The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-10-09
Will INCREASE
AFRICAN LEGION
France Has Black Army and With
Il the Negro Peril

paris. oct. As France destined TO !
J., overrun with blacks as is certain
,,rts of the United States? There are
o,nher or thinking men here who
.,o such a thing happening if what
,,.,o,rs IN be the republics ultimate
military policy be carried out.
..pl,,k France" That is the latest
c,olic nhrasc 10 denote Frances black
..,lopies in Africa and her negro sol-
l,srs there. The average Frenchman
thinks of il with "A thrill OF pride bu.
,hora are those who Tear that thu
.,untry Is brewing for itself a pot -.
,,,pbl, without realizing 1t through
che fast increasing native African sol
tisrv and the proposed importation Of
thcn in;o France
The falling birth rate has made
drastic action necessary. No attempt
was made TO conceal the fact that
,bis was the cause for returning to tho
tbree-ycar military service law just
missed by both the chamber of depu-
tles and the senate. But even with
Is not zig enough; something else had
IN ne done That thing seems Ia be-
the formation of the mightiest negro
legion the world has ever seen. Sena
TOR Gervais is fighting for 100000
lack men but others say that even
mally there will be under the tri-color
of France an army Of native African
100000 strong
The black soldier was sanctioned by
Iaw i'm 1910 There are 10000 of him
already
Solved Army Problems BY Negroes
The argument for the innovation
e simple France. being at a stand
stll. or worse. so far as population is
concerned, and Germany, its mortal
enemy. being on the rapid increase
II is pointed out that no other alterna-
i've presented Itself Manifestly
France. with its 29.1OO.OOO people,
cannot provide white army as big
ag can Germany with its more than
10000 900. Germany's new law gives
n about 900 1000 soldiers on a peace
footing: Frances new law gives it
$4,000 In France every youth must
serve three years. In Germany he
serves two. suppose Germany like
wise should take the notion 10 adopt
70 thrae- year service. Germany would
have far more than a million men
ready to take the field at an instant's
notice and France, having already
zone IT'S limit. would be helpless to
meet the increase.
The only remedy for the situation,
If IS argued is to introduce the negro
INTO tho military scheme. There are
millions Of negroes in Frances African
dependencies and Col. Mangin and
col Marchand. heroic French leaders
IN Morocco. give them a good char
actor The thing to do is To use them.
they say.
And there. in the opinion of many,
is whore the trouble would begin, foT
it has noen found that in actual prac-
tico the Senegalian O. generic term
applied to all Frances black troops
whether Senegalians or noD is not
worth much as soldier unless he has
his family with him. He must carry
his wiro-or wives-along to act as
cook, porter and clothes member, and
"thout her he is utterly lost. There
tore If the SenccalianS he brought To
France, Mrs. Senogalian will have To
come too with the thousands upon
thousands Of little SencGalilns trailing
at her abbreviated skirts.
That, say those who have studied
United States history, is whore the
robule thickens.
Used Black Troops Against Germany
Tho first appearance OF blacks upon
the battle fields Of Europe came dur
ing the Franco-prussian war. France
using its "Turcos" as the Algerian
troops were called, against the Ger
mans. cvolting the bitterest criticism
IN the other side OF the Rhine.
II the negro is 10 he employed in
Europe considerable preparation has
To he done. The question of proper
food, clothing and general living con-
6tions will have To he studied The
White plague is frequent among no
grocs nowadays and hc is particularly
susceptible to the disease. The NOR
al confusion resulting from new
code nf rnannnrg VynuII haVa In ha