Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-10-13
THE COLORED TRAINING CAMP.
Colorcd Mon Will Get Commissions.
DR.. George w. Cabaniss,
Washington. ID. G..

DR.. George w. Cabaniss,
} Washington, ID. G.
My Dear Mr.. Cabaniss,-I was very
much surprised to learn that anyone
should cOnstrue the one months OK
tension Of this Training Camp as an
indication that the Colored Candidat-
es for Commissions required more
time than White Candidates, and that
tho months extension was made in
order to bring them up to tho standard
of the white camps. AS a matter of
fact no ono is In position to insti-
Itutc any comparison between the pro
lt,ciency Of the colored candidates and
the whites, as no one has had an OBJ
Iportunity to compare their work. The
inspector General OF the Army visit
Jed all of the Training Camps, and
could therefore institute a compari-
son as to the little practical work he
observed in his brief visits, and also
as to their apparent discipline, "set-
up and smartness of appearance. I
am convinced from his remarks that
lthe Candidates at this camp would
not suffer from any such comparison.
! The fact Of the matter Is that there
lis no reason whatsoever for supposing
THAT the extension of this camp to
October 18th was caused by any con-
celebrations of relative fitness of can
|didates, and there seems every reason
for believing that this had nothing at
all to do with the matter.
There are, unfortunately, some peo-
pie whose stock in trade Is trouble
making. and whose one desire on learn
ling OF tho extension of this camp was
TO twist the facts so as to create dis
|content and ill-fceling. These trouble
Imongers resemble certain foul birds
who enjoy no food except carrion.
There was not one word or figure
In the report and recommendations
OF the classification boards 1T this
camp that could possibly have indi-
Icated to the War Department, or any
}one else, the slightest reason for be
|lieving that the Colored Candidates
were not as we'll qualified for their
commissions as were the White Can.
didates.
The War Department has not felt 1t
necessary to explain It's action and
ut should not be necessary but the
following may explain the matter to
those who see something sinister in
Everything they don't understand.
The men conscripted under the first
call are to be actually modified in
several incrensents. The reason is
obvious TO dump thirty or forty thous
land mon In a camp all at once would
lDe to create confusion If not chaos,
ana to entail much actual suffering.
MOST OF the Officers who are to handle
these conscripts are the briefly in
lstructed men Of these three months
lTaining Camps. They can't DO expect
lea to handle such big matters effici-
Iently Till they have had little expert
Ience with smaller ones Then there Is
the vast problem Of supply The ma.
ch1nery needs time to get it to run
ming at maximum speed and efficiency.
1t needs oiling up and to begin at
rather low speed
The Colored troops are to be orga-
nlzed In units by themselves and not
mixed with whites Since the Color
leu Oif1cers' Training Camp did not
neg1n until one month after the white
camps, the white officers were gradu-
ated and ready one month before the
lcolorcd ones could be- That the white
regiments should therefore be the
flrst ones modified is as simply logi-
cal as that two and two make four,
1t will be well along in October be
fore the last Of the several white in
lcrements can be called out and cared
for
what Is the sensible thing to do
meanwhile with the Colored Candi-
oates for Commissions? Amy man who
KNOWS anything at all Of the neces-
lsary qualifications for an officer
knows that three months are not one
itentE OF the time really necessary for
ms training, and that not one OF our
lolflcers OF three months training has
more than slight beginning in learn
ing his duties. If time were available
lthey would all be kept in training for
much longer time. Now, Is it the
part or common sense to graduate
these Colored Candidates a month or
Two ahead Of the mobilization OF the
unlts they are to organize, feed, euuip
and train, and let them idle away the
INTERIM, or Is 1t good business sense
TO continue their preparation by an
extra month Of work specially elect
cd with a View to enabling them to
avoid the, very mistakes now being
made by the less fortunate officers
VINO however sadly they may need
an extra months training were not
$50 fortunate as to get It?
NO one but the above mentioned
trouble mongers can have any doubt
either as to the wisdom Of this extra
months work, under the circumstan-
ICES, or as to it being absolutely de
void Of any reflection whatsoever on
the Colored Candidates.
You are at liberty to make any
use you see fit Of this tletter
Sincerely,
G. G. BALLOU,
Brig. GenI. Nat. Army