Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-12-08
WAR SECRETARY SAYS
COLORED SOLDIERS
WILL FIGHT HUNS

Washington, ID. C,-Some eighty
three thousand, six hundred (S3,6OO)
Negroes have been drafted for service
in the National Army to be sent over
seas.
Secretary of War, Newton D. Baker
in working out his plans for The train
ing Of these men, las met with many
difficulties. First of all, he has mad
to contend with those friends of the
Negro who have felt that it was Secrc
tary Bakers special duty at this
time TO attempt to solve or settle the
soualled Race Question in America.
Second, Negro headers from all parts
of the country have importuned the
War Department i'll various and sun
dry directions. while the peculiar
southern situation where the masses
Of the Negroes live, has had to De
taken into account.
Because Of the difficulties, the Sec
rotary of War called to his aid, on
October LIST, 1917, as Special Assis-
Gtllt in the War Department., q repre-
sentative of the Negro Race, Emmett
j. Scott. who, for eighteen years, was
Secretary. to che late Booker II. Wash
ington, and also Secretary of the
stitute. in Alabama. Mr.. scott has Il
wide acquaintance among members OF
his own race, and with leading mem
bers Of the white race in the South,
as we'll as With leaders cf thought and
public opinion in the North. He has
sought TO relieve the Secretary of War
rs much as possible, of the burden
some details growing out Of contro-
vcrsies, involving racial relationships
caused or occasioncd by the presence
OF white and colored drafters 20
gether in many of the environments.
Lately, there has been certain
amount of misgiving and unrest
among the colored people of the coun
Try who have been led to feel, by
reason OF reports OF alleged mistreat
mont OF colored men III cantonments
that There Is Il disposition OH the
part OF the War Department to deal
unfairly with colorcd draftees in
National Army environments and In
u aiona' O. ii camn" For the pur
pose OF allayin.~, these supicions aud
correcting certain false impressions
which have been made and circulated
tho Secretary Of War mas addressed
am open letter to his colorcd Aide,
stating his attitude and the policy OF
the War Department with reference
to those cOlored soldiers. The letter,
dated November 30th, 1917 follows
War Department, Washington,
November 30th, 1917.
Mcnorandum-For Mr.. Emmett J.
Scott, Special Assistant, War
Department..
Referring to various kilograms and
letters of protest received at the De-
partment, to which you have called
my attention, concerning certain all
legged Determinations against colored
draftees, l wish to say that full in
yest!gatiOn OF the matters complain
ed OF has been ordered.
AS you know, 1t has been my poll
cy to discourage discrimination
against any persons by reason of
their race. This policy has been adopt
cd not merely fus an act OF justice to
Pill races that go to make up the Ameri
can people, but also to safeguard the
very institutions which we are now
at the greatest sacrifice, engaged III
defending, and which amy racial dis
orders must endanger.
At the same. time there is no in
tention OH the part Of the War De
partment to undertake at this time
to settle the so called Race Question.
in this hour OF national emergency
and need. white and colored men alike
are being called to defend Our Coun
try's honor. In the very nature Of
the case, some must fight in the
trenches. while others must serve in
other capacities behind the firing
line.
1 very much regret what seems to
be a certain amount Of overworked
hysteria on the part of some Of the
compliments who seem to think that
only ocolorcd draftees are being as
signed to duty in Service Battalions
whereas thousands Of white draftees
already have been and more Of them
necessarily will be assigned to duty
in such service battalions.
Some of the complaints or charges
of discrimination seem all the more
unwarranted in view of the fact that
there Is far less hazard to the life Of
tho soldier connected with the Ser
vice Battalion than is true in the
care of the soldier who faces shot and
shell on the firing line. Further
more, tho attitude Of the War Depart
ment toward colored soldiers is clear
~ shown by the following racrs:
Mere than 626 Of the 1850 colored
men who completed the course at
the Reserve Officers Training Camp
cd; Fort Des Moines, iowa, have been
commissioned as officers in the Unit
cd States Army; nearly 100 coiored
physicians and surgeons have receiv-
ed commissions as Officers in the
Medical Reserve Corps, and full
fighting force of 10000 colored sol
diers, including representatives in
practically every branch Of military
service, will constitute the 92nd Divis
ion to be detailed for duty in France
under General Pershing.
Tho relations between the colored
and white men in the camps contain
fng both, have been worked out on @
very satisfactory basis, and little OF
no trouble seems likely to arise. All
OF my reports indicate that the color