Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-02-06
FRANCES BLACK ARMY
May Prove the Winning Card in Game
That Will Decide Fate of Europe.

May Prove the Winning Gard in Game
That Will Decide Fate Of Europe.
VIII the Black Army prove the sal
vation of France? On the 14th of
July last the famous army defiled be-
fore the president and half million
people on the Longchamps race
course. Their appearance was greet
ed with the same wild enthusiasm
which manifested itself some six years
ago when the first French military
aircraft hovered and maneuvered over
/ the assembled troops.
This was the answer Of the French
nation to the recent formidable in
crease of Germany's fighting force.
The French people realized that they
possessed another immensely valuable
adjunct for the future struggle-the
winning card" as they call it, in the
great game Of skill which they believe
is to decide the fate of Europe.
So far as number 60, 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 we'll
change defeat into victory, or trans
form the enemy's retreat into a dis
astrous rout, Is declared by 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 fanatical
courage Of the Mahometan, and can
endure privation that would decimate
white troops. Now that skill and dis
cipline have 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"
Colonel Marchand paid a glowing
tribute to General Mangin, who has
devoted his whole career to the or
ganization and improvement Of the
French Colonial army. 1t was Gener-
al Mangin-then captain-who first
brought black troops to Paris In July,
1899. His men have the deepest af-
fection for him, and he is still known
as ''le pere des tirailleurs." Without
his energy and pertinacity the black
army would still be what 1t was then
"a small contingent of very uncertain
value.
Ry hammering away at the question
week in and week out for six years the
French public was aroused fpom it's
apathy and parliament took up the
question. The result was the recent
significant demonstration at Long
champs and a coming increase Of co.
900 in the black army. Its founders
efforts were recognized by the COM
mander-in-chie 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 have long been worthy
flag Of their own to fight and die
for.
Speaking to the writer General
Mangin gave the following account Of
his work:
In 1871, after signing the treaty Of
Frankfort, France possessed 37,000,-
600 inhabitants and Germany 39,000,-
900. At the present time France has
39,500,000 and Germany 67,O00,000.
The population Of France now re-
mains stationary, whereas that Of
Germany increases by about 1000, 900
year. From military point of view
this is deplorable situation, and can
|only be remedied by Incorporating in
our army increasingly large numbers
Of black troops.
Our colonies can give us an mex
haustible supply. The most notewor-
thy feat of colonization and civiliza-
tion in the nineteenth century was the
division of the Black Continent by the
three great European nations. Thanks
to the ability and tact of our pioneers,
France has acquired the respect and
affection of the best part-West Afri-
ca-with it's population of at least
100000. 1 have just returned from
long stay in that country and am
certain that we could get 10000 VOL
unteers year from West Africa alone.
The governor general of the country
has just confirmed this in a letter to
the minister Of war.
The warlike character Of our black
troops is well known. The Senegalian
riflernan is now one of the most pop
ular types, and his bravery is beyond
comparison. He can march for in
credible distances under a burning
sun, bear hunger and thirst without
complaining, and fight for three days
without rest. Commanded as they
now are by French officers, there are
no troops in the world who could
stand against them.
They have often been reproached
with having no initiative, but this lit
tie story shows that there is no foun-
uolioll lOi lIllS bCllSl III l0l1 zap
tain Cazemajou and Interpreter Olive
were sent on a mission into the dis
trict between the Niger and the Tchad
with a small escort of Senegalian ri
flemen. They were ambushed by the
Sultan Of Finder and assassinated. The
native sergeant and half a dozen men
were also captured and put in irons.
Corporal Kouby took command Of
the remaining eight men, and at once
set about fortifying his camp. He re-
pulsed two desperate attacks the next
day, and threatened to burn down the
town of 10000 inhabitants If the pris-
oners were not set free. He set fire
to some huts the same night, and the
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