Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-10-22
AFRICAN SOLDIERS ARE
DOING SPLENDID WORK
FRANCE RECRUITS REGIMENTS or
NEGROES WHO OBEY IMPLICIT
LY AND HATE GERMANS IN
TENSELY.

IENSELA.
FRENCH PORT, Oct. 22.-"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
.hey come from Senegal, Madagascar or
Somaliland, all of them express glad
ness at the opportunity to pay off old
scores for cruelties committed on
their kindred in the German colonies
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 cummunica-
ton. All of them know of the fate
Of the Herreno nation in German
Southwest AT RIGA, where only a few
wandering groups remain alive Of
what was once a powerful negro
tribe.
Undoubtedly the most popular of
the French colonial volunteers are the
coal-black Senegalese. Their courage
in the field and their devotion to Their
white officers have became proVerbial.
The mentality of these tribesmen is
almost infantile in it's simplicity, but
they are quick to learn. Their adapt
ability is such in warlike matters that
they have become expert in vey short
time with all the most modern wea-
pons. Many of them before coming
to France have undergone training IN
the colonies and consequently are ac-
quainted with European drill and dis
cipline. Others are raw recruits, who
are exercised first when they reach
French soil. The eagerness of all 70
acquire proficiency with the new wea-
pons is such that even in their hours
Of resa in their instruction camps
they may be seen in groups exercis-
ing win them and repeating the words
of command in French, which they
rapidly | arm.
1t has been asserted enormously
that negro troops are not able to sup
port the strain of a bombardment.
There certainly have been instances
in which a company of Senegalese,
when all it's white officers have been
picked off by German sharpshooters,
has hesTtated during an advance, but
this was merely because they did not
know what to do. Douaumont, the
battle of the Aisne, the Somme often
sive, the attack at Laffux Mill and the
defense at Craonne and the California
and Classmates plateau have all been
negro troops under artillery fire of the
scense of the heroic courage of the
most terrific character.
A battalion of Sengalese stationed
on the spot where the village of Fleu-
~, had once stood on the Verdun
from, during. the heaviest of the fight
ing there, made an advance during
which their flank reached almost to
the fort of Douaumont. Then they
walked into an enflading fire from
dozens of Berman machine guns. The
French commander, Captain Chauvin,
ordere his men to storm the machine
gun positions. The German gunners,
on seeing the black warriors coming
at them, threw up their hands and
surrendered to the number of sixty
The German resistance all along the
line was overcome owing to this dar-
ing feat. The brilliant work BROUGHT
the distinction of the war dross to
many of the negro troopers and the
entire battalion was mentioned inarmy
Iorders for its bravery.
When Yin rest camp the Senegalese
Iamuse themselves like school boys.
Dancing and singing and gambling oc-
cupy much Of their time. Many of
! them, however, give up hours daily to
learning French, for they regard ev-
,erything appertaining to French as
better than anything else, One of
them who came upon an American mu-
milton wagon driver repairing his
motor spoke to the American in his
broken French. The American did not
understand and the African turned and
walked away, wearing & disdainful
expression and remarklng What? You
don't understand French? Have you
never been to school?