The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-21

IN ARTS, December 20.-(Special.)
On July IA. last. the famous
black contingent of the French
army defiled before the President and
half a million people on the Long
champs race course. Their appearance
was greeted with the same wide en-
thusiasm which manifested itself some
six years ago when the first French
military air craft lowered and maneuv-
cred over the assembled troops. This
was the answer of the French nation
to the recent formidable increase of
Germanys fighting force The French
people realized that they possessed au-
other immensely valuable adjunct for
the future struggle-the winning
card" as they call 1t, in the great game
of skill which they believe is to decide
the fate of Europe.
AS far as numbers go, the French
know that they will always be inferior
to their eastern neighbors, but they
consider that valor and skill will make
up for this deficiency. That a few
regiments of black troops might well
change defeat into victory. or trans
form the enemy's retreat into disas-
trous rout. is admitted by all those who
have first-hand knowledge of the
French colonial troops. Colonel Mar
chand of Fashoda fame. recently said:
Every black soldier of France Is
hero he fights with the fanatical cour-
age of the Mohametan, and can endure
privatons that would decimate white
troops Now that skill and discipline
nave been added to his native bravery
he Is the most formidable fighting
machine in the world. France will not
hesitate to use these troops in Europe
when occasion arises"
At the conclusion of his speech Col
onel Marchand paid a high tribute to
General Mangin. who has devoted his
whole career to the organization and
Improvement of the French colonial
army 1t was General Mangin-ther
captain-who brought black troops 10
Paris for the first time in July, 1892
His men have the deepest affection
Tor his and he is still known as &c
pere des tirailleurs." Without his en-
ergy and pertinancy. the black arinv
would still be what 1t was then--a
small contingent of very uncertain
value. BY hammering away at the
question week in and week out for six
years. the French public has aroused
from Its apathy. and parliament took
up the question. The result was tho
recent significant demonstration at
10000 men in the black army Its four-
der's efforts We're recognized by the
commander In chief of the French army
who raised him from the rank of col
onel to that of general. and awarded
the native troops the mark of honor
of which they had long been worthy
a flag of their own to fight and die
for
Speaking to the writer, General Mar
gin gave the following account of his
work:
I'm 1871, after signing the treaty
of Frankfort, France possessed 37.000,-
600 Inhabitants and Germany $4,000, 600
At the present time France has 39,500.-
600 and Germany 67,000,000 The pop
ulatfon of France now remains station
airy. whereas that of Germany increases
by about 100000 year. From q mil
itary point of view, this is a deplora 10
situation, and can oily be remedied by
incorporating in our army increasingly
large numbers of black troops.
"Our colonies can give us an mex
hanstible supply. The most noteworthy
feat of colonization and civilization in
the nineteenth century was the division