The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-22
NEGRO TROOPS
NOT TO BE USED
AT THE SOUTHERN POSTS
OPINION OF REGULAR ARMY Of
FICERS IN SAVANNAH.

Difficulties i'm Way of Such Action
Too Great to BE OvercOme-Act OF
Congress Would he Necessary.
Provisions of United States Stat
utes-NegrO Could Not Make an
Efficient Coast ArtiIIeryman.
Want Only Best of SOIdiery-FOrt
Screven "A Good Example.
Army officers. though guarded in
their statements. are not inclined to be-
lieve anything more will be heard of
Gen. Barry's suggestion to the effect
that negro troops be stationed at the
coast defenses throughout the South.
They take this position on two
grounds, first, because of the methods
that would have to be employed to
make such a course possible; and sec
ondly, because they do not believe ne
gro troops would be efficient.
AS to the first grounds, they main
tain it is impossible of legalizing such
action, because congressional action is
necessary. They hold that despite the
apparent negrophilistic attitude of
Northern Republicans, there is still a
prejudice against the negro that would
tend to work against the passage of
such an act The influence of the reg
ular army officers, or at least of the
great majority, would also be against
increasing the number of negro troops
Limit to Negro Troops.
Under the revised statutes Of the
United States only two regiments of
negro infantrymen and two regiments
of negro cavalrymen are allowed.
Section 11O4 reads, "The enlisted men
of two regiments of cavalry shall be
colored men," Section 110S reads "The
enlisted men of two regiments of in
fantry shall be colored men," These
are the only two sections of the
statutes, of the S14 that deal with the
organization, government, etc, of the
regular army, that provide for negro
troops. No provision is made for ne
groes in any save these two branches.
1t is further pointed out that though
Congress has from time to time, in
creased and decreased the number of
men allowed the regular army, never
has there been any change in regard
TO negro troops. This precedent is
likely to be maintained.
Negroes Not Efficient.
1.-THE strongest ground against al
lowing negroes to enter the Coast Ar
tillery, however Cor, for that matter,
any artillery service), is that they
would be inefficient and utterly un-
able to carry out the duties required
by the service" said a military man
in discussing the subject "A knowl-
edge of the service makes this appar-
ent.
"A great deal depends, as far as ef-
ficiency in coast artillery is concerned,
on a knowledge of mathematics, on
quick thinking, and on absolute accu-
racy. Angles are measured by math-
ematical instruments, computations
are made with allowances for the
movement of the ships. the course Of
the projected missiles, the range of the
rifles, and many other minute details.
Negroes could not do this work, as a
rule The educated negro who could
handle such matters efficiently is the
great exception and so very rare, in
deed as to make him no factor as an
element in the situation, save as
working against his race by being
the exception that proves the opposite
rule
And even if the computation was
done by white officers and only the
orders regarding aiming given the
negro. il is doubtful If he would even
GENTLY rapid in handling the big guns.
For these reasons the idea of negroes
in the coast artillery is scoffed at.
Desire to Raise Standard.
There is a general DESIRE" said one
army officer yesterday, ito raise the
standard of the coast artillery. 1t has
been suggested and evenly very seri-
ously agitated, that the pay of the
coast artillerymen be increased, In the
hope this would attract a higher and
better educated class of men into the
service. 1t is more probable. to my
mind, that such an act viii be passed
than any introducing negro troops into
that branch of the service"
In enlistment cases. where no choice
Is expressed by the recruit, II he is a
man Of advanced education and of high
standing IN the community he is sent
20 the coast artillery service. Every
thing IS being done TO make this an
attractive branch, and II is the desire
of every officer to raise the standard OF
his men.
Fort Screven serves as a good ex-
ample. The soldiers stationed there
are OF a good class OF citizens and as
result Fort Screven ranks among
the highest FOR excellence IN discipllne
craftsmanship and post morale. n has
always been pointed 10 with pride nv
the officers stationed there, and the
tendency 40 constantly raise the stand-
ard, a. shown by the Fort gcreven
officers Is found among all the army
oihcerf IN that branch Of the service.
-e-e-s-
hfaunfon Academy Burns.
HlrHmouI Va Mru % tf...... -