El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-02-17
Greatest Handicap To The
Negroes Is Snow, Which
Depresses Them.
ARE KEPT AWAY
FROM THE TOWNS
Giue No Trouble Except
When They Get Liquor,
Then Are Fiends.

- URICH. Switzerland, Feb. IA
4. war correspondent OF the Neue
- Zuericher Zeitung, who has re-
turned from the western war theater
after spending two years IN the field
with the French and British troops,
reports that the African negroes in the
French army now number nearly 70e,-
900.
About 100000 Of them are stationed
on the southern wing of the line, near
the Swiss border.
The negro soldiers come from Al
ciers. Morocco, DahOmey, the French
Congo and other African colonies Of
France and are to a large part semi
sayages. but always give good ac-
count OF themselves when they 20 into
battle As a rule they have no fear
Of death and they willingly bear all
privations and face the greatest dang
ers without flinching-
When the negroes first arrive from
Africa they give the military authoTl-
ties considerable trouble. because it Is
hard to get them to submit TO the strict
military discipline, although they are
partly trained before they are brought
10 Europe Their fiery temperament
often runs away with them and It
happens quite often that they attack
noncommissioned and even commission
ed officers. In such cases the culprits
are invariably shot as a warning for
others.
The Africans commit grave excuses
when they manage TO get wine or
stronger alcoholic beverages, as under
the influence OF liquor they are not
able 10 control their passions. For
this reason they are never quartered
in towns and villages. When not In
the trenches they are kept IN camps
as far away from any settlements as
possible and no white woman Is per
mitted TO approach their quarters.
Many Of the negroes are very intel
igent and master the French language
quickly. These are sent to special
training schools for nOncommissiOned
Officers and become sub-commanders.
They have been promised that they viii
be employed in the administration OF
their countries after the war and do
their best to make themselves worthy
OF the positions they hope TO obtain If
they get back to Africa alive
Against all expectations, the negro
soldiers stand the change from the
tropical heat Of their native lands 70
the cold winter Of France very well.
Diseases Of the respiratory organs are
no more numerous among them than
among their white comrades. COmpar-
ntlVely few become VICTIMS OF consuInp-
ton
The snow they DO not like. The IN
accustomed spectacle of a snow covered
landscape depresses them so that they
become melancholy and lose their ap
petite. All of them seem to be pos
sessed Of a superstitious fear of the
shining white While they keep their
nerve IN the most murderous hail Of
shells and bullets, they become very
nervous when they are ordered to clean
the snow out of their trenches or 70
dig paths for the transports,
Tremblingiy thew murmUr coniura-
tons and ca balistic lamentations. and
1t takes much urging and even threats
TO pet them to work.
The white French soldiers. as a rule.
nTe not verv fond of their black com
Tades. and in many cases even object
70 their presence in the hospitals. This
difficulty has been overcome. however,
as most field and al larger hospitals
now have special wards for the negro
wounded.