Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-11-10
COiORED TROOPS ARE TO FORM
ARMY GROUPS,
Onc-cievcnth of American Army VIII
&c Composed of Colorcd Men.

Washington, ID. c., October 30
When the full strength of Americas
new army is ranged on the battlefront
OF France. Negro troops will make up
apprC Ximatcly onc.clcvrnth Of the men
under the Stars and Stripes. Although
Negro soldiers from Africa, the W. In.
dies have fought in many European
struggles. and followed some Of the
greatest commanders. from Hannibal
TO Napoleon, the American contingent
is by far tn" largest Negro army ever
mustered on European soil.
Since the beginning Of the war both
France and Britain have employed
African troops on the western front
Their fighting record has been bril-
liant. especially that OF the French
ScncgalcSH. While the new Amcri, ~
Negro units will be commanded to A
greater degree than ever before BY
men OF their own race. the bulk e
tie Officers will be white mon.
This l. I'%o ira" OF the Frc'th ana
British and Italian Negro battalions.
Uncle Sam has in the regular army
four Negro regiments which have
been raised 30 war strength and now
number close 10 1000 men Two are
cavalry and two are infantry
Cavalry commands are the eleventh
ol tarriZai fame. aud the ninth OF
which ~ Amnricau general once said
after seeing the famous French cuiraS
Sicrs. supposed to he the crack rcgi-
mcnt ,f the world. If had to 10
1000 yards through hell. would
rather hay" the ninth cavalry back
al me than anything | ever saw" Tn,
regular army Negro rcrimcntS are OF
iiccr"d exclusively by white West
Pointers
Following are the Negro national
&uard units now in the federal Scrv
ice and Differed exclusively hy roIor
ed officers: First separate Connect:
cut company. 80 men. officer: firs;
separate District of Columbia hattal-
ion. H9S men. IL Officers: Eight II
linois regiment. 1856 men. IS Officers
first separate Maryland company. 10,
men. > officers; Fifteenth New York
Infantry regiment. 2.053 men. IL off
GERS: Ohio ninth separate battalion
l.3"2 men. rs officers; first separate
Tennessee company. liz men ; officer
First separate Massachusetts com
pany. $50 men. ; officers. Total 6,Gil.
POI officers.
There have just been commissioned
from the training camp for Negro
Officers at DcS Moincs. Ia, a total OF
623 officcrS-~-l06 captains. $40 frs:
licutenants. 100 second licutcnant.
This total of training camp and ma
tlonal guard officers S26-cCnsti
tutes the present visible supply C
colorcd officcrS~-cXccpt Il few holdin:'
miner staff positions in the regular
army.
TO officer the Negro troop rails
ed under the selected service law
will be required thousands Of officer
OF all grades. so about ninc-tcnths e
the officers will be white This j.
not the result Of discrimination. bu.
OF lack Of material. The young col
ored men commissioned at Des Moin
es have won high praise from their
instructors and are first-class mater.
al
Every safe IN tho Union was repr 3
scented at the caup, a large number
N"'''io ''''h 'hS oou'hSlh SlotcS. III
Negro troops drawn for service ar"
being trained at all the sixteen nation
al army cantonmcnts--in separate bpt
taliOnS and regiments. When the trai''
ing IS completes one and probably tw'
or three. divisions of Negro troops o..
clusively will be formed, and one a.
these Will he among the first ma; iG!'
al army units sent to France.
Negroes have fought in all Amer
can wars. from the revolution to III "
brush at CarriZal. In the civil wa
hundreds of thousands were raise
and did fine fighting. There were !?
few commissioned as Officers. hr'
hCthing like the number now give
commands.