The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-11-02
NEGRO COL0N|ALS
BRIGHTEN HUNS
BY THEIR DARING
Senegalese Volunteers Popu-
lar In France; Do Not
Know OF Fear
MANY BLACK MEN ARE
WEARING WAR CROSS
Are Almost Childlike In Camp
But Have Highest Re-
gard For France


FRENCH FRONT, Oct. 3O-"You /
white men are forced to fight we are
volunteers, say proudly Frances Co
lonial soldiers when they reply to-
questions as to the reason for their
coming to Europe to fight. Whether
they come from Senegal, Madagascar
or Somali land, all of them express
gladness at the opportunity to pay off /.
old scores for cruelties committed on
their kindred in the German colonies F.
In Africa the news of which has been
spread among them from one end of
the continent to the other by their
mysterious methods of communication .
All of them know of the facts of the
Herroro nation in German Southwest
Africa, where only a few wandering
groups remain alive of what once was
powerful negro tribe.
Undoubtedly the most popular of
the French colonial volunteers are
the coal-black Senegalese. Their cour-
age in the field and their devotion to
their white officers have become pro
verbal The mentality of these tribes
meu is almost infantile in its simplci-
ty, bit they are quick to learn. Their
adaptability ia such in warlike matters
that they have become expert in very
short time with all the most modern
weapons Many of them before com
ing to France have undergone train
Ing IN the colonies and consequently
are acquainted with European drill
and discipline. Others are raw re
cruits, who are exercised first when
they reach French soil. The eager.
ness of all to acquire proficiency with
the new weapons Is such that even in
their hours of rest in their instruc-
tion camps they may be seen in groups
exercising with them and repeating
the words of command in French,
which they rapidly learn
II has been asserted crrOncously
that negro troops are not able to sup
port the strain of bombardm2nt
There certainly have been instances
In which company of Senegalesc,
when all its white officers have been
picked off by German sharpshootcrs,
, has hesitatcd during an advance, but
. this was merely because they did not
know what to do. Douaumont, the bat
, tie Of the hisne, the Somme Orions-
i've. the attack at I4affauX Mill and the
, defense of Craonne and the California
4 and Classmates plateau have all been
: gro troops under artillery fire of the
most terrific character,
J. A battalion of Senegalese stationed
/ on the spot where the village Of Flcu'
[ ry, had once stood on the Nordun
l. front, during the heaviest of the fight
6 ing there, made an advance, during
= which their flank reached almost to
$ the fort of Douaumont Then they
o walked into an eniilading fire from
dozens of German machine guns The
e French commander Captain Chauvin
, Oruereu MS men 10 SlOIm lHe machine
a gun positions. The German gunners
l. on seeing the black warriors coming
e at them, threw up their hands anC
l. surrendered to the number of sixty
e The German resistance ali along the
D. line was overcome owing to this dar
ing feat Their brilliant work brought
y the distinction of the war drOss t
E. many of the negro troopers ana The
'f entire battalion was mentioned in
y army orders for it's bravery,
D." When in rest camp the SencgllosC
" amuse themselves like schoolbuys
10 Dancing and singing and gambling oc
o. cupy much of their time. Many o
W them, however, give up hours daily I,
learning French, for they regard cy
erything appertaining to Franco ~
better than anything else. One o
them who came upon an American mu
milton wagon driver repairing his mo
" tor spoke to tho American in his brok
en- French. The American did not un
. derstand and the African turned ant
>" walked away, wearing a disdainlul OK
preston and remarking What? Ho'
20 don't understand French? Have yo,
" never been to school?'
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