The Denver star., 1917-05-05
CHANCE TO SERVE
YOUR COUNTRY
join a Training Camp and Be-
come an Officer.
Be FIGHTERS, NOT SLACkERs

All Expenses to Be Paid-ProbabIy
Monthly Pay a. Fourteen
Camps Established All Over the coun-
try-Movemsnt Started by spinsarn
Officially Assured Of Success.
The movement to establish a mill
tary training camp In which to train
colored men for army officers, start
ed by DR.. ]. E. Spingarn Of New York,
has now been officially Assured of sue
cess. but under totally different condi-
lions from those originally outlined.
The secretary of war has completely
changed the arrangements for all mill
tary training camps. Until war was
declared these camps were for one
month only and were virtually open
to any one with very slight Qualihca-
lions. The war department has now
established fourteen officers training
camps all over the country. to last not
one but three months and to result In
. commission for any one who goes
through the full training.
At these camps all expenses will be
paid. including transportation, food,
training and uniform, and it Is not
unlikely that congress will pass legis-
lation adding monthly pay as well.
The camps will start on May 8 and
last until Aug s, and no one can at
tend for less than three months. More
over, no one will be able to obtain a
commission in the federal army unless
ho has gone through one Of these
camps.
Over $50 cOlored men have already
applied for admission to the one month
camp originally proposed, and these
men must now decide whether they
wish to go into the serious business Of
being officers in earnest and devote
their whole summer. to the task. II
they attend the camp for three months
they will be commissioned as second
neutenants or possibly higher. receiv-
ing a minimum salary of 81, 700 a year.
II they do not go to the camp they
will probably be conscripted as privates
or will be deprived Of all opportunity
Of going to the war either as privates
or officers.
The war department has definitely
! stated that 1t intends to give colored
men an opportunity to get this train
ing. The department has not, however,
decided whether II will arrange q sep
arate camp for colored officers or
whether 1t will admit Negroes to one
or more of the regular camps. In the
last few days DIR. Spingarn and the
National Association For the Advance
ment of Colored People have been bonn
harding the war department with ap-
peals to admit the colored men to the
regular camps, but whichever method
Is finally adopted colored men would
make 4 serious mistake II they did not
take advantage of any opportunity to
serve As commissioned officers in the
army during this great war. This first
series Of camps will be historic. and
attendance at them will be 4 proud
heritage to pass down to ones chill
dren's children.
As eQop fs the actua! details are set
tied ofnciat government blanks will be
sent to all those who have sent their
names to DR. Spiaearn. They will then
be required to go before an examining
officer to test their physical and edu-
cational qualifications. Upon passing
this test they will be admitted to the
camp. and after receiving their three
months training they will be the first
colored officers to be commissioned In
the great war