Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1909-10-09
Black
Co:nscripts
in
Europe


A scheme for introducing colored
troops on a large scale into Europe
seems to be seriously entertained in
France. The details may be found In
two articles recently published in the
Revue de Paris by an authority en-
African AFFAIRS, Colonel Mangin. The
Colonel proposes the creation of a
standing black army Of 10000. with a
reserve Of $4,000 in French West
Africa. to be used in France in case
OF war. He reckons that the first di.
visions Of this force could be landed
at Bordeaux or iMarseilles within
eighteen days Of the order to mobi.
lie, and that before the campaign
was fairly under way the home troops
might be REINFORCED By 100000 loyal
and highly efficient negroes. His
scheme goes further. He renews the
proposal made several years ago by
M. Messimy Of establishing conscrip.
tion among the natives Of Algeria,
which measure, according to him.
would bring about 100000 Arabs to
the colors. To tranquillize French
settlers In that colony he suggests
that 10000 Arabs should be perma.
nently garrisoned in France and their
place in Algeria taken by 10000 from
the negro army. In the case OF Ell.
ropean war he would leave 10000 to
guard the colony and transport all the
rest to France. Counting in the re.
serve, he prophesies total addition
to the home forces OF 100000. which,
as he says. might very we'll change
the issue Of campaign.
So responsible an organ as the
Paris Temps Endorses this scheme
august y In these terms:
With the two year law the number
OF those now summoned to the colors
at home does not exceed $4,000: ten
years hence It Is expected to fall to
$4,000: twenty years hence to al.
900. That will mean q shortage OF CO..
900 men in the supposed effective" Of
our army. The idea OF All.
ing In this gap with natives from our
colonies IL new. and people will re.
quire time to grow accustomed to Il.
but we believe that they will grow
accustomed to II. Our immense co.
lonial empire is destined to an ever
increasing prominence In our national
existence. and as the help we may
draw from II becomes better under.
stood. public opinion will demand that
Il be utilized.
The only objection to Colonel Man.
gins scheme considered BY the
Temps IL the expense involved. est!.
mated at 46.000.O00 francs a year. and
It only mentions that objection to dis.
miss It. This sum. alas! will be
placed at our disposal" It remarks,
"by the mere action Of the falling of
in the birth rate In France" since the
said shortage OF $4,000 In the home
army will release 100000 francs a
year In the military budget. 1T 10 not
money but men that we shall need"
Il II not dinicult. however. to imag.
Inc other objections to the plan. Forty
thousand Arabs permanently garris.
oned In France would mean q consid.
cradle adulteration Of the nations
blood In the course Of time. and 100..
900 negroes. though only imported for
the duration Of a year. might ulti.
mately embarrass France with some.
thing approaching to . "black ques.
ton" The prejudice hitherto preva.
lent among European nations against
employing colored troops there may
perhaps be passed over as having no
solid sanction to enforce. but more
important question arises when we
ask: What would be the effect In
Africa itself OF training large native
forces to such eficiency that they
would be capable OF holding their own
against white troops? What about
the often repeated rumors of an i'm.
pending Panislamite holy crusade
awaiting the first chance to set tho
Dark Continent aname against Euro.
peans from end to end? On this
point. We imagine. the other European
Powers interested In Africa might
have something to say about this
French scheme. Having created this
puissant modern army on African soil.
would France be prepared to control
It? Colonel Mangin says the native
troops would be absolutely loyal. but
1t may be suspected that that would
depend upon circumstances. More.
over. II France betook herself to this
black support-which Germany. by the
way, would have little chance of
commanding-Great Britain might ma.
turally feel bound to follow suit; and
to control an Africa shining DER with
civil swords" might prove almost as
difiicult q task for these Powers as
holding their own In the European