousson. That +was on October 31st. The balance of the regiment's service corresponds +to that of the brigade, already mentioned. + +As already gleaned from the reports of generals, regimental officers and +the testimony of the chaplain of the 351st, the artillery boys created a +good impression and left behind them a clean record everywhere. It has +remained for the officers of the 349th regiment to preserve this in +additional documentary form in the shape of regimental orders and +letters from the mayors of French towns in which the regiment stopped or +was billeted. The following are some of the bulletins and letters: + + Headquarters 349th Field + Artillery, American Expeditionary + Forces, France, A.P.O. 722, + September 6, 1918. + The following letter having been received, is published +for the information of the regiment, and will be read at retreat +Saturday, September 7, 1918. By order of + COLONEL MOORE. + JOSEPH H. McNALLY, Captain and Adjutant. + FRENCH REPUBLIC + Town Hall of Montmorillion + (Vienne) + Montmorillion, August 12, 1918. +Dear Colonel: + At the occasion of your departure permit me to express +to you my regrets and those of the whole population. + From the very day of its arrival your regiment, by its +behavior and its military appearance, it excited the +admiration of all of us. + Of the sojourn of yourself and your colored soldiers +among us we will keep the best memory and remember your +regiment as a picked one. + From the beginning a real brotherhood was established +between your soldiers and our people, who were glad to +welcome the gallant allies of France. + Having learned to know them, the whole population +holds them in great esteem, and we all join in saying the +best of them. + I hope that the white troops replacing your regiment +will give us equal satisfaction; but whatever their attitude +may be, they cannot surpass your 349th Field Artillery. +Please accept the assurance of my best and most +distinguished feelings. + G. DE FONT-REAULX, + Assistant Mayor. + Headquarters 349th Field + Artillery, American Expeditionary + Forces, France, A.P.O. 766, + January 25, 1919. + The following letter having been received is published +for the information of the regiment. By order of + COLONEL O'NEIL. +GEORGE B. COMPTON, Captain and Adjutant. + MAIRIE DE DOMFRONT + (Orne) + Domfront, January 22, 1919. + The mayor of the town of Domfront has the very great +pleasure to state and declare that the 349th regiment of +the 167th Field Artillery Brigade, has been billeted at +Domfront from the 28th of December, 1918, to the 22nd of +January, 1919, and that during this period the officers +as well as the men have won the esteem and sympathy of all +the population. + The black officers as well as the white officers have +made here many friends, and go away leaving behind them the +best remembrances. As to the private soldiers, their behavior +during the whole time has been above all praise. + It is the duty of the mayor of Domfront to bid the +general, officers and men a last farewell, and to express to +all his thanks and gratitude for their friendly intercourse +with the civilian population. + F. BERLIN, Mayor. + +After such testimony who can doubt the Christianlike behavior and +soldierly qualities of the black man? It has been noted that the +artillerymen were in education considerably above the average of the +Negro force abroad, but no severe criticism has been heard concerning +the conduct of any of the Negro troops in any part of France. The +attitude of the French people had much to do with this. The unfailing +courtesy and consideration with which they treated the Negroes awoke an +answering sentiment in the natures of the latter. To be treated as Men, +in the highest sense of the term, argued that they must return that +treatment, and it is not of record that they failed to give adequate +return. Indeed the record tends to show that they added a little for +good measure, although it is hard to outdo a Frenchman in courtesy and +the common amenities of life. + +This showing of Negro conduct in France takes on increased merit when it +is considered that the bulk of their forces over there were selectives; +men of all kinds and conditions; many of them from an environment not +likely to breed gentleness, self restraint or any of the finer virtues. +But the leaders and the best element seem to have had no difficulty in +impressing upon the others that the occasion was a sort of a trial of +their race; that they were up for view and being scrutinized very +carefully. They made remarkably few false steps. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +NOR STORIED URN, NOR MOUNTING SHAFT + + +GLORY NOT ALL SPECTACULAR--BRAVE FORCES BEHIND THE LINES--325TH FIELD +SIGNAL BATTALION--COMPOSED OF YOUNG NEGROES--SEE REAL FIGHTING--SUFFER +CASUALTIES--AN EXCITING INCIDENT--COLORED SIGNAL BATTALION A +SUCCESS--RALPH TYLER'S STORIES--BURIAL OF NEGRO SOLDIER AT SEA--MORE +INCIDENTS OF NEGRO VALOR--A WORD FROM CHARLES M. SCHWAB. + + +Out of the glamor and spectacular settings of combat comes most of the +glory of war. The raids, the forays, the charges; the pitting of cold +steel against cold steel, the hand to hand encounters in trenches, the +steadfast manning of machine guns and field pieces against deadly +assault, these and kindred phases of battle are what find themselves +into print. Because they lend themselves so readily to the word painter +or to the artist's brush, these lurid features are played to the almost +complete exclusion of others, only slightly less important. + +There are brave forces behind the lines, sometimes in front of the +lines, about which little is written or pictured. Of these the most +efficient and indispensable is the Signal Corps. While this branch of +the service was not obliged to occupy front line trenches; make raids +for prisoners, or march in battle formation into big engagements, it +must not be supposed that it did not have a very dangerous duty to +perform. + +One of the colored units that made good most decisively was the 325th +Field Signal Battalion of the 92nd Division. The men of this battalion +had to string the wires for telegraphic and telephonic connections at +times when the enemy guns were trained upon them. Therefore, in many +respects, their duty took them into situations fully as dangerous as +those of the combatant units. + +This battalion was composed entirely of young Negroes excepting the +Lieutenant Colonel, Major and two or three white line officers. With few +exceptions, they were all college or high school boys, quite a number of +them experts in radio or electric engineering. Those who were not +experts when the battalion was formed, became so through the training +which they received. + +Major Spencer, who was responsible for the formation of the battalion, +the only Negro signal unit in the American Army, was firm in the belief +that Negroes could make good, and he remained with it long enough to see +his belief become a realization. + +After arriving at Brest, June 19, 1918, the battalion proceeded to +Vitrey, and from that town began a four-day hike to Bourbonne les +Baines. From that point it proceeded after a few days to Visey, where +the boys got their first taste of what was to be, later, their daily +duties. Here the radio (wireless telegraphy) company received its quota +of the latest type of French instruments, a battery plant was +established and a full supply of wire and other equipment issued to +Companies B and C. Here, too, the Infantry Signal platoons of the +battalion joined the outfit and shared in the training. + +A courage test and their first introduction into real fighting in +addition to stringing wires and sending and receiving radio messages, +came on the afternoon of September 27th. A party including the Colonel, +Lieutenant Herbert, the latter a Negro, and some French liaison +officers, advanced beyond the battalion post and soon found themselves +outside the lines and directly in front of a German machine gun nest. + +The colonel divided his men into small groups and advanced on the +enemy's position. The sortie resulted in the Signal boys capturing eight +prisoners and two machine guns, but it cost the loss of Corporal Charles +E. Boykin, who did not return. Two days later during a general advance, +Sergeant Henry E. Moody was mortally wounded while at his post. Boykin +was killed outright, while Sergeant Moody died in the hospital, these +being the first two of the Signal Battalion to make the supreme +sacrifice. + +On the 10th of October the 92nd Division, having taken over the Marbache +sector and relieved the 167th French Division, the 325th Field Signal +Battalion took over all existing lines of communication. In the days +following they installed new lines and made connections between the +various units of the division. This was no small duty, when it is +remembered that an army sector extends over a wide area of many square +miles, including in it from 50 to 100 cities and towns. + +The Marbache sector was an active front and time and time again the boys +went ahead repairing lines and establishing new communications under +shell fire, with no heed to personal danger--inspired only by that ideal +of the Signal Corps man--get communication through at any cost, but get +it through. + +On the morning of November 10th, when the Second Army launched its +attack on the famous Hindenburg line before Metz, the 92nd Division held +the line of Vandieres--St. Michel, Xon and Norry. The engagement lasted +for twenty-eight hours continuously, during which time the Signal Corps +functioned splendidly and as one man, keeping up communications, +installing new lines and repairing those shelled out. + +One of the most exciting incidents was that participated in by the First +Platoon of the Signal Battalion on the first day of the Metz battle. +Shortly after the lighter artillery barrage was lifted, the big guns of +the enemy began shelling Pont a Mousson. The first shells hit on the +edge of the city and then they began peppering the Signal Battalion's +station. + +Sergeant Rufus B. Atwood of the First Platoon was seated in the cellar +near the switchboard; Private Edgar White was operating the switchboard, +and Private Clark the buzzerphone. Several officers and men were +standing in the "dugout" cellar. Suddenly a shell struck the top, passed +through the ceiling and wall and exploded, making havoc of the cellar. + +[Illustration: OFFICERS OF THE 15TH NEW YORK (369TH INFANTRY), MARCHING +IN PARADE PRIOR TO THE WAR. LEFT TO RIGHT--COL. WM. HAYWARD, BERT +WILLIAMS. FAMOUS COMEDIAN AND DR. G. McSWEENEY.] + +[Illustration: AFTER THE WAR. ONE OF THE NUMBER OF AUTOMOBILES BEARING +WOUNDED OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE 15TH NEW YORK (369TH INFANTRY). +MAJOR DAVID L. 'ESPERANCE (WITH HELMET) AND MAJOR LORRILARD SPENCER.] + +[Illustration: A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF NEGRO OFFICERS OF "MOSS'S +BUFFALOES" (167TH INFANTRY). THE LITTLE LADY WITH THE BOUQUET IS ONE OF +THEIR FRENCH ACQUAINTANCES.] + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN JOHN H. PATTON, REGIMENTAL ADJUTANT, 8TH +ILLINOIS INFANTRY. FROM JUNE 26, 1916, TO SEPTEMBER 11, 1918. COMMANDING +2ND BATTALION, 370TH INFANTRY, FROM SEPTEMBER 11. 1918, TO DECEMBER 25. +1918. SAINT MIHIEL SECTOR FROM JUNE 21, 1918, TO JULY 3, 1918. ARGONNE +FOREST FROM JULY 6, 1916, TO AUGUST 15, 1918. BATTLES FOR MONT DES +SIGNES, FROM SEPTEMBER 16 TO 30, 1918. OISE-AllSNE OFFENSIVE, FROM +SEPTEMBER 717 1918. TO NOVEMBER 11, 1918. AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE +GUERRE FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE COVERING PERIOD FROM SEPTEMBER 11 TO +NOVEMBER II, 1918.] + +[Illustration: EMIL LAURENT, NEGRO CORPORAL OF 8TH ILLINOIS (370TH +INFANTRY), A CROIX DE GUERRE WINNER, ENGAGED IN FIELD TELEPHONE SERVICE +IN A FRENCH WOOD.] + +[Illustration: GROUP OF "HELL FIGHTERS" (369TH INFANTRY) WITH THEIR +JEWELRY (CROIX DE GUERRE). FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT, "EAGLE EYE" EDWARD +WILLIAMS, "LAMP LIGHT" HERB TAYLOR, LEON TRAINOR, "KID HAWK" RALPH +HAWKINS, BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT, SERGT. M.D. PRIMUS, SERGT. DANIEL +STORMS, "KID WONEY" JOE WILLIAMS, "KID BUCK" ALFRED HANLY AND CORP. T.W. +TAYLOR.] + +[Illustration: DR. JOSEPH H. WARD ON TRANSPORT FRANCE. THE ONLY NEGRO +ATTAINING THE RANK OF MAJOR IN THE MEDICAL CORPS OF THE AMERICAN +EXPEDITIONARY FORCES.] + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN NAPOLEON B. MARSHALL, FAMOUS HARVARD ATHLETE, WHO +HELPED ORGANIZE 15TH NEW YORK AND WAS ONE OF ITS ORIGINAL NEGRO +OFFICERS. HE WAS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED AT METZ.] + +[Illustration: BRAVE NEGROES HOMEWARD BOUND FROM WAR. FIRST CALL FOR +DINNER.] + +[Illustration: "MOSS'S BUFFALOES" (367TH INFANTRY), REVIEWED BY +GOVERNOR WHITMAN AFTER FLAG PRESENTATION IN FRONT OF UNION LEAGUE CLUB, +NEW YORK.] + + +[Illustration: THE "BUFFALOES" (367TH INFANTRY), RETURNING TO NEW YORK +AFTER VALIANT SERVICE IN FRANCE. THEIR COLORS STILL FLYING.] + +[Illustration: SOLDIERS WHO DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES AT THE FORTRESS OF +METZ. GROUP BELONGING TO 365TH INFANTRY ARRIVING AT CHICAGO STATION.] + +[Illustration: HOMEWARD BOUND IN A PULLMAN CAR. NO "JIM CROWING THERE." +THE NEGRO BEARS ON HIS SHOULDER THE CITATION CORD AND EMBLEM DENOTING +VALOROUS SERVICE.] + +Lieutenant Walker, who arrived just at this time, took hold of matters +with admirable coolness and presence of mind. Sergeant Atwood tried out +the switchboard and found all lines broken. He also found on trying it +the buzzerphone out. Lieutenant Walker gave orders to Private White to +stay on the switchboard and Corporal Adolphus Johnson to stay on the +buzzerphone. The twelve-cord monocord board was nailed up by White and +then began the connecting up of the lines from outside to the monocord +board. All this time the shelling by the Germans was fierce and deadly. +Shells struck all around the boys and one struck a nearby ammunition +dump, causing the explosion of thousands of rounds of ammunition, which +created a terrific shock and extinguished all the lights. + +But still the men worked on and would not leave the dangerous post, a +veritable target for the enemy's big guns, until the lieutenant of the +Military Police arrived and ordered them out. + +The 325th Field Signal Battalion was a great success. What the boys did +not learn about radio, telephonic and telegraphic work would be of +little advantage to anyone. It will be of great advantage to many of +them in the way of making a living in times of peace. + +By the time the armistice stopped the fighting the different units of +the 92nd Division had taken many prisoners and gained many objectives. +They finally retired to the vicinity of Pont a Mousson, where time was +spent salvaging material and cleaning equipment, while the men, knowing +there was to be no more fighting, anxiously awaited the time until they +were ordered to an embarkation point and thence home. + +The trip home in February, 1919, was about as perilous to some of them +as the war had been. It was a period of unusually rough weather. The +north Atlantic, never very smooth during the winter months, put on some +extra touches for the returning Negro soldiers. An experience common to +many on several different transports has been described by Mechanic +Charles E. Bryan of Battery B, 351st Artillery upon his return to his +home, 5658 Frankstown Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. Asked about his +impressions of the war, he said that which impressed him the most was +the storm at sea on the way home. + +"That storm beat the war all hollow," he said. "Me and my buddies were +messing when the ship turned about eighteen somersaults, and we all +pitched on the floor, spilling soup and beans and things all over the +ship. + +"The lights went out and somehow the automatic bell which means 'abandon +ship' was rung by accident. We didn't know it was an accident, and from +the way the ship pitched we thought she was on her way down to look up +one Mr. Davy Jones. So we made a break for the decks, and believe me, +some of those lads who had come through battles and all sorts of dangers +were about to take a dive over the side if our officers had not started +explaining in time." + +Stories of varying degrees of interest, some thrilling, some humorous +and some pathetic to the last degree, have been brought back. + +Ralph Tyler, the Negro newspaper man, who was sent to France as the +official representative of the Afro-American press by the Committee on +Public Information, has written many of the incidents, and told others +from the rostrum. He has told how the small insignificant, crowded +freight cars in which the soldiers traveled looked like Pullman parlor +coaches to the Negro soldiers. + + "To many of our people back in the 'States,'" wrote Mr. Tyler from + France, "who saw our boys embark on fine American railroad coaches + and Pullman sleepers to cover the first lap of their hoped-for + pilgrimage to Berlin, the coaches they must ride in over here would + arouse a mild protest. I stood at Vierzon, one of France's many + quaint old towns recently, and saw a long train of freight cars + roll in, en route to some point further distant. In these cars with + but a limited number of boxes to sit upon, and just the floors to + stand upon, were crowded some 1,000 of our own colored soldiers + from the States. But a jollier crowd never rode through American + cities in Pullman sleepers and diners than those 1,000 colored + troopers. They accepted passage on these rude box freight cars + cheerfully, for they knew they were now in war, and palace cars, + downy coaches and the usual American railroad conveniences were + neither available nor desirable. + + "The point I wish to convey to the people back home is that did + they but know how cheerfully, even eagerly our boys over here + accept war time conveniences, they would not worry quite so much + about how the boys are faring. They are being wholesomely and + plenteously fed; they are warmly clothed, they are cheerful and + uncomplaining as they know this is war and for that reason know + exactly what they must expect. To the soldier who must at times + sleep with but the canopy of heaven as a covering, and the earth as + a mattress, a box freight car that shields him from the rain and + wind is a real luxury, and he accepts it as such. + + "There need not be any worry back home as to the maintenance of our + colored soldiers over here. They receive the same substantial fare + the white soldier receives, and the white soldier travels from + point to point in the same box freight cars as afford means of + passage for colored soldiers. In short, when it comes to + maintenance and equipment, and consideration for the comfort of the + American soldier, to use a trite saying, 'the folks are as good as + the people.' There is absolutely no discrimination, and the + cheerfulness of those 1,000 boys whose freight cars became, in + imagination, Pullman palace cars, was the proof to me that the + colored boys in the ranks are getting a fifty-fifty break." + + "Two more stories have come to me," continues Mr. Tyler, "to prove + that our colored soldiers preserve and radiate their humor even + where shells and shrapnel fly thickest. A colored soldier slightly + wounded in the Argonne fighting--and let me assure you there was + 'some' fighting there--sat down beside the road to wait for a + chance to ride to the field hospital. A comrade hastening forward + to his place in the line, and anxious for the latest news of the + progressing battle, asked the wounded brother if he had been in the + fight; did he know all about it, and how were things going at the + front. 'I sure does know all about it,' the wounded man replied. + 'Well, what's happened to them?' quickly asked the trooper on his + way to the front. 'Well, it was this way,' replied the wounded one, + 'I was climbin' over some barbed wire tryin' to get to those d--n + Boches, and they shot me; that's what I know about it.' + + "A company water cart was following the advancing troops when a + German shell burst in the ditch almost beside the cart. The horse + on the shell side was killed, and the driver was wounded in the + head. While the blood from his wound ran freely down his face, the + driver took one look at the wreckage, then started stumbling back + along the road. A white lieutenant who had seen it all stopped the + driver of the cart and said: + + "The dressing station is--" + + "Before he could finish his sentence, the wounded driver, with the + blood flowing in rivulets down his face, said: 'Dressing station + hell; I'm looking for another horse to hitch to that cart and take + the place of the one the shell put out of commission.' + + "That was a bit of nerve, grim humor and evidence of fidelity to + duty. A mere wound in the head could not stop that driver from + keeping up with the troops with a needed supply of water." + +Dr. Thomas Jesse Jones, who went to France under the auspices of the +Y.M.C.A., sent back the following account of the burial of a Negro +soldier at sea: + + "A colored soldier was buried at sea today. The flags on all the + ships of the fleet have been at half-mast all day. It mattered not + that the soldier came from a lowly cabin. It mattered not that his + skin was black. He was a soldier in the army of the United States, + and was on his way to fight for Democracy and Civilization. + + "The announcement of his death was signalled to every commander + and every ship prepared to do honor to the colored soldier. As the + sun was setting the guard of honor, including all the officers from + commander down, came to attention. The body of the Negro trooper + wrapped in the American flag, was tenderly carried to the stern of + the ship. The chaplain read the solemn burial service. The engines + of the fleet were checked. The troop ship was stopped for the only + time in the long trip from America to Europe. The bugle sounded + Taps and the body of the American soldier was committed to the + great ocean and to God. + + "The comradeship of the solemn occasion was the comradeship of real + Democracy. There was neither black nor white, North nor South, rich + nor poor. All united in rendering honor to the Negro soldier who + died in the service of humanity." + +First Lieutenant George S. Robb of the 369th Infantry was cited for +"conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of +duty" in action with the enemy near Sechault, September 29 and 30, 1918. + +While leading his platoon in the assault at Sechault, Lieutenant Robb +was severely wounded by machine gun fire, but rather than go to the rear +for proper treatment, he remained with his platoon until ordered to the +dressing station by his commanding officer. Returning within forty-five +minutes, he remained on duty throughout the entire night, inspecting his +lines and establishing outposts. Early the next morning he was again +wounded, once again displaying remarkable devotion to duty by remaining +in command of his platoon. + +Later the same day a bursting shell added two more wounds, the same +shell killing the captain and two other officers of his company. He then +assumed command of the company and organized its position in the +trenches. Displaying wonderful courage and tenacity at the critical +times, he was the only officer of his battalion who advanced beyond the +town and, by clearing machine gun and sniping posts, contributed largely +to the aid of his battalion in holding its objective. His example of +bravery and fortitude and his eagerness to continue with his mission +despite the several wounds, set before the enlisted men of his command a +most wonderful standard of morale and self-sacrifice. Lieutenant Robb +lived at 308 S. 12th Street, Salina, Kansas. + +Second Lieutenant Harry C. Sessions, Company I, 372nd Infantry, was +cited for extraordinary heroism in action near Bussy Farm, September 29, +1918. + +Although he was on duty in the rear, Lieutenant Sessions joined his +battalion and was directed by his battalion commander to locate openings +through the enemy's wire and attack positions. He hastened to the front +and cut a large opening through the wire in the face of terrific machine +gun fire. Just as his task was completed, he was so severely wounded +that he had to be carried from the field. His gallant act cleared the +way for the rush that captured enemy positions. + +In August, 1918, back in the Champagne, a German raiding party captured +a lieutenant and four privates belonging to the 369th Infantry, and was +carrying them off when a lone Negro, Sergeant William Butler, a former +elevator operator, made his presence known from a shell hole. He +communicated with the lieutenant without the knowledge of the Germans +and motioned to him to flee. The Lieutenant signalled to the four +privates to make a run from the Germans. As they started Butler yelled, +"Look out, you Bush Germans! Here we come," and he let go with his +pistol. He killed one Boche officer and four privates, and his own men +made good their escape. Later the German officer who had been in charge +of this raiding party was captured and his written report was obtained. +In it he said that he had been obliged to let his prisoners go because +he was attacked by an "overwhelming number of "blutlustige +schwartzemaenner." The overwhelming number consisted of Elevator +Operator Bill Butler alone. + +September 30th the 3rd Battalion, of the 370th Infantry, composed of +down-state Illinois boys from Springfield, Peoria, Danville and +Metropolis, achieved a notable victory at Ferme de la Riviere. This +battalion, under the brilliant leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Otis B. +Duncan, made an advance of one kilometer against enemy machine gun nests +and succeeded in silencing them, thereby allowing the line to advance. +This battalion of the Illinois down-state boys succeeded in doing what, +after three similar attempts by their French comrades in arms, had +proven futile. During this engagement many were killed and wounded and +many officers and men were cited and given