The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-11-13
HOW FRANCES BLACK MEN FROM
AFRICA FIGHT THEIR BATTLES
BY PAUL SCOTT MowRER.

principal categories of foreign troops
fighting side by side with the French
to defend this lovely land-the Brit
ish from across the channel and the
Algerians, Moore and Senegalese
from across the Mediterranean in
Africa. Dozens Of correspondents
have followed the British expedition
airy force to chant the heroism of
Tommy Atkins. But though the exact
figures are not available, believe the
French African troops now facing the
Germans are about as numerous as
the Britlsh-namely, in the neighbor-
hood of 100000. Somebody ought to
chronicle their glories, too-some
strolling poet of the Atlas, some black
Voodoo with an epic turn of mind.
In the meantime ! may be permitted
| to tell the little have learned about
them, as l have seen them in these
old French towns and marching
among the vineyards of Champagne.
You may read In the Old Testament
how David, after stunning Goliath OF
Gath with stone, cut off the giants
head and carried 1t back to exhibit in
camp; or, how Joshua and his Israel
ties, on taking Jericho, utterly de-
stroyed all that was in the city, both
man and women. young and old, OK
| and sheep and ass with the edge of
the sword" This was the ancient
| idea of warfare-not merely to defeat
the enemy but to exterminate him
and carry off the heads of his cham
pions as trophies. 1t is the idea of
the Turcos and Senegalese riiemen
to this day.
Can't Change Nature Habits.
These Africans have by no means
been able to shuttle off their native
habits just because they have been
brought to fight in the white mans
battles. All of their officers are
French One of these officers con-
greatest difficulty" In persuadlng the
men to behave in a civilized manner
toward prisoners and the enemy's
wounded. Indeed, | should say that
"the greatest difficulty is a euphe-
mism. Somewhere up near the Belgian
frontier the advancing Germans found
a barn with so wounded Turcos in
it, They burned and dynamited the
building just as it stood.
Two Kinds Of African Troops.
Roughly speaking there are two
sorts of French African troops-Tur-
cos and Senegalese. Turco is a gen.
eral name, covering Moors, Berber
cavalry and Algerians, but properly
applying only to the last, so called
in the Crimean war by the Russians,
who mistook them for Turks. The
Turcos wear white or light blue bag
gy trousers, light blue jackets and red
hats. They are recruited promiscu
ously, among the various peoples in
hablting the North African coast, but
all are Mohammedans, and in most
of them Arab blood predominates.
They wage war with the same fanatic
fury which, In their forefathers, the
Saracens, aroused the wonder of the
Crusaders, and their speciality is the
bayonet charge
But the day of cold steel and the
hand to hand fight, though by no
means past, is gradually passing, as
the Turcos have found to their cost.
A division of them was in the rear
guard which covered the French re-
treat from Belgium. At Signy-rAb-
baye they made a stand. The pursu-
ing Germans halted in the fringe OF a
wood and presently the Turcos, whom
their officers were unable longer to
restrain, charged with the bayonet.
Over the stubble fields where the
wheat still stood In the shock swept
the long, brightly colored line-blue,
red, white, brown-and the silver Of
sunlight on polished metal AS they
drew nearer to the foe they redoubled
their shrill yells and began discharg-
ing their guns. Four hundred yards,
300 yards, 200 yards! Where we're
the Germans? Had the visible fury
of the onslaught already frozen their
hearts? At 100 yards a terrific fusil-
lade of rifles and quickfirers opened
from the woods. The painting Tur-
cos, undaunted. increased their speed,
sure now of victory, when suddenly
barbed wire! The German had
meshed the field with barbed wire.
The Turcos were caught like flies in
the cruel web. Half of them re-
turned That, as far as l know, was
the first and thus far the only great
bayonet charge of the present war,
though minor engagements Of this
nature have been frequent and effect
i've.
at Was Written He Should Die"
1t is curious how the oriental fatal
ism of the men soon spreads to their
occidental leaders. Last night in a
quiet cafe of this town l was con-
versing with a sergeant of the Mo-
roccan fusileers. He was French
man of Lyons who had served four
years in Algeria and two in Morocco
"a fine, brown-eyed, handsome fell
low, in his baggy, light blue trousers,
his jacket of the same color decked