decorations. + +Company C, of the 370th, under the command of Captain James H. Smith, a +Chicago letter-carrier, signally distinguished itself by storming and +taking the town of Baume and capturing three pieces of field artillery. +For this the whole company was cited and the captain was decorated with +the Croix de Guerre and Palm. + +Lieutenant Colonel Duncan, who has been attached to the office of State +Superintendent of Public Instruction of Illinois for over twenty years, +is one of the greatest heroes the Negroes of America have produced. He +returned as the ranking colored officer in the American Expeditionary +Forces. Instead of being merely an assistant Colonel, he was actively in +command of one of the hardest fighting battalions in the regiment. He +has been pronounced a man of native ability, an able tactician and of +natural military genius. + +Sergt. Norman Henry, 5127 Dearborn St., Chicago, attached to the 3d +Machine Gun Company, 370th Infantry, won the Croix de Guerre and +Distinguished Service Cross. It was in the Soissons sector September 30 +in the first rush on the Hindenburg line. + +All of the officers and men fell under a heavy machine gun barrage +except two squads of which Sergeant Henry was left in command. They took +two German dugouts and were cut off from their own line without food. +They held the Germans off with one machine gun for three days. Often the +gun became jammed, but they would take it apart and fix it before the +enemy could get to them. + +Lieut. Samuel S. Gordon, 3934 Indiana Avenue, Chicago, of the 370th +Infantry, exposed himself to open machine gun fire for six hours and +effected the rescue of two platoons which had been cut off by the +barrage. + +Company H had been badly cut up in a sudden burst of machine gun fire. +Lieutenant Gordon with some men were rushed up to relieve what was left +of the company, and while reconnoitering were cut off by the same fire. +A stream of water four feet deep lay between them and their trenches. By +standing in the stream, Lieutenant Gordon let the men crawl to the edge +of the bank, where he lifted them across without their having to stand +up and become targets. + +Corporal Emile Laurent, 5302 So. Dearborn Street, Chicago, a member of +the 370th Infantry, had a busy time dodging machine gun bullets one +night near Soissons. Volunteering as a wire cutter, he crawled out with +his lieutenant's automatic in one hand and the wire clippers in the +other. Half a dozen machine guns were opened upon him as he sneaked +along the terrain. "Never touched me," he would yell every time a chunk +of steel parted his hair. He was out for three hours and cut a broad +line through the charged wire. Then he crawled back without a mark on +him. + +Private Leroy Davis of the same regiment, won a decoration at the +Aillette Canal for bringing a comrade back under machine gun fire. When +he got back to his own lines he would not trust him with the ambulance +outfit, but carried him three miles to the emergency dressing station +and then he ran back to the canal to get even. This little stunt saved +his comrade's life. + +Praise for the American soldier comes from Charles M. Schwab, the +eminent steel manufacturer, who was chosen by President Wilson to head +the Emergency Fleet Cororation, and rendered such conspicuous service in +that position. Returning in February, 1919, from a trip to Europe, Mr. +Schwab said in an interview: + + "I have come back with ten times the good opinion I had of our + soldiers for the work they did. Everywhere I went I found that the + American soldiers had left a good impression behind and there was + nothing but the greatest praise for them. + + "During the present voyage I have been among the colored troops on + board and talked with them and learned what American soldiering has + done for them. They are better men than they were when they went + away." + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THOSE WHO NEVER WILL RETURN + + +A STUDY OF WAR--ITS COMPENSATIONS AND BENEFITS--ITS RAVAGES AND +DEBASEMENTS--BURDENS FALL UPON THE WEAK--TOLL OF DISEASE--NEGROES +SINGULARLY HEALTHY--NEGROES KILLED IN BATTLE--DEATHS FROM WOUNDS AND OTHER +CAUSES--REMARKABLE PHYSICAL STAMINA OF RACE--HOUSEKEEPING IN +KHAKI--HEALTHIEST WAR IN HISTORY--INCREASED REGARD FOR MOTHERS--AN IDEAL +FOR CHILD MINDS--MORALE AND PROPAGANDA. + + +It has been said that war has its compensations no less than peace. This +saying must have had reference largely to the material benefits accruing +to the victors--the wealth gained from sacked cities, the territorial +acquisitions and the increased prestige and prosperity of the winners. +There is also an indirect compensation which can hardly be measured, but +which is known to exist, in the increased courage inculcated, the +banishment of fear, the strengthened sense of devotion, heroism and +self-sacrifice, and all those principles of manliness and unselfishness +which are inspired through war and react so beneficially on the morals +of a race. There are some, however, who contend that these compensations +do not overbalance the pain, the heart-rending, the horrors, brutalities +and debasements which come from war. Viewed in the most favorable light, +with all its glories, benefits and compensations, war is still far +removed from an agreeable enterprise. + +Like so many of the other material compensations of life, its benefits +accrue to the strong while its burdens fall upon the weak. A +contemplation of the maimed, the crippled and those stricken with +disease, fails to engender anything but somber reflections. + +Owing to the advancement of science, the triumph of knowledge over +darkness, the late war through the unusual attention given to the +physical fitness of the soldiers, probably conferred a boon in sending +back a greater percentage of men physically improved than the toll of +destroyed or deteriorated would show. Yet with all the improvement in +medical and sanitary science, the fact remains that disease claimed more +lives than bullets, bayonets, shrapnel or gas. + +Negro soldiers in the war were singularly free from disease. Deaths from +this cause were surprisingly few, the mortality being much lower than it +would have been among the same men had there been no war. This was due +to the general good behavior of the troops as testified to by so many +commanding officers and others. The men observed discipline, kept within +bounds and listened to the advice of those competent to give it. + +Out of a total of between 40,000 and 45,000 Negro soldiers who went into +battle or were exposed to the enemy's attack at some time, about 500 +were killed in action. Between 150 and 200 died of wounds. Deaths from +disease did not exceed 200 and from accident not over fifty. Those who +were wounded and gassed amounted to about 4,000. + +It speaks very highly for the medical and sanitary science of the army +as well as for the physical stamina of a race, when less than 200 died +out of a total of 4,000 wounded and gassed. The bulk of the battle +casualties were in the 93rd Division. + +The figures as given do not seem very large, yet it is a fact that the +battle casualties of the American Negro forces engaged in the late war +were not very far short of the entire battle casualties of the +Spanish-American war. In that conflict the United States lost less than +1,000 men in battle. + +While battle havoc and ravages from disease were terrible enough, and +brought sadness to many firesides, and while thousands of survivors are +doomed to go through life maimed, suffering or weakened, there is a +brighter side to the picture. Evidences are plentiful that "housekeeping +in khaki" was not unsuccessful. + +According to a statement issued by the War Department early in 1919, the +entire overseas army was coming back 18,000 tons heavier and huskier +than when it went abroad. Many of the returning soldiers found that they +literally burst through the clothing which they had left at home. +Compared with the records taken at time of enlistment or induction into +the draft forces, it is shown that the average increase in weight was +twelve pounds to a man. + +Improvement of course was due to the healthful physical development +aided by the seemingly ceaseless flow of wholesome food directed into +the training camps and to France. Secretary Baker was very proud of the +result and stated that the late war had been the healthiest in history. +The test he applied was in the number of deaths from disease. The best +previous record, 25 per 1,000 per year was attained by the Germans in +the Franco-Prussian war. Our record in the late war was only eight per +1,000 per year. The Medical Corps did heroic service in keeping germs +away, but cooks, clothing designers and other agencies contributed +largely in the making of bodies too healthy to permit germ lodgments. + +The hell of war brought countless soldiers to the realization that no +matter how much they believed they had loved their mothers, they had +never fully appreciated how much she meant to them. + + "I know, mother," cried one youth broken on the field, whose mother + found him in a hospital, "that I began to see over there how + thoughtless, indeed, almost brutal, I had always been. Somehow, in + spite of my loving you, I just couldn't talk to you. Why, when I + think how I used to close up like a clam every time you asked me + anything about myself----" He broke off and with fervent humility + kissed the hand in his own. "Please forget it all, mother," he + whispered. "It's never going to be that way again. I found out over + there--I knew what it was not to have anyone to tell things to--and + now, why you've got to listen to me all the rest of your life, + mother." + +Angelo Patri, the new York schoolmaster who has been so successful in +instilling ideals into the child mind has addressed himself to the +children of today, they who will be the parents of tomorrow. His words +are: + + "Man has labored through the ages that you might be born free. Man + has fought that you might live in peace. He has studied that you + might have learning. He has left you the heritage of the ages that + you might carry on. + + "Ahead are the children of the next generation. It's on, on, you + must be going. You, too, are torch-bearers of liberty. You, too, + must take your place in the search for freedom, the quest for the + Holy Grail. 'Twas for this you, the children of America were born, + were educated. Fulfill your destiny." + +Morale and propaganda received more attention in the late war than they +ever did in any previous conflict. Before the end of the struggle the +subject of morale was taken up and set apart as one of the highly +specialized branches of the service. The specialists were designated as +morale officers. They had many problems to meet and much smoothing over +to do. In the army, an Americanism very soon attached to them and they +became known as "fixers." + +With respect to the Negro, the section of the War Department presided +over by Emmett J. Scott was organized and conducted largely for purposes +of morale and propaganda. Much of the work was connected with good +American propaganda to counteract dangerous German propaganda. + +It is now a known fact that the foe tried to lure the Negro from his +allegiance by lies and false promises even after he had gone into the +trenches. This has been attested to publicly by Dr. Robert R. Moton, the +head of Tuskegee Institute, who went abroad at the invitation of +President Wilson and Secretary Baker to ascertain the spirit of the +Negro soldiers there. + +Dr. Moton was told of the German propaganda and the brazen attempts made +on members of the 92nd Division near Metz. He gave the following as a +sample: + + "To the colored soldiers of the United States Army. + + "Hello, boys, what are you doing over there? Fighting the Germans? + Why? Have they ever done you any harm? + + "Do you enjoy the same rights as the white people do in America, + the land of freedom and democracy, or are you not rather treated + over there as second class citizens? And how about the law? Are + lynchings and the most horrible crimes connected therewith a + lawful proceeding in a democratic country? + + "Now, all this is entirely different in Germany, where they do like + colored people; where they treat them as gentlemen and not as + second class citizens. They enjoy exactly the same privileges as + white men, and quite a number of colored people have fine positions + in business in Berlin and other German cities. + + "Why then fight the Germans? Only for the benefit of the Wall + street robbers and to protect the millions they have loaned the + English, French and Italians? + + "You have never seen Germany, so you are fools if you allow + yourselves to hate us. Come over and see for yourselves. To carry a + gun in this service is not an honor but a shame. Throw it away and + come over to the German lines. You will find friends who will help + you along." + +Negro officers of the division told Dr. Moton this propaganda had no +effect. He said the Negroes, especially those from the South, were +anxious to return home, most of them imbued with the ambition to become +useful, law-abiding citizens. Some, however, were apprehensive that they +might not be received in a spirit of co-operation and racial good will. +This anxiety arose mainly from accounts of increased lynchings and +persistent rumors that the Ku Klux Clan was being revived in order, so +the rumor ran, "to keep the Negro soldier in his place." + +After voicing his disbelief in these rumors, Dr. Moton said: + + "The result of this working together in these war activities + brought the whites and Negroes into a more helpful relationship. It + is the earnest desire of all Negroes that these helpful cooperating + relationships shall continue." + +In conversation with a morale officer the writer was told that the +principal problem with the Negroes, especially after the selective +draft, was in classifying them fairly and properly. Some were in every +way healthy but unfit for soldiers. Others were of splendid intelligence +and manifestly it was unjust to condemn them to the ranks when so many +had excellent qualities for non-commissioned and commissioned grades. +The Service of Supply solved the problem so far as the ignorant were +concerned; all could serve in that branch. + +The officer stated that the trouble with the War Department and with +too many other people, is the tendency to treat Negroes as a homogeneous +whole, which cannot be done. Some are densely ignorant and some are +highly intelligent and well educated. In this officer's opinion, there +is as much difference between different types of Negroes as there is +between the educated white people and the uneducated mountaineers and +poor whites of the South; or between the best whites of this and other +countries and the totally ignorant peasants from the most oppressed +nations of Europe. + +In the early stages of the war, there was a great scarcity of +non-commissioned officers--sergeants and corporals, those generals in +embryo, upon whom so much depends in waging successful war. It was a +great mistake in the opinion of this informant, and he stated that the +view was shared by many other officers, to take men from white units to +act as non-commissioned officers in Negro regiments, when there were +available so many intelligent, capable Negroes serving in the ranks, who +understood their people and would have delighted in filling the +non-commissioned grades. He also thought the same criticism applied to +selections for commissioned grades. + +It is agreeable to note that such views rapidly gained ground. The +excellent service of the old 8th Illinois demonstrated that colored +officers are capable and trustworthy. An action and expression that will +go far in furthering the view is that of Colonel William Hayward of the +old 15th New York, who resigned command of the regiment which he +organized and led to victory, soon after his return from the war. Like +the great magnanimous, fair-minded man which he is and which helped to +make him such a successful officer, he said that he could not remain at +the head of the organization when there were so many capable Negroes who +could and were entitled to fill its personnel of officers from colonel +down. Colonel Hayward has been laboring to have the organization made a +permanent one composed entirely of men of the Negro race. A portion of +his expression on the subject follows: + + "I earnestly hope that the state and city will not allow this + splendid organization to pass entirely out of existence, but will + rebuild around the nucleus of these men and their flags from which + hang the Croix de Guerre, a 15th New York to which their children + and grandchildren will belong; an organization with a home of its + own in a big, modern armory. This should be a social center for the + colored citizens of New York, and the regiment should be an + inspiration to them. It should be officered throughout by colored + men, though I and every other white officer who fought with the old + 15th will be glad and proud to act in an honorary or advisory + capacity. Let the old 15th 'carry on' as our British comrades + phrase it." + +It is to be hoped that we never have another war. Nevertheless these +Negro military organizations should be kept up for their effect upon the +spirit of the race. If they are ever needed again, let us hope that by +that time, the confidence of the military authorities in Negro ability, +will have so gained that they will coincide with Colonel Hayward's view +regarding Negro officers for Negro units. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +QUIET HEROES OF THE BRAWNY ARM + + +NEGRO STEVEDORE, PIONEER AND LABOR UNITS--SWUNG THE AXE AND TURNED THE +WHEEL--THEY WERE INDISPENSABLE--EVERYWHERE IN FRANCE--HEWERS OF WOOD, +DRAWERS OF WATER--NUMBERS AND DESIGNATIONS OF UNITS--ACQUIRED SPLENDID +REPUTATION--CONTESTS AND AWARDS--PRIDE IN THEIR SERVICE--MEASURED UP TO +MILITARY STANDARDS--LESTER WALTONS APPRECIATION--ELLA WHEELER WILCOX'S +POETIC TRIBUTE. + + +Some went forth to fight, to win deathless fame or the heroes' crown of +death in battle. There were some who remained to be hewers of wood and +drawers of water. Which performed the greater service? + +For the direct uplift and advancement of his race; for the improved +standing gained for it in the eyes of other races, the heroism, and +steadfastness and the splendid soldierly qualities exhibited by the +Negro fighting man, were of immeasurable benefit. Those were the things +which the world heard about, the exemplifications of the great modern +forces and factors of publicity and advertising. In the doing of their +"bit" so faithfully and capably, the Negro combatant forces won just +title to all the praise and renown which they have received. Their +contribution to the cause of liberty and democracy, cannot be +discounted; will shine through the ages, and through the ages grow +brighter. + +But their contribution as fighting men to the cause of Justice and +Humanity was no greater, in a sense than that of their brethren: +"Unwept, unhonored and unsung," who toiled back of the lines that those +at the front might have subsistence and the sinews of conflict. + +The most indispensable cog in the great machine which existed behind +the lines, was the stevedore regiments, the butcher companies, the +engineer, labor and Pioneer battalions, nearly all incorporated in that +department of the army technically designated as the S.O.S. (Service of +Supply). In the main these were blacks. Every Negro who served in the +combatant forces could have been dispensed with. They would have been +missed, truly; but there were enough white men to take their places if +necessary. But how seriously handicapped would the Expeditionary forces +have been without the great army of Negroes, numbering over 100,000 in +France, with thousands more in this country designed for the same +service; who unloaded the ships, felled the trees, built the railroad +grades and laid the tracks; erected the warehouses, fed the fires which +turned the wheels; cared for the horses and mules and did the million +and one things, which Negro brawn and Negro willingness does so +acceptably. + +Theirs not to seek "the bubble reputation at the cannon's mouth," that +great composed, uncomplaining body of men; content simply to wear the +uniform and to know that their toil was contributing to a result just as +important as the work of anyone in the army. Did they wish to fight? +They did; just as ardently as any man who carried a rifle, served a +machine gun or a field piece. But some must cut wood and eat of humble +bread, and there came in those great qualities of patience and +resignation which makes of the Negro so dependable an asset in all such +emergencies. + +How shall we describe their chronology or write their log? They were +everywhere in France where they were needed. As one officer expressed +it, at one time it looked as though they would chop down all the trees +in that country. Their units and designations were changed. They were +shifted from place to place so often and given such a variety of duties +it would take a most active historian to follow them. In the maze of +data in the War Department at Washington, it would take months to +separate and give an adequate account of their operations. + +[Illustration: BACK WITH THE HEROIC 15TH (369TH INFANTRY). LIEUT. JAMES +REESE EUROPE'S FAMOUS BAND PARADING UP LENOX AVENUE, HARLEM, NEW YORK +CITY. LIEUT. EUROPE SPECIALLY ENLARGED IN LEFT FOREGROUND.] + +[Illustration: SERGEANT HENRY JOHNSON (STANDING WITH FLOWERS), NEGRO +HERO OF 369TH INFANTRY. IN NEW YORK PARADE. HE WAS THE FIRST SOLDIER OF +ANY RACE IN THE AMERICAN ARMY TO RECEIVE THE CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM. +NEEDHAM ROBERTS, HIS FIGHTING COMPANION, IN INSET.] + +[Illustration: RETURNING FROM THE WAR. MUSICIANS OF 365TH INFANTRY +LEADING PARADE OF THE REGIMENT IN MICHIGAN BOULEVARD. CHICAGO.] + +[Illustration: SOLDIERS OF 365TH INFANTRY MARCHING DOWN MICHIGAN +BOULEVARD. CHICAGO. THIS REGIMENT WAS PART OF THE CELEBRATED 92ND +DIVISION OF SELECTIVE DRAFT MEN.] + +[Illustration: THE SEVEN AGES OF MEN. CURBSTONE GROUPS IN NEW YORK +LINED UP TO GIVE THE HEROES WELCOME. THE SCENES WERE TYPICAL OF MANY IN +CITIES AND TOWNS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.] + +[Illustration: COLONEL FRANKLIN A. DENISON, FORMER COMMANDER OF 8TH +ILLINOIS (370TH INFANTRY), INVALIDED HOME FROM FRANCE JULY 12, 1918.] + +[Illustration: FIRST COMMANDER OF THE 8TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY, COLONEL +JOHN R. MARSHALL, WHO INCREASED THE ORGANIZATION FROM A BATTALION TO A +REGIMENT, EVERY OFFICER AND MAN A NEGRO. UNDER COL. MARSHALL THE +REGIMENT SAW DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.] + +[Illustration: FORMER OFFICERS OF 370TH INFANTRY (OLD 8TH). LEFT, +COLONEL FRANKLIN A. DENISON, COMMANDER UNTIL JULY, 1918; CENTER, COLONEL +T.A. ROBERTS (WHITE). SUCCEEDING COMMANDER; RIGHT, LIEUT. COLONEL OTIS +B. DUNCAN. APPOINTED COLONEL TO SUCCEED COLONEL T.A. ROBERTS.] + +[Illustration: CROWD ON THE LAKE FRONT IN CHICAGO ALMOST SMOTHERS +RETURNING SOLDIERS OF "FIGHTING 8TH" (370TH INFANTRY).] + +It is known that a contingent of them accompanied the very first forces +that went abroad from this country. In fact, it may be said, that the +feet of American Negroes were among the first in our forces to touch the +soil of France. It is known that they numbered at least 136 different +companies, battalions and regiments in France. If there were more, the +records at Washington had not sufficiently catalogued them up to the +early part of 1919 to say who they were. + +In the desire to get soldiers abroad in 1918, the policy of the +administration and the Department seems to have been to make details and +bookkeeping a secondary consideration. The names of all, their +organizations and officers were faithfully kept, but distinctions +between whites and blacks were very obscure. Until the complete +historical records of the Government are compiled, it will be impossible +to separate them with accuracy. + +Negro non-combatant forces in France at the end of the war included the +301st, 302nd and 303rd Stevedore Regiments and the 701st and 702nd +Stevedor Battalions; the 322nd and 363rd Butchery Companies; Engineer +Service battalions numbered from 505 to 550, inclusive; Labor battalions +numbered from 304 to 348, inclusive, also Labor battalion 357; Labor +companies numbered from 301 to 324, inclusive; Pioneer Infantry +regiments numbered 801, 809, 811, 813, 815 and 816, inclusive. These +organizations known as Pioneers, had some of the functions of infantry, +some of those of engineers and some of those of labor units. They were +prepared to exercise all three, but in France they were called upon to +act principally as modified engineering and labor outfits. They also +furnished replacement troops for some of the combatant units. + +Service was of the dull routine void of the spectacular, and has never +been sufficiently appreciated. In our enthusiasm over their fighting +brothers we should not overlook nor underestimate these. There were many +thousands of white engineers and Service of Supply men in general, but +their operations were mostly removed from the base ports. + +Necessity for the work was imperative. Owing to the requirements of the +British army, the Americans could not use the English Channel ports. +They were obliged to land on the west and south coasts of France, where +dock facilities were pitifully inadequate. Railway facilities from the +ports to the interior were also inadequate. The American Expeditionary +Forces not only enlarged every dock and increased the facilities of +every harbor, but they built railways and equipped them with American +locomotives and cars and manned them with American crews. + +Great warehouses were built as well as barracks, cantonments and +hospitals. Without these facilities the army would have been utterly +useless. Negroes did the bulk of the work. They were an indispensable +wheel in the machinery, without which all would have been chaos or +inaction. + +Headquarters of the Service of Supply was at Tours. It was the great +assembling and distributing point. At that point and at the base ports +of Brest, Bordeaux, St. Nazaire and La Pallice most of the Negro Service +of Supply organizations were located. The French railroads and the +specially constructed American lines ran from the base ports and +centered at Tours. + +This great industrial army was under strict military regulations. Every +man was a soldier, wore the uniform and was under commissioned and +non-commissioned officers the same as any combatant branch of the +service. + +The Negro Service of Supply men acquired a great reputation in the +various activities to which they were assigned, especially for +efficiency and celerity in unloading ships and handling the vast cargoes +of materials and supplies of every sort at the base ports. They were a +marvel to the French and astonished not a few of the officers of our own +army. They sang and joked at their work. The military authorities had +bands to entertain them and stimulate them to greater efforts when some +particularly urgent task was to be done. Contests and friendly rivalries +were also introduced to speed up the work. + +The contests were grouped under the general heading of "A Race to +Berlin" and were conducted principally among the stevedores. Prizes, +decorations and banners were offered as an incentive to effort in the +contests. The name, however, was more productive of results than +anything else. The men felt that it really was a race to Berlin and that +they were the runners up of the boys at the front. + +Ceremonies accompanying the awards were quite elaborate and impressive. +The victors were feasted and serenaded. Many a stevedore is wearing a +medal won in one of these conquests of which he is as proud, and justly +so, as though it were a Croix de Guerre or a Distinguished Service +Cross. Many a unit is as proud of its banner as though it were won in +battle. + +Thousands of Service of Supply men remained with the American Army of +Occupation after the war; that is, they occupied the same relative +position as during hostilities--behind the lines. The Army of Occupation +required food and supplies, and the duty of getting them into Germany +devolved largely upon the American Negro. + +Large numbers of them were stationed at Toul, Verdun, Epernay, St. +Mihiel, Fismes and the Argonne, where millions of dollars worth of +stores of all kinds were salvaged and guarded by them. So many were left +behind and so important was their work, that the Negro Y.M.C.A. sent +fifteen additional canteen workers to France weeks after the signing of +the armistice, as the stay of the Service of Supply men was to be +indefinitely prolonged. + +The Rev. D.L. Ferguson, of Louisville, Ky., who for more than a year was +stationed at St. Nazaire as a Y.M.C.A. worker, and became a great +favorite with the men, says that during the war they took great pride in +their companies, their camps, and all that belonged to the army; that +because their work was always emphasized by the officers as being +essential to the boys in the trenches, the term "stevedore" became one +of dignity as representing part of a great American Army. + +How splendidly the stevedores and others measured up to military +standards and the great affection with which their officers regarded +them, Rev. Dr. Ferguson makes apparent by quoting Colonel C.E. Goodwin, +who for over a year was in charge of the largest camp of Negro Service +of Supply men in France. In a letter to Rev. Dr. Ferguson he said: + + "It is with many keen thrusts of sorrow that I am obliged to leave + this camp and the men who have made up this organization. The men + for whose uplift you are working have not only gained, but have + truly earned a large place in my heart, and I will always cherish a + loving memory of the men of this wonderful organization which I + have had the honor and privilege to command." + +Lester A. Walton, who went abroad as a correspondent for the New York +Age, thus commented on the stevedores and others of the same service: + + "I had the pleasure and honor to shake hands with hundreds of + colored stevedores and engineers while in France. The majority were + from the South, where there is a friendly, warm sun many months of + the year. When I talked with them no sun of any kind had greeted + them for weeks. It was the rainy season when a clear sky is a + rarity and a downpour of rain is a daily occurrence. Yet, there was + not one word of complaint heard, for they were 'doing their bit' as + expected of real soldiers. Naturally they expressed a desire to get + home soon, but this was a wish I often heard made by a doughboy. + + "Members of the 'S.O.S.' will not came back to America wearing the + Distinguished Service Cross or the Croix de Guerre for exceptional + gallantry under fire, but the history of the great world war would + be incomplete and lacking in authenticity if writers failed to tell + of the bloodless deeds of heroism performed by non-combatant + members of the American Expeditionary Forces." + +During the summer of 1918, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, the poetess, went to +France to write and also to help entertain the soldiers with talks and +recitations. While at one of the large camps in Southern France, the +important work of the colored stevedore came to her notice and she was +moved to write a poem which follows: + + THE STEVEDORES + + We are the Army Stevedores, lusty and virile and strong. + We are given the hardest work of the war, and the hours are long. + We handle the heavy boxes and shovel the dirty coal; + While soldiers and sailors work in the light, we burrow below like a mole. + But somebody has to do this work or the soldiers could not fight! + And whatever work is given a man is good if he does it right. + We are the Army Stevedores, and we are volunteers. + We did not wait for the draft to come, and put aside our fears. + We flung them away to the winds of fate at the very first call of our land. + And each of us offered a willing heart, and the strength of a brawny hand. + We are the Army Stevedores, and work we must and may, + The cross of honor will never be ours to proudly wear and sway. + But the men at the front could not be there, and the battles could not be won. + If the stevedores stopped in their dull routine and left their work undone. + Somebody has to do this work; be glad that it isn't you. + We are the Army Stevedores--give us our due. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +UNSELFISH WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD + + +MITIGATED THE HORRORS OF WAR--AT THE FRONT, BEHIND THE LINES, AT +HOME--CIRCLE FOR NEGRO WAR RELIEF--ADDRESSED AND PRAISED BY ROOSEVELT--A +NOTABLE GATHERING--COLORED Y.M.C.A. WORK--UNSULLIED RECORD OF +ACHIEVEMENT--HOW THE "Y" CONDUCTED BUSINESS--SECRETARIES ALL +SPECIALISTS--NEGRO WOMEN IN "Y" WORK--VALOR OF A NON-COMBATANT. + + +Negroes in America are justly proud of their contributions to war relief +agencies and to the financial and moral side of the war. The millions of +dollars worth of Liberty Bonds and War Savings stamps which they +purchased were not only a great aid to the government in prosecuting the +war, but have been of distinct benefit to the race in the establishing +of savings funds among many who never were thrifty before. Thousands +have been started on the road to prosperity by the business ideas +inculcated in that manner. Their donations to the Red Cross, the +Y.M.C.A. and kindred groups were exceptionally generous. + +An organization which did an immense amount of good and which was +conducted almost entirely by Negro patriots, although they had a number +of white people as officers and advisers, was the "Circle for Negro War +Relief," which had its headquarters in New York City. + +At a great meeting at Carnegie Hall, November 2, 1918, the Circle was +addressed by the late Theodore Roosevelt. On the platform also as +speakers were Emmett J. Scott, Irvin Cobb, Marcel Knecht, French High +Commissioner to the United States; Dr. George E. Haynes, Director of +Negro Economics, Department of Labor; Mrs. Adah B. Thorns, +Superintendent of Nurses at Lincoln hospital, and Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, +who presided. + +Mr. Roosevelt reminded his hearers that when he divided the Nobel Peace +Prize money among the war charities he had awarded to the Circle for +Negro War Relief a sum equal to those assigned to the Y.M.C.A., the +Knights of Columbus, and like organizations. + + "I wish to congratulate you," Mr. Roosevelt said, "upon the dignity + and self-restraint with which the Circle has stated its case in its + circulars. It is put better than I could express it when your + officers say: 'They, (the Negroes) like the boys at the front and + in the camps to know that there is a distinctly colored + organization working for them. They also like the people at home to + know that such an organization, although started and maintained + with a friendly cooperation from white friends, is intended to + prove to the world that colored people themselves can manage war + relief in an efficient, honest and dignified way, and so bring + honor to their race. + + "The greatest work the colored man can do to help his race upward," + continued Mr. Roosevelt, "is through his or her own person to show + the true dignity of service. I see in the list of your + vice-presidents and also of your directors the name of Colonel + Charles Young, and that reminds me that if I had been permitted to + raise a brigade of troops and go to the other side, I should have + raised for that brigade two colored regiments, one of which would + have had all colored officers. And the colonel of that regiment was + to have been Colonel Charles Young. + + "One of the officers of the other regiment was to have been 'Ham' + Fish. He is now an officer of the 15th, the regiment of Negroes + which Mr. Cobb so justly has praised, and when 'Ham' Fish was + offered a chance for promotion with a transfer to another command, + I am glad to say he declined with thanks, remarking that he + 'guessed he's stay with the sunburned Yankees.'" + +A guest of honor at the meeting was Needham Roberts, who won his Croix +de Guerre in conjunction with Henry Johnson. The cheering of the +audience stopped proceedings for a long time when Mr. Roosevelt arrived +and shook hands with Roberts. + + "Many nice things were said at the meeting," commented the New York + Age, "but the nicest of all was the statement that after the war + the Negro over here will get more than a sip from the cup of + democracy." + +One of the splendid activities of the Circle was in the providing of an +emergency relief fund for men who were discharged or sent back, as in +the case of Needham Roberts, on account of sickness or injuries. Many a +soldier who was destitute on account of his back pay having been held up +was temporarily relieved, provided with work or sent to his home through +the agency of the Circle. + +While the war was in progress the Circle attended to a variety of legal +questions for the soldiers, distributed literature, candy and smokes to +the men going to the war and those at the front; visited and ministered +to those in hospitals, looked after their correspondence and did the +myriad helpful things which other agencies were doing for white +soldiers, including relief in the way of garments, food, medicine and +money for the families and dependents of soldiers. + +The organization had over three score units in different parts of the +country. They engaged in the same activities which white women were +following in aid to their race. Here is a sample clipped from one of the +bulletins of the Circle: + + "On the semi-tropical island of St. Helena, S.C., the native + islanders have, in times past, been content to busy themselves in + their beautiful cotton fields or in their own little + palmetto-shaded houses, but the war has brought to them as to the + rest of the world broader vision, and now, despite their very + limited resources, 71 of them have formed Unit No. 29 of the + Circle. They not only do war work, but they give whatever service + is needed in the community. The members knit for the soldiers and + write letters to St. Helena boys for their relatives. During the + influenza epidemic the unit formed itself into a health committee + in cooperation with the Red Cross and did most effective work in + preventing the spread of the disease." + +Similar and enlarged activities were characteristic of the units all +over the nation. They made manifest to the world the Negro's generosity +and his willingness in so far as lies in his power, to bear his part of +the burden of helping his own race. + +After the war the units of the Circle did not grow weary. Their +inspiration to concentrate was for the relief of physical suffering and +need; to assist existing organizations in all sorts of welfare work. As +they had helped soldiers and soldiers' families, they proposed to extend +a helping hand to working girls, children, invalids and all Negroes +deserving aid. + +To the lasting glory of the race and the efficient self-sacrificing +spirit of the men engaged, was the wonderful work of the Negro Young +Men's Christian Association among the soldiers of this country and +overseas. Some day a book will be written dealing adequately with this +phase of war activity. + +The best writers of the race will find in it a theme well worthy of +their finest talents. The subject can be touched upon only briefly here. + +To the untiring efforts and great ability of Dr. J.E. Moorland, senior +secretary of the Negro Men's Department of the International Committee, +with his corps of capable assistants at Washington, belongs the great +credit of having organized and directed the work throughout the war. + +Not a serious complaint has come from any quarter about the work of the +Y.M.C.A. workers; not a penny of money was wrongfully diverted and +literally not a thing has occurred to mar the record of the +organization. Nothing but praise has come to it for the noble spirit of +duty, good will and aid which at all times characterized its operations. +The workers sacrificed their pursuits and pleasures, their personal +affairs and frequently their remuneration; times innumerable they risked +their lives to minister to the comfort and well being of the soldiers. +Some deeds of heroism stand forth that rank along with those of the +combatants. + +The splendid record achieved is all the more remarkable and gratifying +when the extensive and varied personnel of the service is taken into +consideration. No less than fifty-five Y.M.C.A. centers were conducted +in cantonments in America, presided over by 300 Negro secretaries. +Fourteen additional secretaries served with Student Army Training Corps +units in our colleges. Sixty secretaries served overseas, making a grand +total of 374 Y.M.C.A. secretaries doing war work. + +Excellent buildings were erected in the cantonments here and the camps +overseas, which served as centers for uplifting influences, meeting the +deepest needs of the soldier's life. In the battle zones were the +temporary huts where the workers resided, placed as near the front lines +as the military authorities could permit. Many times the workers went +into the most advanced trenches with the soldiers, serving them tobacco, +coffee, chocolate, etc., and doing their utmost to keep up spirits and +fighting morale. Much of the uniform good discipline and behavior +attributed to the Negro troops undoubtedly was due to the beneficial +influence of the "Y" men and women. + +As an example of the way the work was conducted it is well to describe a +staff organization in one of the buildings. + +It was composed of a building secretary, who was the executive; a +religious work secretary, who had charge of the religious activities, +including personal work among the soldiers, Bible class and religious +meetings; an educational secretary, who promoted lectures, educational +classes and used whatever means he had at hand to encourage intellectual +development, and a physical secretary, who had charge of athletics and +various activities for the physical welfare of the soldiers. He worked +in closest relationship with the military officers and often was made +responsible for all the sports and physical activities of the camp. Then +there was a social secretary, who promoted all the social diversions, +including entertainments, stunts and motion pictures, and a business +secretary, who looked after the sales of stamps, post cards and such +supplies as were handled, and who was made responsible for the proper +accounting of finances. + +The secretaries were either specialists in their lines or were trained +until they became such. Some idea of their tasks and problems, and of +the tact and ability they had to use in meeting them, may be gained by a +contemplation of the classes with which they had to deal. The selective +draft assembled the most remarkable army the world has ever seen. Men of +all grades from the most illiterate to the highly trained university +graduate messed together and drilled side by side daily. There were men +who had grown up under the best of influences and others whose +environment had been 370TH or vicious, all thrown together in a common +cause, wearing the same uniform and obeying the same orders. + +The social diversions brought out some splendid talent. A great feature +was the singing. It was essential that the secretary should be a leader +in this and possessed of a good voice. These were not difficult to find, +as the race is naturally musical and most of them sing well. Noted +singers were sent to sing for the boys, but it is said that frequently +the plan of the entertainment was reversed, as they requested the +privilege of listening to the boys sing. + +A wonderful work was done by "Y" secretaries among the illiterates. Its +fruits are already apparent and will continue to multiply. They found +men who hardly knew their right hand from their left. Others who could +not write their names are said to have wept with joy when taught to +master the simple accomplishment. Many a poor illiterate was given the +rudiments of an education and started on the way to higher attainments. + +Headquarters of the overseas work was at Paris, France, and was in +charge of E.C. Carter, formerly Senior Student secretary in America, and +when war was declared, held the position of National Secretary of India. +Much of the credit for the splendid performance of the "Y" workers +abroad belonged to him and to his able aid, Dr. John Hope, president of +Morehouse college, Atlanta, Ga. The latter went over in August, 1918, as +a special overseer of the Negro Y.M.C.A. + +Three distinguished Negro women were sent over as "Y" hostesses, with a +secretarial rating, during the war. Their work was so successful that +twenty additional women to serve in the same capacities were sent over +after the close of hostilities. They were to serve as hostesses, social +secretaries and general welfare workers among the thousands of Negro +soldiers who had been retained there with the Army of Occupation and the +Service of Supply. + +The first Negro woman to go abroad in the Y.M.C.A. service was Mrs. +Helen Curtis of 208 134th Street, New York, in May, 1918. For a number +of years she had been a member of the committee of management of the +Colored Women's Branch of the Y.M.C.A., and had assisted at the Camp +Upton hostess house. Her late husband, James L. Curtis, was minister +resident and consul general for the United States to Liberia. Mrs. +Curtis lived in Monrovia, Liberia, until her husband's death there. She +had also lived in France, where she studied domestic art for two years. +Being a fluent speaker of the French language, her appointment was +highly appropriate. + +So successful was the appointment of Mrs. Curtis that another Negro +secretary in the person of Mrs. Addie Hunton of 575 Greene Avenue, +Brooklyn, N.Y., followed the next month. Her husband was for many years +senior secretary of the International Committee of the Y.M.C.A. Negro +Men's Department, and her own work had always been with the +organization. + +A short time later Miss Catherine Johnson of Greenville, Ohio, followed +in the wake of Mrs. Curtis and Mrs. Hunton. She is a sister of Dr. +Johnson of Columbus, Ohio, appointed early in 1919 minister to Liberia. + +No less successful at home than abroad was the work of the Y.M.C.A. +among the Negroes in cantonments and training camps. It is known that +the services rendered by the Association to the officers' training camp +at Fort Des Moines had much to do with making that institution such a +remarkable success. From that time on comment was frequent that the best +work being done by the Association in many of the camps was done by +Negro secretaries. + +The heroic exploit of Professor Cook, the "Y" secretary, which secured +him a recommendation for the Distinguished Service Cross, is mentioned +elsewhere. It was only equalled by the valiant performance of A.T. +Banks of Dayton, Ohio, a Negro "Y" secretary who went over the top with +the 368th Infantry. Secretary Banks, during the action, tarried to give +aid to a wounded soldier. The two were forced to remain all night in a +shell hole. During the hours before darkness and early the following +morning they were targets for a German sniper. The secretary succeeded +in getting the wounded man back to the lines, where he then proceeded to +organize a party to go after the sniper. They not only silenced him, but +rendered him unfit for any further action on earth. Mr. Banks returned +to America with the sniper's rifle as a souvenir. His work was +additionally courageous when it is considered that he was a +non-combatant and not supposed to engage in hostilities. Had he been +taken by the Germans he would not have been accorded the treatment of a +prisoner of war, but undoubtedly would have been put to death. + +Were the records sufficiently complete at the present time to divulge +them, scores of examples of valorous conduct on the part of the "Y" +workers, Red Cross and other non-combatants who ministered to Negro +soldiers could be recounted. The work of all was of a noble character. +It was accompanied by a heroic spirit and in many cases by great +personal bravery and sacrifice. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +NEGRO IN ARMY PERSONNEL + + +HIS MECHANICAL ABILITY REQUIRED--SKILLED AT SPECIAL TRADES--VICTORY +DEPENDS UPON TECHNICAL WORKERS--VAST RANGE OF OCCUPATIONS--NEGRO MAKES +GOOD SHOWING--PERCENTAGES OF WHITE AND BLACK--FIGURES FOR GENERAL +SERVICE. + + +In 1917 and 1918 our cause demanded speed. Every day that could be saved +from the period of training meant a day gained in putting troops at the +front. + +Half of the men in the Army must be skilled at special trades in order +to perform their military duties. To form the units quickly and at the +same time supply them with the technical ability required, the Army had +to avail itself of the trade knowledge and experience which the recruit +brought with him from civil life. To discover this talent and assign it +to those organizations where it was needed was the task of the Army +Personnel organization. + +The army could hardly have turned the tide of victory if it had been +forced to train from the beginning any large proportion of the technical +workers it needed. Every combat division required 64 mechanical +draughtsmen, 63 electricians, 142 linemen, 10 cable splicers, 156 radio +operators, 29 switchboard operators, 167 telegraphers, 360 telephone +repairmen, 52 leather and canvas workers, 78 surveyors, 40 transitmen, +62 topographers, 132 auto mechanics, 128 machinists, 167 utility +mechanics, 67 blacksmiths, 151 carpenters, 691 chauffeurs (auto and +truck), 128 tractor operators and 122 truckmasters. + +Besides these specialists each division required among its enlisted men +those familiar with 68 other trades. Among the latter were dock +builders, structural steel workers, bricklayers, teamsters, hostlers, +wagoners, axemen, cooks, bakers, musicians, saddlers, crane operators, +welders, rigging and cordage workers, stevedores and longshoremen. Add +to these the specialists required in the technical units of engineers, +ordnance, air service, signal corps, tanks, motor corps and all the +services of supply, and the impossibility of increasing an army of +190,000 in March 1917, to an army of 3,665,000 in November, 1918, +becomes apparent unless every skilled man was used where skill was +demanded. + +To furnish tables showing the number of Negroes which the selective +draft produced for the various occupations mentioned was at the +compilement of this work not practicable. In many cases the figures for +white and black had not been separated. The Army Personnel organization +did not get into the full swing of its work until well along in 1918. + +A good general idea of the percentages of white and black can be gained +from the late drafts of that year. Figures for white drafts were not +available with the exception of that of September 3rd. But a very fair +comparison may be made from the following table showing some occupations +to which both whites and blacks were called. Take any of the three +general service drafts made upon Negro selectives and it makes a +splendid showing alongside the whites. Out of 100,000 men used as a +basis for computation, it shows that among the Negro selectives an +average of slightly over 25 percent were available for technical +requirements, compared with slightly over 36 percent among the whites. +It reveals a high number of mechanics and craftsmen among a race which +in the minds of many has been regarded as made up almost entirely of +unskilled laborers: + +Supply per 100,000 in late Negro drafts for general service, compared +with supply of white men in same occupations for the September 3rd +draft: + + Misc. Figures Sept. 3 + + Sept. 1 Sept 25 Upon Draft +Occupation-- Draft Draft 59,826 Men White + +Mechanical engineer 7 30 8 25 +Blacksmith 393 334 331 733 +Dock builder ... ... 15 ... +Carpenter 862 571 670 2,157 +Stockkeeper 161 176 140 562 +Structural steel worker 463 326 351 334 +Chauffeur 3,561 4,003 3,300 7,191 +Chauffeur, heavy truck 1,304 1,356 987 2,061 +Bricklayer 189 99 132 223 +Hostler 3,351 1,433 2,062 3,559 +Teamster or wagoner 8,678 12,660 9,534 13,691 +Transit and levelman ... 4 2 47 +Axeman logger 1,192 1,759 1,423 1,827 +Clerical worker 603 395 324 4,159 +Baker and cook 4,129 3,157 2,974 1,077 +Musician 105 17 115 160 +Alto horn 56 47 38 46 +Baritone 21 21 15 16 +Bass horn 35 21 18 16 +Clarinet 21 64 25 66 +Cornet 98 56 67 132 +Flute 21 ... 5 29 +Saxaphone 7 13 10 23 +Trap drum 217 197 100 46 +Trombone 42 69 40 67 +Bugler 14 13 12 24 +Saddler ... 26 3 12 +Crane operator, hoistman 21 39 42 44 +Crane operator, pile driver ... 13 12 7 +Crane operator, shovel ... 13 5 30 +Oxy-acetylene welder ... 21 8 44 +Rigger and cordage worker 49 77 57 40 +Stevedore, cargo handler 161 34 68 10 +Longshoreman 652 664 651 15 + ---- ---- ---- ---- + 26,413 27,708 23,544 38,473 + + Figures are for general service drafts and do not include the + enlarged list of occupations for which both whites and Negroes were + selected. + +[Illustration: FIVE SEA TUGS PUSHING TRANSPORT "FRANCE" INTO DOCK. SHIP +LADEN WITH MEMBERS OF NEW YORK'S "FIGHTING 15TH" (369TH INFANTRY) AND +CHICAGO'S "FIGHTING 8TH" (370TH INFANTRY) NEGRO HEROES FROM BATTLEFIELDS +OF EUROPE.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE KNOCKOUT BLOW + + +WOODROW WILSON, AN ESTIMATE--HIS PLACE IN HISTORY--LAST OF GREAT +TRIO--WASHINGTON, LINCOLN, WILSON--UPHOLDS DECENCY, HUMANITY, +LIBERTY--RECAPITULATION OF YEAR 1918--CLOSING INCIDENTS OF WAR. + + +When sufficient years have elapsed for the forming of a correct +perspective, when the dissolving elements of time have swept away +misunderstandings and the influences engendered by party belief and +politically former opinions, Woodrow Wilson is destined to occupy a +place in the Temple of Fame that all Americans may well be proud of. Let +us analyze this and let us be fair about it, whatever may be our beliefs +or affiliations. + +Washington gave us our freedom as a nation and started the first great +wave of democracy. Probably, had some of us lived in Washington's time, +we would have been opposed to him politically. Today he is our national +hero and is reverenced by all free people of the earth, even by the +nation which he defeated at arms. Lincoln preserved and cemented, albeit +he was compelled to do it in blood, the democracy which Washington +founded. He did infinitely more; he struck the shackles from four +million human beings and gave the Negro of America his first opportunity +to take a legitimate place in the world. Lincoln's service in abolishing +slavery was not alone to the Negro. He elevated the souls of all men, +for he ended the most degrading institution that Satan ever +devised--more degrading to the master who followed it, than to the poor +subject he practiced it upon. Unitedly, we revere Lincoln, yet there +were those who were opposed to him and in every way hampered and sneered +at his sublime consecration to the service of his country. It takes time +to obtain the proper estimate of men. + +Enough light has already been cast on President Wilson and his life +work to indicate his character and what the finished portrait of him +will be. + +We see him at the beginning of the European conflict, before any of us +could separate the tangled threads of rumor, of propaganda, of +misrepresentation, to determine what it was all about; before even he +could comprehend it, a solitary and monitory figure, calling upon us to +be neutral, to form no hasty judgments. We see him later in the role of +peacemaker, upholding the principles of decency and honor. Eventually as +the record of atrocities and crimes against innocents enlarges, we see +him pleading with the guilty to return to the instincts of humanity. +Finally as the ultimate aim of the Hun is revealed as an assault upon +the freedom of the world; after the most painstaking and patient efforts +to avoid conflict, during which he was subjected to humiliation and +insult, we see him grasp the sword, calling a united nation to arms in +clarion tones, like some Crusader of old; his shibboleth: DECENCY, +HUMANITY, LIBERTY. + +What followed? His action swept autocracy from its last great stronghold +and made permanent the work which Washington began and upon which +Lincoln builded so nobly. This of Woodrow Wilson; an estimate--there can +be no other thought, that will endure throughout history. + +In the earlier chapters are sketched the main events of the great war up +to the end of the year 1917, when the history of the Negro in the +conflict became the theme. It remains to give an outline review of +battles and happenings from the beginning of 1917 until the end of +hostilities; culminating in the most remarkable armistice on record; a +complete capitulation of the Teutonic forces and their allies, and a +complete surrender by them of all implements and agencies for waging +war. The terms of the armistice, drastic in the extreme, were largely +the work of Marshal Ferdinand Foch, commander-in-chief of the Allied +armies. + +Early in 1918 it became evident that England, France and Italy were +rapidly approaching the limit of their man power. It became necessary +for America to hasten to the rescue. + +Training of men and officers in the various cantonments of America was +intensified and as rapidly as they could be brought into condition they +were shipped to France. The troop movement was a wonderful one and +before the final closing of hostilities in November there were more than +2,000,000 American troops in Europe. The navy was largely augmented, +especially in the matter of destroyers, submarine chasers and lighter +craft. + +Our troops saw little actual warfare during the first three months of +the year. Americans took over a comparatively quiet sector of the French +front near Toul, January 21. Engagements of slight importance took place +on January 30 and February 4, the latter on a Lorraine sector which +Americans were holding. On March 1, they repulsed a heavy German raid in +the Toul sector, killing many. On March 6, the Americans were holding an +eight mile front alone. + +On March 21 the great German offensive between the Oise and the Scarpe, +a distance of fifty miles, began. General Haig's British forces were +driven back about twenty miles. The French also lost much ground +including a number of important towns. The Germans drove towards Amiens +in an effort to separate the British and French armies. They had some +successes in Flanders and on the French front, but were finally stopped. +Their greatest advance measured thirty-five miles and resulted in the +retaking of most of the territory lost in the Hindenburg retreat of the +previous year. The Allies lost heavily in killed, wounded and prisoners, +but the Germans being the aggressors, lost more. + +While the great battle was at its height, March 28, the Allies reached +an agreement to place all their forces from the Arctic Ocean to the +Mediterranean, under one supreme command, the man chosen for the +position being General Foch of the French. On March 29, General +Pershing placed all the American forces at the disposal of General Foch. + +The Germans began a new offensive against the British front April 8 and +won a number of victories in the La Basse canal region and elsewhere. +The battle of Seicheprey, April 20, was the Americans' first serious +engagement with the Germans. The Germans captured the place but the +Americans by a counter attack recovered it. + +Another great offensive was started by the Germans, May 27, resulting in +the taking of the Chemin des Dames from the French and crossing the +river Aisne. On the following day they crossed the Vesle river at +Fismes. Here the Americans won their first notable victory by capturing +the village of Cantigny and taking 200 prisoners. They held this +position against many subsequent counter-attacks. By the 31st the +Germans had reached Chateau Thierry and other points on the Marne, where +they were halted by the French. They made a few gains during the first +days of June. On June 6, American marines made a gallant attack, gaining +two miles on a front two and one-half miles long near Veuilly la +Poterie. On the following day they assisted the French in important +victories. In the second battle northwest of Chateau Thierry, the +Americans advanced nearly two and one-half miles on a six mile front, +taking 300 prisoners. It was in these engagements that the Americans +established themselves as fighters equal to any. + +On June 9, the Germans began their fourth offensive, attacking between +Montdidier and the river Oise. They advanced about four miles, taking +several villages. In the operations of the following day which gained +them several villages, they claimed to have captured 8,000 French. This +day the American marines took the greater portion of Belleau wood and +completed the capture of it June 11. The French at the same time +defeated the Germans between Robescourt and St. Maur. There were other +battles on the 12th and 13th, but on the 14th it became evident that the +German offensive was a costly failure. + +The fighting from this time until the end of June was of a less serious +nature, although the Americans in the Belleau and Vaux regions gave the +Germans no rest, attacking them continually and taking prisoners. The +Americans at this time were also engaged in an offensive in Italy. July +2, President Wilson announced there were 1,019,115 American soldiers in +France. + +The Fourth of July was celebrated in England, France and Italy as well +as in the United States. On that day Americans assisted the Australians +in taking the town of Hamel and many prisoners. On the 8th and 9th the +French advanced in the region of Longpont and northwest of Compiegne. On +the 12th they took Castel and other strong points near the west bank of +the Avre river. July 14, the French national holiday was observed in +America, and by the American soldiers in France. + +The fifth and last phase of the great offensive which the Germans had +started in March, began July 15, in an attack from Chateau Thierry to +Massignes, along a sixty-five mile front and crossing the Marne at +several places. At Chateau Thierry the Americans put up a strong +resistance but the enemy by persistent efforts finally succeeded in +getting a footing on the south bank. The battle continued east and west +of Rheims with the Allies holding strongly and the Germans meeting heavy +losses. + +While the Germans were trying to force their way regardless of cost, in +the direction of Chalons and Epernay, General Foch was preparing a +surprise in the Villers-Cotterets forest on the German right flank. In +the large force collected for the surprise were some of the best French +regiments together with the famed Foreign Legion, the Moroccan regiment +and other crack troops including Americans. On the morning of July 18, a +heavy blow was launched at the Germans all along the line from Chateau +Thierry on the Marne to the Aisne northwest of Soissons. + +The foe was taken completely by surprise and town after town fell with +very little resistance. Later the resistance stiffened but the Allies +continued to advance. Cavalrymen assisted the infantry and tanks in +large numbers, helped to clean out the machine gun nests. The Americans +who fought side by side with the French won the unbounded admiration of +their comrades. Thousands of prisoners were taken with large numbers of +heavy cannon, great quantities of ammunition and thousands of machine +guns. By the 20th Soissons was threatened. The Germans finding +themselves caught in a dangerous salient and attacked fiercely on both +flanks, retreated hurriedly to the north bank of the Marne and still +farther. + +Meanwhile things were going badly for the Austrians. After its retreat +in 1917 to the line of the Piave river, the Italian army had been +reorganized and strengthened under General Diaz, who had succeeded +General Cadorna in command. French and British regiments had been sent +to assist in holding the line, and later some American forces. + +The Austrians began an offensive June 15 along a 100-mile front, +crossing the Piave in several places. For three days they made violent +attacks on the Montello plateau, and along the Piave from St. Andrea to +San Dona and at Capo Sile, twenty miles from Venice. Then the Italians, +British, French and Americans counter-attacked and within three days had +turned the great Austrian offensive into a rout, killing thousands, +taking thousands of prisoners, and capturing an immense amount of war +material including the Austrian's heavy caliber guns. The whole Austrian +scheme to advance into the fertile Italian plains where they hoped to +find food for their hungry soldiers, failed completely. It was +practically the end of Austria and the beginning of the end for Germany. +Bulgaria gave up September 26, due to heavy operations by the French, +Italians and Serbians during July, August and September, in Albania, +Macedonia and along the Vardar river to the boundaries of Bulgaria. They +signed an armistice September 29 and the king of Bulgaria abdicated +October 3. Turkey being in a hopeless position through the surrender of +Bulgaria, and the success of the British forces under General Allenby, +kept up a feeble resistance until the end of October when she too +surrendered. The collapse of Austria-Hungary followed closely on that of +Turkey. They kept up a show of resistance and suffered a number of +disastrous defeats until the end of October when they raised the white +flag. An armistice was signed by the Austrian representatives and +General Diaz for the Italians, November 3. + +On the anniversary of Britain's entry into the war, August 4, Field +Marshall Haig, commander-in-chief of the British forces issued a special +order of the day, the opening paragraph of which was: + + "The conclusion of the fourth year of the war marks the passing of + the period of crisis. We can now with added confidence, look + forward to the future." + +On August 4, General Pershing reported: + + "The full fruits of victory in the counter offensive begun so + gloriously by Franco-American troops on July 18, were reaped today, + when the enemy who met his second great defeat on the Marne, was + driven in confusion beyond the line of the Vesle. The enemy, in + spite of suffering the severest losses, has proved incapable of + stemming the onslaught of our troops, fighting for liberty side by + side with French, British and Italian veterans. In the course of + the operations, 8,400 prisoners and 133 guns have been captured by + our men alone. Our troops have taken Fismes by assault and hold the + south bank of the Vesle in this section." + +On August 8, the British and French launched an offensive in Picardy, +pressed forward about seven miles on a front of 20 miles, astride the +river Somme and captured several towns and 10,000 prisoners. It was in +this engagement that the hard fighting at Chipilly Ridge occurred, in +which the Americans so ably assisted, notably former National Guardsmen +from Chicago and vicinity. Montdidier was taken by the French August 10. +The British also continued to advance and by the 11th the Allies had +captured 36,000 prisoners and more than 500 guns. A French attack August +19-20 on the Oise-Aisne front, netted 8,000 prisoners and liberated many +towns. On the 21st Lassigny was taken by the French. This was the +cornerstone of the German position south of the Avre river. On August 29 +the Americans won the important battle of Guvigny. By September 2 the +Germans were retreating on a front of 130 miles, from Ypres south to +Noyon. By the 9th the Germans had been driven back to the original +Hindenburg line, where their resistance began to strengthen. + +On September 12 the American army, led by General Pershing, won a great +battle in the attack on and wiping out of the famous St. Mihiel salient. +This victory forced the enemy back upon the Wotan-Hindenburg line, with +the French paralleling him from Verdun to the Moselle. Pershing's forces +continued fighting steadily, wearing out the Germans by steady pressure. +On September 26 the Americans began another offensive along a front of +20 miles from the Meuse river westward through the Argonne forest. This +developed into one of the bloodiest battles of the war for the +Americans. On September 29 American and British troops smashed through +the Hindenburg line at its strongest point between Cambrai and St. +Quentin. British troops entered the suburbs of Cambrai and outflanked +St. Quentin. Twenty-two thousand prisoners and more than 300 guns were +captured. Meanwhile the Belgians tore a great hole in the German line, +ten miles from the North sea, running from Dixmude southward. + +On October 3 the French launched three drives, one north of St. Quentin, +another north of Rheims, and a third to the east in Champagne. All were +successful, resulting in the freeing of much territory and the capture +of many prisoners. On October 4 the Americans resumed the attack west of +the Meuse. In the face of heavy artillery and machine gun fire, troops +from Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, +forced the Germans back to the so-called Kriemhilde line. In the +Champagne, American and French troops were moving successfully. On the +6th the Americans captured St. Etienne; on the 9th they reached the +southern outskirts of Xivry and entered Chaune wood. On the same day the +armies of Field Marshall Haig made a clean break through the Hindenburg +system on the west. Through a twenty-mile gap, they advanced from nine +to twelve miles, penetrating almost to the Le Selle and Sambre rivers. + +On October 12 the British General Rawlinson, with whom an American +division had been operating, sent a telegram of congratulation to the +commander of the division, which comprised troops from Tennessee, in +which he highly praised the gallantry of all the American troops. French +troops on October 13 captured the fortress of La Fere, the strongest +point on the south end of the old Hindenburg line. They also entered +Laon and occupied the forest of St. Gobain. On October 15 the Americans +took and passed St. Juvin after desperate fighting. On October 16 they +occupied the town of Grandpre, a place of great strategic importance, +being the junction of railways feeding a large part of the German +armies. The Germans now began a retreat on an enormous scale in Belgium. +So fast did they move that the British, French and Belgians could not +keep in touch with them. The North sea ports of Belgium were speedily +evacuated. Northwest of Grandpre the Americans captured Talma farm +October 23, after a stiff machine gun resistance. Victories continued to +be announced from day to day from all portions of the front. + +On November 1 the Americans participated in a heavy battle, taking +Champaigneulle and Landres et St. George, which enabled them to threaten +the enemy's most important line of communication. On November 4 the +Americans reached Stenay and on the 6th they crossed the Meuse. By the +7th they had entered Sedan, the place made famous by the downfall of +Napoleon III in the war of 1870. On other parts of the American front +the enemy retreated so fast that the infantry had to resort to motor +cars to keep in touch with him. It was the same on other fronts. The +Germans put up a resistance at the strong fortress of Metz, which the +Americans were attacking November 10 and 11. + +Armistice negotiations had been started as early as October, 5, and were +concluded November 11th. This date saw the complete collapse of the +German military machine and will be one of the most momentous days in +history, as it marked the passing of an old order and the inauguration +of a new era for the world. In the armistice terms every point which the +Americans and Allies stipulated was agreed to by the Germans. The last +shot in the war is thus described in an Associated Press dispatch of +November 11: + + "Thousands of American heavy guns fired the parting shot to the + Germans at exactly 11 o'clock this morning. The line reached by the + American forces was staked out this afternoon. The Germans hurled a + few shells into Verdun just before 11 o'clock. + + "On the entire American front from the Moselle to the region of + Sedan, there was artillery activity in the morning, all the + batteries preparing for the final salvos. + + "At many batteries the artillerists joined hands, forming a long + line as the lanyard of the final shot. There were a few seconds of + silence as the shells shot through the heavy mist. Then the gunners + cheered. American flags were raised by the soldiers over their + dugouts and guns and at the various headquarters. Soon afterward + the boys were preparing for luncheon. All were hungry as they had + breakfasted early in anticipation of what they considered the + greatest day in American history." + +The celebration, which occurred November 11, upon announcement of the +news, has never been equalled in America. It spontaneously became a +holiday and business suspended voluntarily. Self-restraint was thrown to +the winds for nearly twenty-four hours in every city, town and hamlet in +the country. There was more enthusiasm, noise and processions than ever +marked any occasion in this country and probably eclipsed anything in +the history of the world. + +[Illustration: RETURN OF THE 15TH NEW YORK, 369TH INFANTRY. SHOWN +SWINGING UP LENOX AVENUE. NEW YORK CITY WHERE THEY RECEIVED A ROYAL +WELCOME.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +HOMECOMING HEROES + + +NEW YORK GREETS HER OWN--ECSTATIC DAY FOR OLD 15TH--WHITES AND BLACKS DO +HONORS--A MONSTER DEMONSTRATION--MANY DIGNITARIES REVIEW TROOPS--PARADE OF +MARTIAL POMP--CHEERS, MUSIC, FLOWERS AND FEASTING--"HAYWARD'S SCRAPPING +BABIES"--OFFICERS SHARE GLORY--THEN CAME HENRY JOHNSON--SIMILAR SCENES +ELSEWHERE. + + +No band of heroes returning from war ever were accorded such a welcome +as that tendered to the homecoming 369th by the residents of New York, +Manhattan Island and vicinity, irrespective of race. Being one of the +picturesque incidents of the war, the like of which probably will not be +repeated for many generations, if ever, it well deserves commemoration +within the pages of this book. + +Inasmuch as no more graphic, detailed and colorful account of the day's +doings has been printed anywhere, we cannot do better than quote in its +entirety the story which appeared in the great newspaper, The World of +New York, on February 18, 1919. The parade and reception, during which +the Negro troops practically owned the city, occurred the preceeding +day. The World account follows: + + "The town that's always ready to take off its hat and give a whoop + for a man who's done something--'no matter who or what he was + before,' as the old Tommy Atkins song has it--turned itself loose + yesterday in welcoming home a regiment of its own fighting sons + that not only did something, but did a whole lot in winning + democracy's war. + + "In official records, and in the histories that youngsters will + study in generations to come, this regiment will probably always be + known as the 369th Infantry, U.S.A. + + "But in the hearts of a quarter million or more who lined the + streets yesterday to greet it, it was no such thing. It was the old + 15th New York. And so it will be in this city's memory, archives + and in the folk lore of the descendants of the men who made up its + straight, smartly stepping ranks. + + "New York is not race-proud nor race-prejudiced. That this 369th + Regiment, with the exception of its eighty-nine white officers, was + composed entirely of Negroes, made no difference in the shouts and + flagwaving and handshakes that were bestowed upon it. New York gave + its Old 15th the fullest welcome of its heart. + + "Through scores of thousands of cheering white citizens, and then + through a greater multitude of its own color, the regiment, the + first actual fighting unit to parade as a unit here, marched in + midday up Fifth Avenue and through Harlem, there to be almost + assailed by the colored folks left behind when it went away to + glory. + + "Later it was feasted and entertained, and this time very nearly + smothered with hugs and kisses by kin and friends, at the 71st + Regiment Armory. Still later, perfectly behaved and perfectly + ecstatic over its reception, the regiment returned to Camp Upton to + await its mustering out. + + "You knew these dark lads a year and a half ago, maybe, as persons + to be slipped a dime as a tip and scarcely glanced it. They were + your elevator boys, your waiters, the Pullman porters who made up + your berths (though of course you'd never dare to slip a Pullman + porter a dime). But, if you were like many a prosperous white + citizen yesterday you were mighty proud to grasp Jim or Henry or + Sam by the hand and then boast among your friends that you + possessed his acquaintance. + + "When a regiment has the medal honors of France upon its flags and + it has put the fear of God into Germany time after time, and its + members wear two gold stripes, signifying a year's fighting + service, on one arm, and other stripes, signifying wounds, on the + other, it's a whole lot different outfit from what it was when it + went away. And that's the old 15th N.Y. And the men are + different--and that's Jim and Henry and Sam. + + "Col. William Hayward, the distinguished white lawyer and one time + Public Service Commissioner, who is proud to head these fighters, + was watching them line up for their departure shortly after 6 + o'clock last evening, when someone asked him what he thought of the + day. + + "'It has been wonderful!' he said, and he gazed with unconcealed + tenderness at his men. 'It's been far beyond my expectations. But + these boys deserve it. There's only one thing missing. I wish some + of Gen. Gouraud's French boys, whom we fought beside, could be here + to see it.' + + "The Colonel slapped his hand affectionately upon the shoulder of + his dark-skinned orderly. + + "'How about that, Hamilton, old boy?' he inquired. + + "'That's right, Colonel, sir; Gen. Gonraud's boys sure would have + enjoyed this day!' the orderly responded as he looked proudly at + the Colonel. + + "There's that sort of paternal feeling of the white officers toward + their men, and that filial devotion of the men to their officers, + such as exists in the French Army. + + "Much as the white population of the town demonstrated their + welcome to the Regiment, it was, after all, those of their own + color to whom the occasion belonged. And they did themselves proud + In making it an occasion to recall for years in Harlem, San Juan + Hill and Brooklyn, where most of the fighters were recruited. + + "At the official reviewing stand at 60th street, the kinsfolk and + admirers of the regimental lads began to arrive as beforehandedly + as 9 o'clock. They had tickets, and their seats were reserved for + them. The official committee had seen to that--and nine-tenths of + the yellow wooden benches were properly held for those good + Americans of New York whom birth by chance had made dark-skinned + instead of fair. BUT this was their Day of Days, and they had + determined (using their own accentuation) to BE there and to be + there EARLY. + + "The first-comers plodded across 59th Street from the San Juan Hill + district, and it was fine to see them. There seemed to be a little + military swank even to the youngsters, as platoons of them stepped + along with faces that had been scrubbed until they shone. Had a + woman a bit of fur, she wore it. Had a man a top hat--origin or + vintage-date immaterial--he displayed that. All heads were up, + high; eyes alight. Beaming smiles everywhere. No not quite + everywhere. Occasionally there was to be seen on a left sleeve a + black band with a gold star, which told the world that one of the + Old 15th would never see the region west of Columbus Circle, + because he had closed his eyes in France. And the faces of the + wearers of these were unlaughing, but they held themselves just as + proudly as the rest. + + "Few of the welcomers went flagless. No matter whether a man or + woman wore a jewel or a pair of patent leather boots as a sign of + "class," or tramped afoot to the stand or arrived in a limousine, + nearly every dark hand held the nation's emblem. + + "Nearly every one wore white badges bearing the letters: "Welcome, + Fighting 15th," or had pennants upon which stood out the regimental + insignia--a coiled rattlesnake of white on a black field. + + "Those colored folk who could afford it journeyed to the stand in + closed automobiles. Gorgeously gowned women alighted with great + dignity beneath the admiring gaze of their humbler brethren. Taxies + brought up those whose fortunes, perhaps, were not of such + amplitude. Hansoms and hacks conveyed still others, and one party + came in a plumber's wagon, its women members all bundled up in + shawls and blankets against the cold, but grinning delightedly as + the whole stand applauded. + + "Children by the thousands lined the east side of the avenue--Boy + Scouts and uniformed kids and little girls with their school books + under their arms, and they sang to the great delight of the crowd. + + "Just why it was that when Governor Smith and former Governor + Whitman and Acting Mayor Moran and the other reviewers appeared + behind a cavalcade of mounted policemen, the youngsters struck up + that army classic, "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning," no + one could tell, but it gave the reviewers and the crowd a laugh. + + "With the state and city officials were the members of the Board of + Aldermen, the Board of Estimate, Major Gen. Thomas J. Barry, Vice + Admiral Albert Gleaves, Secretary of State, Francis Hugo; Rodman + Wannamaker and--in a green hat and big fur coat--William Randolph + Hearst. Secretary Baker of the War Department was unable to attend, + but he did the next best thing and sent his colored assistant, + Emmett J. Scott. + + "The reviewers arrived at 11:30 and had a good long wait, for at + that time the paraders had not yet left 23rd Street. But what with + the singing, and the general atmosphere of joyousness about the + stand, there was enough to occupy everyone's time. + + "There was one feature which took the eye pleasingly--the number + of babies which proud mothers held aloft, fat pickaninnies, mostly + in white, and surrounded by adoring relatives. These were to see + (and be seen by) their daddies for the first time. Laughingly, the + other day, Col. Bill Hayward spoke of 'our boys' posthumous + children,' and said he thought there were quite a few of them. + + "'Some of our boys had to go away pretty quickly,' he reminisced. + 'Some of them were only married about twenty minutes or so.' + + "'O Colonel!' said the modest Major Little on that occasion. + + "'Well, maybe it was a trifle longer than twenty minutes,' admitted + Bill. But anyhow, there was the regiment's posthumous children in + the stand. + + "It was 11:26 when the old 15th stepped away from 23rd Street and + Fifth Avenue. They looked the part of the fighting men they were. + At an exact angle over their right shoulders were their + long-bayonetted rifles. Around their waists were belts of + cartridges. On their heads were their 'tin hats,' the steel helmets + that saved many a life, as was attested by the dents and scars in + some of them. Their eyes were straight forward and their chins, + held high naturally, seemed higher than ever because of the leather + straps that circled them. The fighters wore spiral puttees and + their heavy hobbed hiking shoes, which caused a metallic clash as + they scraped over the asphalt. + + "At the head of the line rode four platoons of mounted police, + twelve abreast, and then, afoot and alone, Col. Hayward, who + organized the 15th, drilled them when they had nothing but + broomsticks to drill with, fathered them and loved them, and turned + them into the fightingest military organization any man's army + could want. + + "The French called them 'Hell Fighters.' The Germans after a few + mix-ups named them 'Blutlustige Schwartzmanner' (blood-thirsty black + men.) But Col. Bill, when he speaks of them uses the words 'those + scrapping babies of mine,' and they like that best of all. + Incidentally (when out of his hearing) they refer tenderly to him + as 'Old Bill, that fightin' white man.' So it's fifty-fifty. + + "The Colonel had broken a leg in the war, so there were those who + looked for him to limp as he strode out to face the hedge of + spectators that must have numbered a quarter of a million. But nary + a limp. With his full six feet drawn up erectly and his strong face + smiling under his tin hat, he looked every bit the fighting man as + he marched up the centre of the avenue, hailed every few feet by + enthusiasts who knew him socially or in the law courts or in the + business of the Public Service Commission. + + "'Didn't your leg hurt you, Bill?' his friends asked him later. + + "'Sure it hurt me; he said, 'but I wasn't going to peg along on the + proudest day of my life!' Which this day was. + + "Behind the Colonel marched his staff, Lieut. Col. W.A. Pickering, + Capt. Adjutant Robert Ferguson, Major E.A. Whittemore, Regimental + Sergt. Majors C.A. Connick and B.W. Cheeseman, Regimental Sergts. + L.S. Payne, H.W. Dickerson and W.W. Chisum, and Sergts. R.C. Craig, + D.E. Norman and Kenneth Bellups. + + "The Police Band was at the front of the line of march, but it was + a more famous band that provided the music to which the Black + Buddies stepped northward and under the Arch of Victory--the + wonderful jazz organization of Lieut. Jimmie Europe, the one + colored commissioned officer of the regiment. But it wasn't jazz + that started them off. It was the historic Marche du Regiment de + Sambre et Meuse, which has been France's most popular parade piece + since Napoleon's day. As rendered now it had all the crash of bugle + fanfares which is its dominant feature, but an additional + undercurrent of saxaphones and basses that put a new and more + peppery tang into it. + + "One hundred strong, and the proudest band of blowers and pounders + that ever reeled off marching melody--Lieut. Jimmie's boys lived + fully up to their reputation. Their music was as sparkling as the + sun that tempered the chill day. + + "Four of their drums were instruments which they had captured from + the enemy in Alsace, and ma-an, what a beating was imposed upon + those sheepskins! 'I'd very much admire to have them bush Germans + a-watchin' me today!' said the drummer before the march started. + The Old 15th doesn't say 'Boche' when it refers to the foe it beat. + 'Bush' is the word it uses, and it throws in 'German' for good + measure. + + "Twenty abreast the heroes marched through a din that never ceased. + They were as soldierly a lot as this town, now used to soldierly + outfits, has ever seen. They had that peculiar sort of half + careless, yet wholly perfect, step that the French display. Their + lines were straight, their rifles at an even angle, and they moved + along with the jaunty ease and lack of stiffness which comes only + to men who have hiked far and frequently. + + "The colored folks on the official stand cut loose with a wild, + swelling shriek of joy as the Police Band fell out at 60th Street + and remained there to play the lads along when necessary and + when--now entirely itself--the khaki-clad regiment filling the + street from curb to curb, stepped by. + + "Colonel Hayward, with his hand at salute, turned and smiled + happily as he saw his best friend, former Governor Whitman, + standing with his other good friend, Governor Al Smith, with their + silk tiles raised high over their heads. It was the Governor's + first review in New York and the first time he and Mr. Whitman had + got together since Inauguration Day. They were of different + parties, but they were united in greeting Colonel Bill and his + Babies. + + "From the stand, from the Knickerbocker Club across the street, + from the nearby residences and from the curbing sounded shouts of + individual greetings for the commander and his staff. But these + were quickly drowned as a roar went up for Lieutenant Europe's + band, with its commander at the head--not swinging a baton like a + common ordinary drum-major, but walking along with the uniform and + side-arms of an officer. + + "'The Salute to the 85th,' which they learned from their comrade + regiment of the French Army of General Gouraud, was what they were + playing, a stirring thing full of bugle calls and drum rolls, which + Europe says is the best march he ever heard. + + "So swiftly did the platoons sweep by that it took a quick eye to + recognize a brother or a son or a lover or a husband; but the eyes + in the stand were quick, and there were shouts of 'Oh, Bill!' 'Hey, + boy, here's your mammy!' 'Oliver, look at your baby!' (It wasn't + learned whether this referred to a feminine person or one of those + posthumous children Colonel Hayward spoke about.) 'Hallelujah, Sam! + There you are, back home again!' + + "Half way down the ranks of the 2,992 paraders appeared the + colors, and all hats came off with double reverence, for the Stars + and Stripes and the blue regimental standard that two husky ebony + lads held proudly aloft had been carried from here to France, from + France to Germany and back again, and each bore the bronze token + with its green and red ribbon that is called the Croix de Guerre. + Keen eyes could see these little medals swinging from the silk of + the flags, high toward the top of the poles. + + "At the end of the lines which filled the avenue came a single + automobile, first, with a round-faced smiling white officer sitting + in it and gazing happily from side to side. This was Major + Lorillard Spencer, who was so badly wounded that he came back in + advance of the outfit some weeks ago. There was a special racket of + cheers for him, and then another for Major David L. 'Esperance, + also wounded and riding. + + "Then a far different figure, but one of the most famous of the + whole war. Henry Johnson! That Henry, once a mild-mannered + chauffeur, who to protect his comrade, Needham Roberts, waded into + a whole patrol of 'bush Germans' with a lot of hand grenades, his + rifle and his trusty 'steel' in the shape of a bolo knife, and + waded into them so energetically that when the casualties were + counted there were four dead foemen in front of him, thirty-four + others done up so badly they couldn't even crawl away, and heaven + knows how many more had been put to flight. + + "And now Henry, in commemoration of this exploit, was riding alone + in an open machine. In his left hand he held his tin hat. In his + right he held high over his head a bunch of red and white lilies + which some admirer had pressed upon him. And from side to side + Henry--about as black as any man in the outfit if not a trifle + blacker--bowed from the waist down with all the grace of a French + dancing master. Yes, he bowed, and he grinned from ear to ear and + he waved his lilies, and he didn't overlook a bet in the way of + taking (and liking) all the tributes that were offered to him. + + "A fleet of motor ambulances, back of Henry, carried the wounded + men who were unable to walk, nearly 200 of them. But though they + couldn't walk, they could laugh and wave and shout thanks for the + cheers, all of which they did. + + "Almost before the happy colored folk could realize at the official + stand that here were their lads back home again, the last of the + parade rolled along and it was over. With that formation and the + step that was inspired by Lieutenant Europe's band--and by the + Police Band which stood at 60th Street and kept playing after the + music of the other died away--it required only seventeen minutes + for the regiment to pass. + + "From this point north the welcome heightened in intensity. Along + the park wall the colored people were banked deeply, everyone + giving them the first ranks nearest the curb. Wives, sweethearts + and mothers began to dash into the ranks and press flowers upon + their men and march alongside with them, arm-in-arm. But this + couldn't be, and Colonel Hayward had to stop the procession for a + time and order the police to put the relatives back on the + sidewalks. But that couldn't stop their noise. + + "The residents of the avenue paid fine tribute to the dusky + marchers. It seemed inspiring, at 65th Street, to see Mrs. Vincent + Astor standing in a window of her home, a great flag about her + shoulders and a smaller one in her left hand, waving salutes. And + Henry Frick, at an open window of his home at 73d Street, waving a + flag and cheering at the top of his voice. + + "At the corner of 86th street was a wounded colored soldier + wearing the Croix de Guerre and the Victoria Cross as well. Colonel + Hayward pressed to his side with a hearty handshake, exclaiming: + 'Why, I thought you were dead!' It was one of his boys long ago + invalided home. + + "No, sir, Colonel, not me. I ain't dead by a long ways yet, + Colonel, sir,' said the lad. + + "'How's it going, Colonel?' asked a spectator. + + "'Fine,' said the Commander. 'All I'm worrying about is whether my + boys are keeping step.' He needn't have worried. + + "The real height of the enthusiasm was reached when, after passing + through 110th street and northward along Lenox Avenue, the heroes + arrived in the real Black Belt of Harlem. This was the Home, Sweet + Home for hundreds of them, the neighborhood they'd been born in and + had grown up in, and from 129th Street north the windows and roofs + and fireescapes of the five and six story apartment houses were + filled to overflowing with their nearest and dearest. + + "The noise drowned the melody of Lieut. Europe's band. Flowers fell + in showers from above. Men, women and children from the sidewalks + overran the police and threw their arms about the paraders. There + was a swirling maelstrom of dark humanity in the avenue. In the + midst of all the racket there could be caught the personal + salutations: 'Oh, honey!' 'Oh, Jim!' 'Oh, you Charlie!' 'There's my + boy!' 'There's daddie!' 'How soon you coming home, son?' It took + all the ability of scores of reserve policemen between 129th Street + and 135th Street, where the uptown reviewing stand was, to pry + those colored enthusiasts away from their soldiermen. + + "There was one particular cry which was taken up for blocks along + this district: 'O-oh, you wick-ed Hen-nery Johnson! You wick-ed + ma-an!' and Henry the Boche Killer still bowed and grinned more + widely than ever, if possible. + + "'Looks like a funeral, Henry, them lilies!' called one admirer. + + "'Funeral for them bush Germans, boy! Sure a funeral for them + bushes.' shouted Henry. + + "The official reviewing party, after the parade had passed 60th + street, had hurried uptown, and so had the Police Band, and so + there were some doings as the old 15th breezed past 135th Street. + But no one up there cared for Governors or ex-Governors or + dignitaries. Every eye was on the Black Buddies and every throat + was opened wide for them. + + "At 145th Street the halt was called. Again there was a tremendous + rush of men and women with outstretched arms; the military + discipline had to prevail, and the soldiers were not allowed to + break ranks, nor were the civilians (save the quickest of them) + able to give the hugs and kisses they were overflowing with. + + "As rapidly as possible the fighters were sent down into the subway + station and loaded aboard trains which took them down to the 71st + Regiment Armory at 34th Street and Fourth Avenue. Here the + galleries were filled with as many dusky citizens as could find + places (maybe 2,500 or 3,000) and so great was the crowd in the + neighborhood that the police had to block off 34th Street almost to + Fifth Avenue on the west and Third on the east. + + "As each company came up from the subway the friends and relatives + were allowed to go through the lines, and, while the boys stood + still in ranks, but at ease, their kinsfolk were allowed to take + them in their arms and tell them really and truly, in close-up + fashion, what they thought about having them back. + + "When the entire regiment was in the Armory, the civilians in the + gallery broke all bounds. They weren't going to stay up there while + their heroes were down below on the drill-floor! Not they! They + swarmed past the police and depot battalion and so jammed the floor + that it was impossible for the tired Black Buddy even to sit down. + Most of the boys had to take their chicken dinner--served by + colored girls, and the chow, incidentally, from + Delmonico's--standing up with arms about them and kisses + punctuating assaults upon the plates. + + "'Some chow, hey Buddy?' would be heard. + + "'Pretty bon.' You'd get the answer. 'I'd like to have beaucoup + more of this chicken.' There was noticeable a sprinkling of French + words in the conversation of the Old 15th, and, indeed, some of + them spoke it fluently. + + "'Sam told me,' one girl was heard to say, 'that he killed nineteen + of them Germans all his own self, but nobody saw him and so he + didn't get that Cross doo Gare.'" + +Mustering out commenced at Camp Upton the following day. Thus ended the +service of the 369th. Their deeds are emblazoned on the roll of honor. +Sons and grandsons of slaves, welcomed by the plaudits of the second +largest city in the world. What a record of progress in a trifle over +half a century of freedom. What an augury of promise for the future of +the colored race, and what an augury for the world freedom which they +helped to create, and, overshadowing all else, WHAT an object lesson it +should be to our country at large: east, west, north, south, that, "One +touch of nature makes 'all men' kin." That in her opinion and treatment +of her faithful, loyal black citizens; niggardly, parsimonious, grudging +and half-heartedly, how shameful she has been, how great has been her +sin; forgetting; or uncaring, even as Pharoh of old, that: "God +omnipotent liveth," and that "He is a JUST and a vengeful God!" + +New York's welcome to her returning Negro boys was fairly typical of +similar scenes all over the country. Chicago gave a tremendous ovation +to the heroes of the old 8th Infantry. In Washington, Cleveland, and +many other cities were great parades and receptions when theirs came +home. In hundreds of smaller towns and hamlets the demonstrations were +repeated in miniature. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +RECONSTRUCTION AND THE NEGRO + + +BY JULIUS ROSENWALD, PRESIDENT SEARS, ROEBUCK & CO, AND TRUSTEE OF +TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE--A PLEA FOR INDUSTRIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE +NEGRO--TRIBUTE TO NEGRO AS SOLDIER AND CIVILIAN--DUTY OF WHITES POINTED +OUT--BUSINESS LEADER AND PHILANTHROPIST SOUNDS KEYNOTE. + + +Although American sacrifices in the European War have been great, we +find compensation for them in many directions. Not the least of these is +the vastly increased number of opportunities the reconstruction period +will offer to many of our citizens. + +Today the United States is the leading nation of the world in virtually +every line of activity. We have been thrust into a new world leadership +by the war. It behooves us to make the most of our new opportunities. To +equip ourselves creditably we must utilize the best there is in the +manhood and womanhood of our nation, drawing upon the intellect and +ability of every person who has either to give. + +Approximately ten percent of our present population is colored. Every +man, woman and child of this ten percent should be given the opportunity +to utilize whatever ability he has in the struggle for the maintenance +of world leadership which we now face. Just insofar as we refuse to give +this part of our population an opportunity to lend its strength to +helping us set a pace for the rest of the world, as best it can, so do +we weaken the total strength of our nation. In other words, we can +either give our colored population the right and the opportunity to do +the best work of which it is capable and increase our efficiency, or we +can deny them their rights and opportunities, as we have done in many +instances, and decrease our efficiency proportionately. + +Of course, the question naturally arises as to how efficient the +colored man and the colored woman are when given the opportunity to +demonstrate their ability. No better answer can be found than that given +by the splendid work of the majority of our colored people during the +war. On the firing line, in the camps behind the line, and in civil life +our colored population has done well indeed. Four hundred thousand +Negroes offered their lives for their country. Many more made noble +sacrifices in civilian life. + +It was my privilege not only to observe the work done in civil life by +colored persons in this country during the war, but to visit colored +troops in France during hostilities. + +There is no question that the Negro has given a splendid account of +himself both as an exceptionally fearless fighting man and as a member +of non-combatant troops. I made diligent effort to ascertain the manner +in which the Negro troops conducted themselves behind the lines. It is +much easier for a man to become lax in his conduct there than in actual +fighting. Without exception every officer I questioned stated he could +not ask for more obedient, willing, harder working or more patriotic +troops than the Negro regiments had proven themselves to be. Every +account I have read regarding the engagement of colored men in fighting +units and every case in which I had the opportunity to inquire +personally regarding the bravery of colored troops has led me to believe +our colored men were as good soldiers as could be found in either our +own army or the armies of our allies, regardless of color. + +One needs only to scan the records of the War Department and the +official reports of General Pershing to find positive proof of the +valor, endurance and patriotism of the colored troops who battled for +liberty and democracy for all the world. The entire nation notes with +pride the splendid service of the 365th to the 372nd Infantry units, +inclusive. When historians tell the story of the sanguinary conflicts at +Chateau Thierry, in the Forest of Argonne, in the Champagne sector, +Belleau Wood and at Metz, the record will give reason to believe that +the victories achieved on those memorable fields might have shown a +different result had it not been for the remarkable staying and +fighting abilities of the colored troops. French, English and American +commanding officers unite in singing the praises of these gallant +warriors and agree that in the entire Allied Army no element contributed +more signally than did they to the final downfall of the German Military +Machine in proportion to their numbers. + +Not only did the combatant units of the colored troops win laurels +across the sea, but the 301st Stevedore Regiment was cited for +exceptionally efficient work, having broken all records by unloading and +coaling the giant steamer "Leviathan" in fifty-six hours, competing +successfully with the best stevedore detachments on the western front of +France. Everywhere, behind the lines as well as when facing shot, shell +and gas, the colored soldiers have given a most creditable account of +themselves and are entitled to the product of their patriotism and +loyalty. + +Those who remained at home during the war realize fully that the +patriotic service rendered by colored persons in civil life, both in +doing war work and in the purchase of Liberty Bonds and War Savings +Stamps is to be commended. + +Surely after the many demonstrations of patriotism both on the +battlefield and at home the white people of this country will be willing +to accord the colored people a square deal by at least giving them a +fair opportunity to earn a livelihood in accordance with their ability. + +We have been asking the impossible of the colored man and the colored +woman. We have demanded that they be honest, self-respecting citizens, +and at the same time we have forced them into surroundings which almost +make this result impossible. In many places they are deprived of a fair +opportunity to obtain education or amusement in a decent environment. +Only the most menial positions are offered them. An educated girl +particularly has practically no opportunity to earn a livelihood in the +manner for which her education fits her. + +We whites of America must begin to realize that Booker T. Washington +was right when he said it was impossible to hold a man in the gutter +without staying there with him, because "if you get up, he will get up." +We do not want to remain in the gutter. We, therefore, must help the +Negro to rise. + +If we are to obtain the best results from colored labor, unions should +admit it to their membership. It is not the universal practice to admit +colored persons to unions. The result, of course, is that even if a +colored man has the opportunity to learn a trade, knowing he will not be +permitted to enjoy the benefits of a union, he does not have the highest +incentive for learning it. The north is especially neglectful in not +providing openings for the colored men in trades. In the south it is not +unusual to see a colored brick-mason working alongside a white +brick-mason. But in the north the best a colored man can hope for on a +building job now is a position as a hod-carrier or mortar-mixer. + +When the alien arrives in this country, he is given opportunity for +virtually every kind of employment. But the colored man who is born in +the United States, and, therefore, should share in its opportunities, +is not given as fair a chance as the alien worker. + +Naturally, we cannot hope that these conditions will be remedied in a +day or a month nor can the colored man expect that the millennium will +come to him through the action of white people alone. He can improve his +chances of securing greater rights and opportunities in the United +States, if he will make the most of the limited opportunities now +afforded him. He who does the best he can with the tools he has at hand +is bound in time to demand by his good work better tools for the +performance of more important and profitable duties. The conviction is +general that "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful +also in much." + +The late Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, who was a good friend of the black +man as well as the white, struck the right note in his introduction to +the biography of Booker T. Washington when he said: + + "If there is any lesson more essential than any other for this + country to learn, it is the lesson that the enjoyment of rights + should be made conditional upon the performance of duty." + +There exist certain rights which every colored man and woman may enjoy +regardless of laws and prejudice. For instance, nothing can prevent a +colored person from practicing industry, honesty, saving and decency, if +he or she desires to practice them. + +The helpfulness of the colored race to the Government need not be +confined to fighting in the army nor to service in the manifold domestic +callings. It is the duty of the colored citizens, as it is their right, +to have a part in the substantial development of the nation and to +assist in financing its operations for war or peace. The colored people, +as a rule, are industrious and thrifty and have come to appreciate their +importance as a factor in the economic and financial world, as indicated +by their prosperous business enterprises, their large holdings in real +estate, their management of banks, and their scrupulous handling of the +millions of deposits entrusted to their care. This capital, saved +through sacrifice, has been placed in a most generous manner at the +disposal of the Government throughout its period of need, and the list +of corporations, fraternities and individuals who have aided in bringing +success to American arms by the purchase of Liberty Bonds and War +Savings Stamps and by contributions to other war relief agencies, is +indeed a long one. + +Opportunities of the colored people to make safe investment of their +savings never were so great as they are today. The financial program the +Government has entered upon and is continuing to carry out to meet the +expense of the war gives a chance to save in sums as small as +twenty-five cents and makes an investment upon which return of both +principal and interest is absolutely guaranteed. Too often colored +people have entrusted their savings to wholly irresponsible persons, +lost them through the dishonesty of these persons, and in +discouragement abandoned all attempts at saving. Today, however, there +is no excuse for any man not saving a certain amount of his earnings no +matter how small it may be. It is a poor person, indeed, who cannot +invest twenty-five cents at stated intervals in a Thrift Stamp. Many are +able also to buy small Liberty Bonds. It is a duty and a privilege for +colored persons to help the Government finance the war, which was for +both whites and blacks. + +It is the particular duty of white persons, in cooperation with the most +influential members of their own race, to explain these Government +financial plans to the colored men and women that they may make safe +investments, acquire a competence, and thus become better citizens. + +It is my belief that the Negro soldier returning from France will be a +better citizen than when he left. He will be benefited mentally and +physically by his military training and experience. He will have a +broader vision. He will appreciate American citizenship. He will know, I +believe, that freedom, for which he risked his life and all, is not +license. He will find his brothers at home who did not go overseas +better for their war sacrifices. Both the soldier and the civilian have +proved their devoted loyalty. Justice demands that they now be rewarded +with an equal chance with the white man to climb as high in the +industrial and professional world as their individual capacity warrants. + +[Illustration: HOMECOMING HEROES OF 8TH ILLINOIS (370TH INFANTRY). +FAMOUS NEGRO FIGHTERS MARCHING IN MICHIGAN BOULEVARD. CHICAGO] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE OTHER FELLOW'S BURDEN. + +An Emancipation Day Appeal for Justice. + +By W. Allison Sweeney. + + + Publisher's Note: At our request, Mr. Sweeney consented to the + reproduction of this poem, which with the accompanying letter from + the late Dr. Booker T. Washington, and the comment by the Chicago + Daily News, appeared in that newspaper just prior to New Years Day, + 1914. We regard it as a powerful argument, affecting the Negro's + past condition and his interests. + + +"President Lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation Sept. 22, 1862. +It went into effect at the beginning of January, 1863. New Year's day +has thus become 'Emancipation day' to the colored people of the United +States and to all members of the white race who realize the great +significance of Lincoln's act of striking off the shackles of an +enslaved race. Services on that day combine honor to Lincoln with +appeals to the people of Lincoln's nation to grant justice to the Negro. +A remarkable appeal of this sort is embodied in the poem here presented. + +"W. Allison Sweeney, author of "The Other Fellow's Burden" is well known +among his people as writer, editor and lecturer. His poem, which +sketches with powerful strokes the lamentable history of the colored +race in America and tells of their worthy achievements in the face of +discouragements, deserves a thoughtful reading by all persons. Of this +poem and its author Dr. Booker T. Washington writes as follows: + +"TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE, ALA., Dec. 24, 1913.--To the Editor of the Chicago +Daily News: I have read with sincere interest and appreciation W. +Allison Sweeney's poem, 'The Other Fellow's Burden.' All through Mr. +Sweeney's poem there is an invitation put in rather a delicate and +persuasive way, but nevertheless it is there, for the white man to put +himself in the negro's place and then to lay his hand upon his heart and +ask how he would like for the other fellow to treat him. If every man +who reads this poem will try sincerely to answer this question I believe +that Mr. Sweeney's poem will go a long way toward bringing about better +and more helpful conditions. + +"Mr. Sweeney is, of course, a member of the Negro race and writes from +what might be called the inside. He knows of Negro aspirations, of Negro +strivings and of Negro accomplishments. He has had an experience of many +years as writer and lecturer for and to Negroes and he knows probably as +well as anyone wherein the Negro feels that 'the shoe is made to pinch.' +The poem, it seems to me, possesses intrinsic merit and I feel quite +sure that Mr. Sweeney's appeal to the great American people, for fair +play will not fall upon deaf ears. Booker T. Washington." + + The "white man's burden" has been + told the world, + But what of the other fellow's-- + The "lion's whelp"? + + Lest you forget, + May he not lisp his? + Not in arrogance, + Not in resentment, + But that truth + May stand foursquare? + + This then, + Is the Other Fellow's Burden. + + * * * * * + + Brought into existence + Through the enforced connivance + Of a helpless motherhood + Misused through generations-- + America's darkest sin!-- + There courses through his veins + In calm insistence--incriminating irony + Of the secrecy of blighting lust! + The best and the vilest blood + Of the South's variegated strain; + Her statesmen and her loafers, + Her chivalry and her ruffians. + + Thus bred, + His impulses twisted + At the starting point + By brutality and sensuous savagery, + Should he be crucified? + Is it a cause for wonder + If beneath his skin of many hues-- + Black, brown, yellow, white-- + Flows the sullen flood + Of resentment for prenatal wrong + And forced humility? + + Should it be a wonder + That the muddy life current + Eddying through his arteries, + Crossed with the good and the bad, + Poisoned with conflicting emotions, + Proclaims at times, + Through no fault of his, + That for a surety the sins of fathers + Become the heritage of sons + Even to the fourth generation? + Or that murdered chastity, + That ravished motherhood-- + So pitiful, so helpless, + Before the white hot, + Lust-fever of the "master"-- + Has borne its sure fruit? + + You mutter, "There should be no wonder." + Well, somehow, Sir Caucasian, + Perhaps southern gentleman, + I, marked a "whelp," am moved + To prize that muttered admission. + + * * * * * + + But listen, please: + The wonder is--the greater one-- + That from Lexington to San Juan hill + Disloyalty never smirched + His garments, nor civic wrangle + Nor revolutionary ebullition + Marked him its follower. + + A "striker"? Yes! + But he struck the insurgent + And raised the flag. + + An ingrate? + Treacherous? + A violator? + When--oh, spectacle that moved the world! + For five bloody years + Of fratricidal strife-- + Red days when brothers warred-- + He fed the babe, + Shielded the mother. + Guarded the doorsill + Of a million southern homes? + + Penniless when freedom came? Most true; + But his accumulations of fifty years + Could finance a group of principalities. + + Homeless? Yes; but the cabin and the hut + Of Lincoln's day--uncover at that name!-- + Are memories; the mansion of today, + Dowered with culture and refinement, + Sweetened by clean lives, + Is a fact. + + Unlettered? Yes; + But the alumni of his schools, + Triumphant over the handicap + Of "previous condition," + Are to be found the world over + In every assemblage inspired + By the democracy of letters. + + In the casting up what appears? + The progeny of lust and helplessness, + He inherited a mottled soul-- + "Damned spots" that biased the looker on. + + Clothed a freeman, + Turned loose in the land + Creditless, without experience, + He often stumbled, the way being strange, + Sometimes fell. + + Mocked, sneered at from every angle, + spurned, hindered in every section, + North, south, east, west, + Refused the most primitive rights, + His slightest mistakes + Made mountains of, + Hunted, burned, hanged, + The death rattle in his throat + Drowned by shouts and laughter + And--think of it!-- + The glee of little children. + Still he pressed on, wrought, + Sowed, reaped, builded. + + His smile ever ready, + His perplexed soul lighted + With the radiance + Of an unquenchable optimism, + God's presence visualized, + He has risen, step by step. + To the majesty of the home builder, + Useful citizen, + Student, teacher, + Unwavering patriot. + + This of the Other Fellow. + What of you, his judges and his patrons? + + If it has been your wont + In your treatment of him + Not to reflect, + Or to stand by in idle unconcern + While, panting on his belly, + Ambushed by booted ruffianism, + He lapped in sublime resignation + The bitter waters + Of unreasoning intolerance, + Has not the hour of his deliverance, + Of your escape from your "other selves" + Struck? + + If you have erred, + Will you refuse to know it? + + Has not the time arrived + To discriminate between + Those who lower + Those who raise him? + + You are shamed by your abortions, + Your moral half growths + Who flee God's eye + And stain his green earth, + But you are not judged by yours; + Should he be judged by his? + + In his special case--if so, why? + Is manhood a myth, + Womanhood a toy, + Integrity unbelievable, + Honor a chimera? + + Should not his boys and girls, + Mastering the curriculum of the schools, + Pricked on to attainment by the lure + Of honorable achievement, + Be given bread and not a stone + When seeking employment + In the labor mart, + At the factory gate + Or the office door? + + Broadened by the spirit of the golden rule, + Will you not grant these children of Hagar + An even break? + + Is the day not here, O judges, + When the Other Fellow + May be measured in fairness, + Just fairness? + + * * * * * + + It is written men may rise + "On their dead selves to higher things;" + But can it be that this clear note of cheer + To sodden men and smitten races + Was meant for all save him? + + Chants an immortal: + "He prayeth best who loveth best + All things both great and small; + For the dear God who loveth us, + He made and loveth all." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +AN INTERPOLATION. + +HELD BY DISTINGUISHED THINKERS AND WRITERS, THAT THE NEGRO SOLDIER +SHOULD BE GIVEN A CHANCE FOR PROMOTION AS WELL AS A CHANCE TO DIE--WHY +WHITE OFFICERS OVER NEGRO SOLDIERS? + + +Ever since the conclusion of the conflict of '61-'65, in which Negro +troops numbered by thousands, took an active part upon behalf of the +Union, there has been a growing and insistent wonder in the minds of +many, why, given a chance to die in the military service of the nation, +they should not also at the same time be given a chance for promotion. + +Subsequent affairs engaged in by the government requiring the +intervention of its military arm, the Spanish-American war, the +Philippines investiture incident thereto, the Mexican disagreement, the +whole crowned by the stupendous World War; its frightful devastation and +din yet fresh to our sight, still filling our ears, as it will for +years; in all of which they have contributed their share of loyalty and +blood--of LIVES!--have but added to, strengthened the wonder mentioned. + +Up to the beginning of the European muddle it was discussed if at all, +not so much as a condition demanding uncensored condemnation, as one to +continue to be patient with, trusting to time and an awakened sense of +fair play upon the part of the nation at large to note the custom +complained of, and banish the irritation by abolishing the cause. + +However, there has not been lacking those who have spoken out, who have +raised their voices in protest against what they deemed an injustice to +the loyal "fighting men" of their race, and so feeling, have not +hesitated to make their plea to those above empowered to listen, +regardless of the mood in which they did so. + +As long ago as the summer of 1915, or to be exact, August 26th of that +year, Capt. R.P. Roots of Seattle, Washington, addressed a letter to +the Hon. Lindley M. Garrison at Washington, at the time Secretary of +War, directing his attention to the discrepancy of assignment complained +of, accompanied with certain suggestions; having to do with a condition +that the government must eventually face; that will not down, and must +sooner or later be abrogated. Captain Roots' communication to the +Secretary of War, also one addressed to the Hon. Joseph Tumulty, private +secretary to President Wilson, follows: + + "Seattle, Wash., August 26, 1915. + "Hon. Lindley M. Garrison, Secretary of War, + Dear Sir: As an ex-officer of the Spanish-American war, having served as + Captain of Company "E" of the Eighth Illinois Volunteers, I am taking + the liberty to ask that, if you should recommend any increase in the + Army you give the Negro a chance in the manner, and for reasons I shall + further explain. + You will notice by my service with the 8th Illinois that I am a + colored man, and as such am offering these suggestions, which, in the + main, are just. + If the increase is sufficient, we should have: + TWO COAST ARTILLERY COMPANIES. + ONE REGIMENT OF FIELD ARTILLERY (In these branches we are not + represented at all). + ONE REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. + The above to be embodied in the Regular Army and to be officered as + you think fit. + But my main object is: Three Regiments of Infantry officered from + COLONEL DOWN WITH COLORED MEN. I should not have these Infantry + Regiments of the regular service for the reason that to appoint officers + to the rank of Colonel, Majors, etc., would not be fair to the regular + service officers, and would interfere with the promotion of the same, + but I would have them rank as volunteers. Give them the name of + "IMMUNES," "FOREIGN SERVICE REGIMENTS," or any other name that you + choose. + My further reasons are as to officering these regiments, that there + would be many misfits in such organizations and I would leave it so that + you or the President could remove them without prejudice from the + service, but to fill by OTHER COLORED MEN the vacancies that might + occur. I should officer these regiments with Spanish War veterans, + non-commissioned officers of the retired and regulars, but should + appoint all 2d Lieutenants from the schools of the country giving + military training. + The 2d Lieutenants upon passing the regular army examination could be + placed in the eligible list of the regular army, but NOT until at least + two years' service with these regiments. You could set a time limit on + these regiments if you so desire, say ten or twelve years duration; + either mustered out or in the regular service. + "Now Mr. Secretary, I have striven to meet any objections which might be + made by the Army on account of social prejudice, etc. With this thought + I should send these regiments to some foreign post to serve where there + are dark races; to the Philippines, Mexico, or Haiti. The object lesson + would be marked politically, both at home and abroad. + "The 48th and 49th Regiments organized in 1899 and sent to Philippines + were unsatisfactory because of there being three social lines of + separation in those organizations--THE FIELD AND STAFF of these + regiments WERE WHITE, and the LINE OFFICERS WERE COLORED. In a social + way the line officers WERE ENTIRELY IGNORED, and even officially were + treated very little better than enlisted men or with no more courtesy, + to such an extent as to cause comment by both soldiers and natives. + "Now as to the colored citizen of this country coming to its defense + there is no question, as he has always done so But, to use a late + phrase, he is beginning to want HIS "PLACE IN THE SUN"--he wants a + chance to rise on his merits AND TO KNOW WHEN HE SHOULDERS A GUN, THAT + IF HE IS DESERVING OF IT, HE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO RISE. He can fight + and will, but will fight better with an incentive than without one. He + is a, citizen regardless of all laws to the contrary; also he is the NEW + Negro, and NOT of the "Uncle Tom" class, the passing of whom so many + white citizens regret. + "He reads your literature, attends your theaters, goes to your schools, + observes you in his capacity as a waiter or porter, and is absorbing the + best you have in the ways of civilization, and in fact, in every walk of + life, he is a factor; and when he is asked to defend his country should + he not be given THE SAME CHANCE AS THE WHITE MAN? + "You will say that he should go to West Point. Well and good; but who is + to send him? Next, who will defend him while there against the + "Unwritten Law" of the white students not to allow him to matriculate? + "The first officers of such regiments could be easily picked, made from + Spanish War veterans and non-commissioned officers of the regular army, + and second lieutenants from graduates from colleges giving military + training. Such an organization officered in this manner would be ideal, + speaking from my experience as a veteran of the Spanish War. + "One thing you may have overlooked: We are twelve million in this + country, WITH AN ESTIMATE OF A MILLION MEN FIT FOR SERVICE. + "Suppose at such a crisis as is now transpiring in Europe, this country, + with its millions of foreign citizens, should suddenly find itself face + to face with a revolution. The presence and loyalty of these MILLION + NEGROES might mean much for the stability of this government. + "I have spoken plainly because I am a citizen; this is my country. I was + born here, and shall at all times be found with the flag; hence I ask, + that in your recommendations, looking to the betterment and enlargement + of the army, you give THE BLACK PATRIOT such consideration, as I cannot + but feel is due him, the thousands of young colored men who have passed + through colleges and schools in an effort to prepare themselves for + filling a place in the world. + "I am opposed to segregation, but as it seems, under the present + conditions of the races socially to be the ONLY way to a square deal, I + accept it. There are Irish regiments, German regiments, etc., let us + then have Negro regiments. The coming generations will look after the + rest. I am, very respectfully, + R.P. ROOTS + 400 26th Ave., North, Late Capt. 8th Ill. Vol. Infantry." + + + "Seattle, Wash., Nov. 9, 1915. + "Hon Joseph Tumulty, Secretary to the President, Washington, D.C. + Dear Sir:--I am enclosing a copy of a letter sent to the Secretary of + War, which I would be very much pleased to have you call the President's + attention to, and ask if he can approve of it. + "I was not fully informed as to the President's policy in regard to + Haiti at the time of writing, and am not now, except through such + information as received by the daily press. Taking that, in the main as + authentic, I wish to add that I think a Brigade of Colored Troops, such + as recommended in my letter to the Secretary for foreign service, would + be the proper thing for Haiti. + "It being a Negro Republic, the racial feeling as to the Negro's + treatment in this country, which I need not mention, has been enlarged + upon and not understood by the Negroes of other parts of the world, so + that as it seems to me, to organize a constabulary officered by white + Americans, would be inviting murder; for agitators from other + governments, if they so desired, would soon cause a rebellion, and then + you would have it all to do over again. + "Colored troops from this country, I mean officers as well, would tend + to cause a good feeling among the natives, not at first but later on as + each became used to the other. THE WHITE MAN THINKS HE IS SUPERIOR TO + ANY NEGRO, AND WOULD SHOW IT EVEN THOUGH HE TRIED NOT TO, and the + Haitian would be going around with a chip on his shoulder looking for + someone to knock it off. + "You have three men in the regular army who could supervise the + organization of these troops, and one who is already a Colonel of the + Eighth Illinois National Guard, also several others if you wished to + consider them. + "Hoping that you will see the advisability of such an organization for + diplomatic reasons and for JUSTICE TO THE AMERICAN NEGRO--who has been + loyal--and served from Bunker Hill until now, I am, + Very respectfully, + R.P. ROOTS, + 400 26th St. N. Seattle, Wash., Late Capt. Eighth Illinois Volunteer + Infantry during Spanish War." + +As touching upon the above, Editor E.S. Abbott of THE CHICAGO DEFENDER, +made the following comment: + + "There may be reasons deemed good and sufficient upon the part of + President Wilson and Secretary Garrison for not having replied to + the very courteous and finely conceived letters of appeal and + suggestion, having to do with a new deal--with justice and fair + play in the future towards the Negro soldiery of our country, + written them some weeks ago by CAPT. R.P. ROOTS of Seattle. + + "It is not always meet, especially in times like these, of war and + stress, of worries and apprehension, reaching across the world, for + our rulers and servants facing great responsibilities and + perplexing situations, to respond to every query and satisfy all + curiosities. Much reticence must be permitted them. Much accepted, + as a matter of course, without pursuing curiosity to the limit. + + "There may be ideas conveyed by Captain Roots to the president, + through his communications to Secretaries Garrison and Tumulty that + some people may not agree with, but there can be no disagreement + over the proposition that the lot of colored soldiers in the armies + of the United States--in the past, and at the present, is much + different than that accorded to white soldiers; very little to + really be proud of; very, very much to be ashamed of--much that is + humiliating and depressing. + + "Because the present administration may be powerless in the matter, + afraid to touch it, fearing a live wire or something of that kind, + should OUR duty in the premises, TOWARD OUR OWN, be influenced + thereby? + + "I wonder--is the time not NOW--right now, to commence an attack + upon this intrenched scandal--this dirty, HUMILIATING AMERICANISM? + + "No other nation on earth, Christian or pagan, treats its + defenders, its soldiery, so meanly, so shabbily, as does this, her + black defenders; but whether the nation is more to blame, than we, + who so long have submitted without a murmur, is a question. 'The + trouble' shouted Cassius to Brutus, 'is not in our stars, that we + are Underlings, BUT IN OURSELVES.' + + "Shall we, responding to the initiative furnished by CAPTAIN ROOTS, + commence an organized assault upon this national vice against the + soldiers of our race? Is this the time, readers of The Defender? Is + this the time, brothers and editors of the contemporary press? + + R.S. ABBOTT." + +Following in the footsteps of Captain Roots; apparently obsessed by the +same vision and spirit, Mr. Willis O. Tyler, eminent Los Angeles race +representative, attorney and Harvard graduate, also makes a plea for +justice for Negro troops in the regular army, also for Negro officers, +and proposes reforms and legislation for utilizing the present force of +Negro officers, and creating enlarged opportunities for others. Says +Mr. Tyler: + + "Officers in the regular army for the most part, are graduates of + West Point. They are commissioned second lieutenants at graduation. + No Negro has graduated from West Point in the past twenty-nine + years, and none has entered there in 32 years. Col. Charles Young + graduated in 1889, twenty-nine years ago,--he entered in 1884. + Henry W. Holloway entered in 1886, but attended only that year. In + all, only twelve Negroes have ever attended West Point and only + three have graduated. Of the three graduates, the first, Henry O. + Flipper (1877) was afterwards discharged. + + "The second, John H. Alexander (1887) died in 1894. The third and + last graduate, Charles Young (1889) has but recently been returned + to active duty. We understand he has attained the rank of Colonel. + The Negroes of the United States, to the number of twelve millions, + have only one West Point graduate in the regular army. There are + however four regiments of Colored troops, two of infantry, and two + of cavalry, and these have been maintained for 52 years, (since + 1866), and more than two hundred officers find places in the four + Colored regiments. These two hundred officers, with about three + exceptions are white officers. In all, only twelve Negroes have + held commissions in the regular army. Of this number seven were + Chaplains and two were paymasters. + + "In 1917 there were two first lieutenants; and (then) Major Charles + Young in the regular army. Hence only two officers of the line and + only one of the staff (other than Chaplains), out of more than two + hundred who found places with the four colored regiments. + + "We need not stop for the reasons why Negroes have not been + attending West Point, nor even admitted there for the past 32 + years. Certain it is they have not been attending the nation's + great military school, and certain it is that in law, good + conscience and right, one cadet at West Point in every twelve + should be a Negro. + + "The future lies before us. The four regiments of Colored Troops + have vindicated their right to be maintained as such by having made + for the army some of its finest traditions. Why not have the four + colored regiments officered by colored men from the Colonel down to + the second lieutenants? + + "The United States is just making an end to a glorious + participation in the great world's war. In this war the Negro + soldiers played well their part. They laughed in the face of death + on the firing line; they have been awarded the 'Ribbon' and the + Croix de Guerre--with palms. Who were their officers? + + "From the officers training camp at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, 639 + colored men were commissioned. Since then 267 more have been + commissioned, not counting those in Medical Reserve Corps, nor the + 41 Chaplains. Colored Captains and Lieutenants led colored soldiers + "Over the Top" and commanded them on march and in trench. Many + officers were given but three months in the officer's Training + camp; many of them had served as non-commissioned officers in one + of the four colored regiments. But not one word of criticism or + complaint of them has reached us. Their adaptability to their new + duties is beyond cavil. Their efficiency, bravery--leadership, are + all unquestioned and permanently established. + + "The future lies before us. What will our country do? Surely it + will not retire all of these fine young colored officers, who + responded so nobly to the call of their country, to private life + and continue the discrimination which in the past deprived them of + admission to West Point and of commissions in the regular army. I + do not believe it. I believe that the sense of justice and fair + play is deeply rooted in the American people. I believe that our + four colored regiments in the regular army will in the future be + officered by colored men. That the doors of West Point will be + opened in accordance with justice and fair play to a proper number + and proportion of colored Cadets. But this is not all nor is it + enough. + + "We believe that at present the nation owes the Colored people + certain legislation and that the nation being solvent and loud in + its protestations of kindness toward the Colored people for their + loyal and patriotic participation in the war both at home and on + the battlefield, should now pay its debt toward the colored people + and reward them to the extent that the best of the nearly one + thousand officers now serving in the National Army be transferred + to the Regular army, and assigned to duty in the four Colored + regiments, and that these be from colonel down to second + lieutenants. We also believe that in the future West Point and + Annapolis should 'lend a little colour' to their graduation + exercises in the presence of Colored graduates. + + "No doubt legislation will be needed to this end. At present + commissions are granted first to the graduates of West Point, and + even a fair and more liberal policy in this regard in the future + will not meet present needs. What is needed now is legislation + providing for the transfer (or at least the opportunity to enter) + into the regular army of a sufficient number of our Colored + Officers now with commissions to officer in toto the four Colored + regiments we now have. + + "Commissions are also granted at present to a limited number of + enlisted men who are recommended for these examinations, and who + succeed in passing. The candidates must be under 27 years of age + and unmarried. They must have had a certain amount of secondary + school, or college education which few privates or non com's + (colored) have had. This is the case because few young Colored men + with the necessary growth 'single blessedness,' and college + training, feel, or have heretofore felt that the door of 'equal + opportunity' announced by Mr. Roosevelt stands open to them in the + regular army. To trust the officering of four Colored Regiments to + this second mode of selecting and commissioning officers, would + prove fatal to our hopes and fail of accomplishment. + + "The third method of selecting officers at present is by + examinations of civilians, certain college presidents and other + civilians being permitted to recommend certain civilians, (students + and others) for examination for second lieutenants. + + "In this regard Negroes have met the same difficulties that they + have encountered in the past 32 years in their efforts to gain + admission to West Point. At best only a small percent of each + year's graduating class from West Point can get commissions in this + manner. Those selected have been white men, what we are after now + is a present day, practical way of utilizing the best material we + now have, holding commissions and making secure the opportunity for + other Colored men to enter the army as second lieutenants and by + dint of industry, close application, obedience, brains and time + gain their promotion step by step, just as white men have been + doing and can do now. This is the American--democratic, fair play, + reward and justice we seek for the twelve million Negro citizens of + our great republic. Congress could if it would, provide for the + present by an appropriate measure giving the right and opportunity + to our returning officers to stand examination for commissions in + the Regular army; Military experience and knowledge, and general + and special educational qualifications to determine the rank or + grade received. + + "In this way our four colored regiments could be officered by + colored men. Otherwise, the fine talents and desire for service to + the country held by the one thousand intelligent and courageous + young Negroes who are officers, will be lost and rejected by the + country, and the 12 million Negroes in the United States will + continue, notwithstanding their patriotism and devotion, to be + denied of their just representation in commissions in the regular + army. + + "We believe that once this is done the sense of fairness and + justice that, after all is said and done is so firmly imbedded in + the American people, will see to it that our proper and + proportionate number of young Colored men are admitted to West + Point and Annapolis annually and that the other avenues for gaining + admission in the army and navy will not be blocked, closed and + denied Negroes by the unreasonable race prejudice which has + heretofore done so. + + "Our country is either a country of 'equal opportunity' or it is + not. It is either a democracy or it is not. + + "Certainly the Negroes have failed to realize this 'equal + opportunity' in the matter of training at West Point and Annapolis, + and is gaining commissions in the Regular army. + + "The great war in Europe is closed or soon will be. We have again + shown our country that 'our hearts are on the right side.' What + will our country do for us? We ask only that the door of 'equal + opportunity' be unbarred--that we may enter." + +Said Colonel Charles Young, U.S.A., touching upon the same subject: + + + I affirm that any system of schools saying to students of any race, + "Thus far shalt thou go and no farther," is flinging a lie in the + face of God. + + * * * * * + +The ability and willingness of the government and its people to fit the +Negro into the body politic with all the rights, privileges, and +immunities of a full fledged American will be the test before the world +which knows and sees the relations and acts of the individuals and +states of the United States. + +Human equity and a respect for law and truth must be sacred with us; the +spirit of America is the square deal and fair play. + + * * * * * + +This granted as an American principle, the Negro people of the United +States demand to know whether the sweeping generalization of lack of +leadership and the capacity of the Negro officer was derived by a +consultation of the War Department, the press, both white and Negro and +the reports of IMPARTIAL officers. + +The black officer feels that there was a prejudgment against him at the +outset and that nearly every move that has been made was for the purpose +of bolstering up this prejudgment and discrediting him in the eyes of +the world and the men whom he was to lead and will lead in the future. + + * * * * * + +Remembering the multitude of the Croix de Guerre and citations on the +breasts of the returning Negro officers and the Distinguished Service +Crosses to boot, the Negro officer is smiling, not discouraged with +himself and is still carrying on for the flag, the country where he was +born and where the bones of his fathers are buried, and for the uplift +and leadership of his people for a more glorious Americanism. + +History tells us that on the continent of America that Toussaint +L'Ouverture, who with a leadership that no man ever surpassed and who +routed the best troops of Napoleon Bonaparte, was a pure Negro and a +slave until after fifty years old. + +Major Martin R. Delaney was a pure Negro, and many others that can be +mentioned were pure Negroes. + +Ex-parte judgments will not go in the future history, for the black man +will not only act his history but he will write it, and be it said that +he knows history methods, and that with him they are not those which +come from the heat of prejudice and a direct and concerted attempt to +discredit any group of American people. + +Unpatriotic and unwarranted statements do no good and lull the country +to sleep, and throw it off its guard while the effects of these +statements are causing just rankling in the breasts of the Negro people +who have had a New Vision. + +The Negro officers know the psychology of their own race and also of the +white race; but it is to be feared the latter will never know the mind +and motive forces of the Negro, if he imagines that his group has not +had a new birth in America, whose language it speaks, whose thought it +thinks for its own betterment, and whose ideals, both social, political, +and economic it emulates. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + THE NEW NEGRO AND THE NEW AMERICA + + "THE OLD ORDER + Changeth, yielding place to new." + THROUGH THE + Arbitrament of war, behold a new and better America! + a new and girded Negro! + "The watches + Of the night have PASSED! + "The watches + Of the day BEGIN!" + + +Out of war's crucible new nations emerge. New ideas seize mankind and if +the conflict has been a just one, waged for exalted ideals and +imperishable principles and not alone for mere national security and +integrity, a new character, a broader national vision is formed. + +Such was the result of the early wars for democracy. The seeds of +universal freedom once sown, finally ripened not alone to the +unshackling of a race, but to the fecundity and birth of a spirit that +moved all nations and peoples to seek an enlarged liberty. The finger of +disintegration and change is never still; is always on the move; always +the old order is passing; always the new, although unseen of man, is +coming on. And so it is, that nations are still in the throes of +reconstruction after the great war. That it was the greatest and most +terrible of all wars, increases the difficulties incident to the +establishment of the new order, precedent to a restoration of tranquil +conditions. + +So radical were some of the results of the conflict, such as the +overthrow of despotism in Russia, and a swinging completely to the other +extreme of the pendulum; similar happenings in Germany and Austria +transpiring, that subject peoples in general, finding themselves in +possession of a liberty which they did not expect and were not prepared +for, are in a sense bewildered; put to it, as to just what steps to +take; the wisest course to pursue. + +At home we have a nearer view and can begin to see emerging a new +America. The men who fought abroad will be the dominant factor in +national affairs for many years. These men have returned, and will +return with a broadened vision and with new and enlarged ideas regarding +themselves and, quite to be expected, of progress and human rights. + +With the leaven of thought which has been working at home, added to the +new and illuminating; more liberal viewpoint regarding the Negro +attained by the American whites who served with him in France, will +come; is already born, a new national judgment and charity of opinion +and treatment, that will not abate; will grow and flourish through the +coming years, a belated sense of justice and restitution due the Negro; +a most wholesome sign of shame and repentance upon the part of the +nation. The old order based on slavery and environment; the handicap of +"previous condition" has passed. Will never return! THAT, or the +"Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man" is, and always was, an +iridescent dream; a barren ideality! + +The new America owes much of its life to the Negro; guaranteed through +centuries of a devotion, than which, there has been nothing like it; you +seek in vain for a counterpart; a patriotism and suffering and shed +blood; the splendor and unselfishness of which will germinate and flower +through the ages; as long as history shall be read; to the last moment +of recorded time. + +In days to come, now on the way, men will say, one to another: "How +could it have been that those faithful Blacks; those loyal citizens; +whose toil enriched; whose blood guaranteed the perpetuity of our +institutions; were discriminated against--WRONGED?" + +In a country based and governed on the principle that all men are free +and equal, discrimination or special privilege will eat at the heart of +national life. Capital must not have special advantages over labor; +neither labor over capital. Jew and Gentile, protestant and catholic, +Negro and White men, must be equal; not alone in the spirit of the law +but in the application of it. Not alone in the spirit of industrialism, +commerce and ordinary affairs of life, but in their interpretation and +application as well. + +Social discriminations and distinctions may prevail with no great danger +to the body politic, so long as people do not take them too +seriously--do not mistake the shadow for the substance, and regard them +the paramount things of life. + +Obviously the Negro no less than the Caucasian, has a right, and no +government may challenge it, to say who his associates shall be, who he +shall invite into his house, but such rights are misconstrued and +exceeded when carried to the point of proscribing, oppressing or +hampering the development of other men, regardless of the nationality of +their competitors. + +The logical growth of achievement for the Negro is first within the +lines of his own race, but, all things being equal; genius being the +handmaiden of no particular race or clime, he is not to be hindered by +the law of the land, the prejudice of sections or individuals, from +seeking to climb to any height. + +The bugbear and slander, raised and kept alive by that section of the +land south of the imaginary line, to wit: that the Negro was ambitious +for "racial equality," only is entitled to reference in these pages for +the purpose of according it the contempt due it. That the whites of the +country have not a complete monopoly of those unpleasing creatures known +as "tuft hunters" and "social climbers," is no doubt true, but that the +Negro, as represented by intelligence and race pride, ever worries over +it; cares a rap for it, is not true. + +Humanity's great benefit coming from the war, which cannot be changed or +abridged, will consist of a newer, broader sense of manhood; a demand +for the inherent opportunities and rights belonging to it; for all men +of all colors, of all climes; and beyond that; of more significance; as +marking the dawn indeed of a NEW AND BETTER DAY, will be a larger, +juster sense; springing up in the nation's heart; watered by her tears, +of repentance of past wrongs inflicted on the Negro. The Negro will +become the architect of his own growth and development. The South will +not be permitted; through the force of national opinion, to continue to +oppress him. + +The talk of the revival of KuKlux societies to intimidate the Negro; "to +keep him in his place," is the graveyard yawp of a dying monster. Are +the thousands of Negroes who faced bullets in the most disastrous war of +history, and several hundred thousand more who were ready and willing to +undergo the same perils, likely to be frightened by such a threat, such +an antiquated, silly, short-sighted piece of injustice and terrorism? + +Men's necessities force a resort to common sense. Racial prejudice and +ignorant, contemptible intolerance, must disappear under, and before the +presence of the renewal of business activity in the South, and the +necessity for Negro labor. Each soldier returning from Europe is a more +enlightened man than when he went away. He has had the broadening effect +of travel, the chance to mingle with other races and acquire the views +born of a greater degree of equality and more generous treatment. + +These men desire to remain in their southern homes. Climatically they +are suited and the country offers them employment to which they are +accustomed; but more than all, it is home, and they are bound to it by +ties of association and affection. + +With a mutual desire of whites and blacks to achieve an end, common +sense will find a basis of agreement. The Negro will get better pay and +better treatment. His status accordingly will be improved. His employer +will get better service, he also will be broadened and improved by a new +spirit of tolerance and charity. + +Cooperation among the white and black races received a decided impetus +during the war. A movement so strongly started is sure to gather force +until it attains the objects more desirious of accomplishment. Some of +these objects undoubtedly are far in the distance, but will be achieved +in time. When they are, the Negro will be far advanced on the road of +racial development. The day has dawned and the start has been made. +Before the noontime, America will be prouder of her Negro citizens and +will be a happier, a more inspired and inspiring nation; a better home +for all her people. + +One of the results of the war will be an improvement in the government +and condition of Negroes in Africa. Exploitation of the race for +European aggrandisement is sure to be lessened. No such misgoverned +colonies as those of Germany will be tolerated under the new rule and +the new spirit actuating the victorious Allies. Evils in other sections +of that continent will disappear or receive positive amelioration. + +The most hopeful sign in America is the tendency in some sections where +trouble has been prevalent in the past, to meet and discuss grievances. +In some sections of the South, men of prominence are exhibiting a +willingness to meet and talk over matters with representatives of the +race. Such a spirit of tolerance will grow and eventually lead to a +better understanding; perhaps a general reconciling of differences. + +Many concessions will be required before complete justice prevails and +the Negro comes into his own; before the soil can be prepared for the +complete flowering of his spirit. + +Primarily, before attaining to the full growth and usefulness of the +citizen under the rights guaranteed to him by the Constitution, the +Negro, especially in the South, will require better educational +facilities. If he is to become a better citizen, he must have the +education and training necessary to know the full duties of citizenship. +He pays his share of the school taxes and it is manifestly unjust to +deny him the accruing benefits. + +He is ambitious too, and should be encouraged to own land, and to that +end should have the assistance without prejudice or discrimination, of +national and state farm loan bureaus. + +Unjust suffrage restrictions must and shall be removed, giving to the +Negro the full rights of other citizens in this respect. With better +educational facilities and the ownership of real estate, he will vote +more intelligently, and there will be no danger that his vote will be +against the interests of the country at large or the section in which he +resides. + +The withering taint of "Jim Crow"-ism, must be obliterated; wiped +out--will be. Railroads will be compelled to extend the same +accommodations to white and colored passengers. The traveller; whatever +his color, who pays the price for a ticket, must and shall in this land +of Equality and Justice, be accorded the same accommodations. + +Peonage, so-called, will end. It cannot endure under an awakened, +enlightened public opinion. Negroes, all other things equal, will be +admitted to labor unions, or labor unions will lose the potentiality and +force they should wield in labor and industrial affairs. + +The Negro's contribution to the recent war and to previous conflicts, +has earned him beyond question or challenge, a right to just +consideration in the military and naval establishment of the nation. +America, grudging as she has been in the past to enlarge his rights, or +even to guarantee those which she has granted, has grown too great +indeed. Her discipline has been too real to deny him this fair +consideration. There will be more Negro units in the Regular Army and +National Guard organizations; untrammelled facilities for training, in +government, state and college institutions. + +Selective draft figures having revealed the Negro as a better; if not +the best, physical risk, will make it easier for him to secure life +insurance, which; after all is a plain business proposition. Insurance +companies are after business and are not concerned with racial +distinctions where the risk is good. The draft has furnished figures +regarding the Negro's health and longevity which hitherto were not +available to insurance actuaries. Now that they have them, no reason +exists for denying insurance facilities to the race. + +With a growing, every minute, of a better understanding between the +races; with the Negro learning thrift through Liberty Bonds, Savings +Stamps and the lessons of the war; with an encouragement to own +property and take out insurance; being vastly enlightened through his +military service, and with improved industrial conditions about to +appear, he is started on a better road, to end only when he shall have +reached the full attainment belonging to the majesty of AMERICAN +CITIZENSHIP. + +With this start, lynchings, the law's delays, the denial of full +educational advantages; segregation, insanitary conditions, unjust +treatment in reform and penal institutions, will vanish from before him; +will be conditions that were, but are no more. + +There is a predominance of Anglo-Saxon heritage in the white blood of +America. The Anglo-Saxon was the first to establish fair play and make +it his shibboleth. Should he deny it to the Negro; his proudest and most +vaunted principle would prove to be a doddering lie; a shimmering +evanescence. + +HE WILL NOT DENY IT! + + * * * * * + +NOTE--UP TO THIS POINT THE TEXT FACES ONLY HAVE BEEN NUMBERED. THE 64 +FULL PAGES OF HALF-TONE PHOTOGRAPHS (OVER 100 SEPARATE PICTURES) AND THE +PLATES, TINTED IN MANY COLORS (NOT PRINTED ON BACK) BRING THE TOTAL +NUMBER OF PAGES TO OVER FOUR HUNDRED. + + +THE PEACE TREATY + +The treaty of peace was drawn by the allied and associated powers at +Versailles, and was there delivered to the German Government's +delegation on May 5, 1919--the fourth anniversary of the Lusitania +sinking. + +It stipulates in the preamble that war will have ceased when all powers +have signed and the treaty shall have come into force by ratification of +the signatures. + +It names as party of the one part the United States, The British Empire, +France, Italy, Japan, described as the five allied and associated +powers, and Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Equador, Greece, +Guatemala, Haiti, the Hedjaz, Honduras, Liberia, Nicaragua, Panama, +Peru, Portugal, Roumania, Serbia, Siam, Czecho-Slovakia and Uruguay; and +on the other side Germany. + +The treaty contains agreements in substance as follows: + +Section 1. The League of Nations--The league of nations may question +Germany at any time for a violation of the neutralized zone east of the +Rhine as a threat against the world's peace. It will work out the +mandatory system to be applied to the former German colonies and act as +a final court in the Belgian-German frontier and in disputes as to the +Kiel canal, and decide certain economic and financial problems. + +Membership--The members of the league will be the signatories of the +covenant, and other states invited to accede. A state may withdraw upon +giving two years' notice, if it has fulfilled all its international +obligations. + +Section 2. A permanent secretariat will be established at Geneva. The +league will meet at stated intervals. Each state will have one vote and +not more than three representatives. + +The council will consist of representatives of the five great allied +powers, with representatives of four members selected by the assembly +from time to time. It will meet at least once a year. Voting will be by +states. Each state will have one vote and not more than one +representative. + +The council will formulate plans for a reduction of armaments for +consideration and adoption. These plans will be revised every ten years. + +Preventing War--Upon any war, or threat of war, the council will meet +to consider what common action shall be taken. Members are pledged to +submit matters of dispute to arbitration or inquiry and not to resort to +war until three months after the award. If a member fails to carry out +the award, the council will propose the necessary measures. The council +will establish a permanent court of international justice to determine +international disputes or to give advisory opinions. If agreement cannot +be secured, the members reserve the right to take such action as may be +necessary for the maintenance of right and justice. Members resorting to +war in disregard of the covenant will immediately be debarred from all +intercourse with other members. The council will in such cases consider +what military or naval action can be taken by the league collectively. + +The covenant abrogates all obligations between members inconsistent with +its terms, but nothing in it shall affect the validity of international +engagements such as treaties of arbitration or regional understandings +like the Monroe doctrine, for securing the maintenance of peace. + +The Mandatory System--Nations not yet able to stand by themselves will +be intrusted to advanced nations who are best fitted to guide them. In +every case the mandatory will render an annual report, and the degree of +its authority will be defined. + +International Provisions--The members of the league will in general, +through the international organization established by the labor +convention to secure and maintain fair conditions of labor for men, +women and children in their own countries, and undertake to secure just +treatment of the native inhabitants of territories under their control; +they will intrust the league with general supervision over the execution +of agreements for the suppression of traffic in women and children, +etc.; and the control of the trade in arms and ammunition with countries +in which control is necessary; they will make provision for freedom of +communications and transit and equitable treatment for commerce of all +members of the league, with special reference to the necessities of +regions devastated during the war; and they will endeavor to take steps +for international prevention and control of disease. + +Boundaries of Germany--Germany cedes to France Alsace-Lorraine 5,600 +square miles to the southwest, and to Belgium two small districts +between Luxemburg and Holland, totaling 989 square miles. She also cedes +to Poland the southeastern tip of Silesia, beyond and including Oppeln, +most of Posen and West Prussia, 27,686 square miles, East Prussia being +isolated from the main body by a part of Poland. She loses sovereignty +over the northeastern tip of East Prussia, forty square miles north of +the Eiver Memel, and the internationalized areas about Danzig, 729 +square miles, and the basin of the Saar, 738 square miles, between the +western border of the Rhenish Palatinate of Bavaria and the southeast +corner of Luxemburg; and Schleswig, 2,767 square miles. + +Section 3. Belgium--Germany consents to the abrogation of the treaties +of 1839 by which Belgium was established as a neutral state, and agrees +to any convention with which the allied and associated powers may +determine to replace them. + +Luxemburg--Germany renounces her various treaties and conventions with +the grand duchy of Luxemburg, and recognizes that it ceased to be a part +of the German zolverein from January 1,1919, and renounces all right of +exploitation of the railroads. + +Left Bank of the Rhine--Germany will not maintain any fortifications +or armed forces less than fifty kilometers to the east of the Rhine, +hold any maneuvers, nor within that limit maintain any works to +facilitate mobilization. In case of violation she shall be regarded as +committing a hostile act against the powers who sign the present treaty +and as intending to disturb the peace of the world. + +Alsace and Lorraine--The territories ceded to Germany by the treaty of +Frankfort are restored to France with their frontiers as before 1871, to +date from the signing of the armistice, and to be free of all public +debts. + +All public property and private property of German ex-sovereigns passes +to France without payment or credit. France is substituted for Germany +as regards ownership of the railroads and rights over concessions of +tramways. The Rhine bridges pass to France, with the obligation for the +upkeep. + +Political condemnations during the war are null and void and the +obligation to repay war fines is established as in other parts of allied +territory. + +The Saar--In compensation for the destruction of coal mines in +northern France and as payment on account of reparation, Germany cedes +to France full ownership of the coal mines of the Saar basin with the +subsidiaries, accessories and facilities. + +After fifteen years a plebiscite will be held by communes to ascertain +the desires of the population as to continuance of the existing regime +under the league of nations, union with France or union with Germany. +The right to vote will belong to all inhabitants of over 20 years +resident therein at the time of the signature. + +Section 4. German Austria--Germany recognizes the total independence +of German Austria in the boundaries traced. + +Germany recognizes the entire independence of the Czecho-Slovak state. +The five allied and associated powers will draw up regulations assuring +East Prussia full and equitable access to and use of the Vistula. + +Danzig--Danzig and the district immediately about it is to be +constituted into the free city of Danzig under the guaranty of the +league of nations. + +Denmark--The frontier between Germany and Denmark will be fixed by +the self-determination of the population. + +The fortifications, military establishments and harbors of the islands +of Helgoland and Dune are to be destroyed under the supervision of the +allies by German labor and at Germany's expense. They may not be +reconstructed, nor any similar fortifications built in the future. + +Russia--Germany agrees to respect as permanent and inalienable the +independence of all territories which were part of the former Russian +empire, to accept abrogation of the Brest-Litovsk and other treaties +entered into with the Maximalist government of Russia, to recognize the +full force of all treaties entered into by the allied and associated +powers with states which were a part of the former Russian empire, and +to recognize the frontiers as determined therein. The allied and +associated powers formally reserve the right of Russia to obtain +restitution and reparation of the principles of the present treaty. + + +SECTION 5. German Rights Outside of Europe--Outside Europe, Germany +renounces all rights, title and privileges as to her own or her allied +territories, to all the allied and associated powers. + +German Colonies--Germany renounces in favor of the allied and +associated powers her overseas possessions with all rights and titles +therein. All movable and immovable property belonging to the German +empire or to any German state shall pass to the government exercising +authority therein. Germany undertakes to pay reparation for damage +suffered by French nationals in the Kameruns or its frontier zone +through the acts of German civil and military authorities and of +individual Germans from January 1, 1900, to August 1, 1914. + +China--Germany renounces in favor of China all privileges and +indemnities resulting from the Boxer protocol of 1901, and all +buildings, wharves, barracks, forts, munitions or warships, wireless +plants, and other property (except diplomatic) in the German concessions +of Tientsin and Hankow and in other Chinese territory except Kiaochow, +and agrees to return to China at her own expense all the astronomical +instruments seized in 1901. Germany accepts the abrogation of the +concessions of Hankow and Tientsin, China agreeing to open them to +international use. + +Siam--Germany recognizes that all agreements between herself and Siam, +including the right of extra territory, ceased July 22, 1917. All German +public property except consular and diplomatic premises passes, without +compensation, to Siam. + +Liberia--Germany renounces all rights under the international +arrangements of 1911 and 1912 regarding Liberia. + +Morocco--Germany renounces all her rights, titles and privileges +under the act of Algeciras and the Franco-German agreements of 1909 and +1911 and under all treaties and arrangements with the sheriffian empire. +All movable and immovable German property may be sold at public auction, +the proceeds to be paid to the sheriffian government and deducted from +the reparation account. + +Egypt--Germany recognizes the British protectorate over Egypt declared +on December 19, 1914, and transfers to Great Britain the powers given to +the late sultan of Turkey for securing the free navigation of the Suez +canal. + +Turkey and Bulgaria--Germany accepts all arrangements which the allied +and associated powers make with Turkey and Bulgaria with reference to +any right, privileges or interests claimed in those countries by Germany +or her nationals and not dealt with elsewhere. + +Shantung--Germany cedes to Japan all rights, titles and privileges +acquired by her treaty with China of March 6, 1897, and other +agreements, as to Shantung. All German state property in Kiaochow is +acquired by Japan free of all charges. + + +SECTION 6. The demobilization of the German army must take place within +two months. Its strength may not exceed 100,000, including 4,000 +officers, with not over seven divisions of infantry, also three of +cavalry, and to be devoted exclusively to maintenance of internal order +and control of frontiers. The German general staff is abolished. The +army administrative service, consisting of civilian personnel, not +included in the number of effectives, is reduced to one-tenth the total +in the 1913 budget. Employes of the German states, such as customs +officers, first guards and coast guards, may not exceed the number in +1913. Gendarmes and local police may be increased only in accordance +with the growth of population. None of these may be assembled for +military training. + +Armaments--All establishments for the manufacturing, preparation or +storage of arms and munitions of war, must be closed, and their +personnel dismissed. The manufacture or importation of poisonous gases +is forbidden as well as the importation of arms, munitions and war +material. + +Conscription--Conscription is abolished in Germany. The personnel +must be maintained by voluntary enlistment for terms of twelve +consecutive years, the number of discharges before the expiration of +that term not in any year to exceed 5 per cent of the total effectives. +Officers remaining in the service must agree to serve to the age of 45 +years and newly appointed officers must agree to serve actively for +twenty-five years. + +No military schools except those absolutely indispensable for the units +allowed shall exist in Germany. All measures of mobilization are +forbidden. + +All fortified and field works within fifty kilometers (thirty miles) +east of the Rhine will be dismantled. The construction of any new +fortifications there is forbidden. + +Control--Interallied commissions of control will see to the +execution of the provisions, for which a time limit is set, the maximum +named being three months. Germany must give them complete facilities, +and pay for the labor and material necessary in demolition, destruction +or surrender of war equipment. + +Naval--The German navy must be demobilized within a period of two +months. All German vessels of war in foreign ports, and the German high +sea fleet interned at Scapa Flow will be surrendered, the final +disposition of these ships to be decided upon by the allied and +associated powers. Germany must surrender forty-five modern destroyers, +fifty modern torpedo boats, and all submarines, with their salvage +vessels; all war vessels under construction, including submarines, must +be broken up. + +Germany is required to sweep up the mines in the North sea and the +Baltic. German fortifications in the Baltic must be demolished. + +During a period of three months after the peace, German high power +wireless stations at Nauen, Hanover and Berlin, will not be permitted to +send any messages except for commercial purposes. + +Air--The armed forces of Germany must not include any military or +naval air forces except one hundred unarmed seaplanes. No aviation +grounds or dirigible sheds are to be allowed within 150 kilometers of +the Rhine or the eastern or southern frontiers. The manufacture of +aircraft and parts of aircraft is forbidden. All military and +aeronautical material must be surrendered. + +The repatriation of German prisoners and interned civilians is to be +carried out without delay and at Germany's expense. + +Both parties will respect and maintain the graves of soldiers and +sailors buried on their territories. + +Responsibility and Reparation--The allied and associated powers will +publicly arraign William II of Hohenzollern, formerly German emperor, +before a special tribunal composed of one judge from each of the five +great powers, with full right of defense. + +Persons accused of having committed acts in violation of the laws and +customs of war are to be tried and punished by military tribunals under +military law. + +SECTION 7. Reparation--Germany accepts responsibility for all loss and +damages to which civilians of the allies have been subjected by the war, +and agrees to compensate them. Germany binds herself to repay all sums +borrowed by Belgium from the Allies. Germany irrevocably recognizes the +authority of a reparation commission named by the Allies to enforce and +supervise these payments. She further agrees to restore to the Allies +cash and certain articles which can be identified. As an immediate step +toward restoration, Germany shall pay within two years $5,000,000,000 in +either gold, goods, ships or other specific forms of payment. + +The measures which the allied and associated powers shall have the right +to take, in case of voluntary default by Germany, and which Germany +agrees not to regard as acts of war, may include economic and financial +prohibitions and reprisals and in general such other measures as the +respective governments may determine to be necessary in the +circumstances. + +The commission may require Germany to give from time to time, by way of +guaranty, issues of bonds or other obligations to cover such claims as +are not otherwise satisfied. + +The German government recognizes the right of the Allies to the +replacement, ton for ton and class for class, of all merchant ships and +fishing boats lost or damaged owing to the war, and agrees to cede to +the Allies all German merchant ships of sixteen hundred tons gross and +upward. + +The German government further agrees to build merchant ships for the +account of the Allies to the amount of not exceeding 200,000 tons' gross +annually during the next five years. + +SECTION 8. Devastated Areas--Germany undertakes to devote her +economic resources directly to the physical restoration of the invaded +areas. + +Coal--Germany is to deliver annually for ten years to France coal +equivalent to the difference between annual pre-war output of Nord and +Pas de Calais mines and annual production during above ten year period. +Germany further gives options over ten years for delivery of 7,000,000 +tons coal per year to France, in addition to the above, of 8,000,000 +tons to Belgium, and of an amount rising from 4,500,000 tons in 1919 to +1920 to 8,500,000 tons in 1923 to 1924 to Italy, at prices to be fixed +as prescribed. Coke may be taken in place of coal in ratio of three tons +to four. + +Dyestuffs and Drugs--Germany accords option to the commission on +dyestuffs and chemical drugs, including quinine, up to 50 per cent of +total stock to Germany at the time the treaty comes into force, and +similar option during each six months to end of 1924 up to 25 per cent +of previous six months' output. + +Cables--Germany renounces all title to specific cables, value of such +as were privately owned being credited to her against reparation +indebtedness. + +Restitution--As reparation for the destruction of the library of +Louvain, Germany is to hand over manuscripts, early printed books, +prints, etc., to the equivalent of those destroyed, and all works of art +taken from Belgium and France. + +SECTION 9. Finances--Germany is required to pay the total cost of the +armies of occupation from the date of the armistice as long as they are +maintained in German territory. + +Germany is to deliver all sums deposited in Germany by Turkey and +Austria-Hungary in connection with the financial support extended by her +to them during the war and to transfer to the Allies all claims against +Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria or Turkey in connection with agreements made +during the war. + +Germany guarantees to repay to Brazil the fund arising from the sale of +Sao Paulo coffee which she refused to allow Brazil to withdraw from +Germany. + +Contracts--Pre-war contracts between allied and associated nations, +excepting the United States, Japan and Brazil, and German nationals, are +canceled except for debts for accounts already performed. + +Opium--The contracting powers agree, whether or not they have signed +and ratified the opium convention of January 23, 1912, or signed the +special protocol opened at The Hague in accordance with resolutions +adopted by the third opium conference in 1914, to bring the said +convention into force by enacting within twelve months of the time of +peace the necessary legislation. + +Missions--The allied and associated powers agree that the properties +of religious missions in territories belonging or ceded to them shall +continue in their work under the control of the powers, Germany +renouncing all claims in their behalf. + +SECTION 11. Air Navigation--Aircraft of the allied and associated +powers shall have full liberty of passage and landing over and in German +territory; equal treatment with German planes as to use of German +airdromes, and with most favored nation planes as to internal commercial +traffic in Germany. + +SECTION 13.--Freedom of Transit--Germany must grant freedom of transit +through her territories by rail or water to persons, goods, ships, +carriages and mail from or to any of the allied or associated powers, +without customs or transit duties, undue delays, restrictions and +discriminations based on nationality, means of transport or place of +entry or departure. Goods in transit shall be assured all possible speed +of journey, especially perishable goods. + +(The remainder of Section 12 concerns the use of European waterways and +railroads.) + +SECTION 13. International Labor Organizations--Members of the league +of nations agree to establish a permanent organization to promote +international adjustment of labor conditions, to consist of an annual +international labor conference and an international labor office. + +The former is composed of four representatives of each state, two from +the government and one each from the employers and the employed; each of +them may vote individually. It will be a deliberative legislative body, +its measures taking the form of draft conventions or recommendations for +legislation, which if passed by two-thirds vote must be submitted to the +lawmaking authority in every state participating. Each government may +either enact the terms into law; approve the principles, but modify them +to local needs; leave the actual legislation in case of a federal state +to local legislatures; or reject the convention altogether without +further obligation. + +The international labor office is established at the seat of the league +of nations as part of its organization. It is to collect and distribute +information on labor through the world and prepare agents for the +conference. It will publish a periodical in French and English and +possibly other languages. Each state agrees to make to it, for +presentation to the conference, an annual report of measures taken to +execute accepted conventions. The governing body is its executive. It +consists of twenty-four members, twelve representing the government, six +the employers and six the employes, to serve for three years. + +On complaint that any government has failed to carry out a convention to +which it is a party the governing body may make inquiries directly to +that government and in case the reply is unsatisfactory may publish the +complaint with comment. A complaint by one government against another +may be referred by the governing body to a commission of inquiry +nominated by the secretary-general of the league. If the commission +report fails to bring satisfactory action, the matter may be taken to a +permanent court of international justice for final decision. The chief +reliance for securing enforcement of the law will be publicity with a +possibility of economic action in the background. + +The first meeting of the conference will take place in October, 1919, at +Washington, to discuss the eight-hour day or forty-eight hour week; +prevention of unemployment; extension and application of the +international conventions adopted at Bern in 1906 prohibiting night work +for women and the use of white phosphorus in the manufacture of matches; +and employment of women and children at night or in unhealthful work, of +women before and after childbirth, including maternity benefit, and of +children as regards minimum age. + +Nine principles of labor conditions are recognized on the ground that +the well-being, physical and moral, of the industrial wage earners is of +supreme international importance. With exceptions necessitated by +differences of climate, habits and economic developments, they include: +The guiding principle that labor should not be regarded merely as a +commodity or article of commerce; right of association of employers and +employes is granted; and a wage adequate to maintain a reasonable +standard of life; the eight-hour day or forty-eight hour week; a weekly +rest of at least twenty-four hours, which should include Sunday wherever +practicable; abolition of child labor and assurance of the continuation +of the education and proper physical development of children; equal pay +for equal work as between men and women; equitable treatment of all +workers lawfully resident therein, including foreigners, and a system of +inspection in which women shall take part. + +SECTION 14. Guaranties--As a guaranty for the execution of the treaty, +German territory west of the Rhine, together with bridgeheads, will be +occupied by allied and associated troops for fifteen years. If before +the expiration of the fifteen years Germany complies with all the treaty +undertakings, the occupying forces will be withdrawn. + +Eastern Europe--All German troops at present in territories to the +east of the new frontier shall return as soon as the allied and +associated governments deem wise. + +SECTION 15. Germany agrees to recognize the full validity of the +treaties of peace and additional conventions to be concluded by the +allied and associated powers with the powers allied with Germany; to +agree to the decisions to be taken as to the territories of +Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey, and to recognize the new states in +the frontiers to be fixed for them. + +Germany agrees not to put forward any pecuniary claim against any allied +or associated power signing the present treaty, based on events previous +to the coming into force of the treaty. + +Germany accepts all decrees as to German ships and goods made by any +allied or associated prize court. The Allies reserve the right to +examine all decisions of German prize courts. + +The treaty is to become effective in all respects for each power on the +date of deposition of its ratification. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the American Negro in the +Great World War, by W. 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