The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-08-13
FIRST FAMILIES OF
AMERICA HELPING
indians Are Doing Their Part In
Conflict Against Hun and
p, Doing It Thoroughly

WASHINGTON, July 25-.(Associa-
ted Press)-lThc original Americans are
in the war to the limit
Enlisting in the military services and
the Red Cross with an enthusiasm un-
surpassed by their white brethren and
pouring out their treasure freely by
subscriptions TO the Liberty loans, the
Indians are doing their share with q
hne courage which gives one more IL
lustration Of the incapacity Of the Ger
man mind for computing the bond be-
tween races when engaged in fight for
freedom.
Subscriptions by Indians to the Ii
berey loans have totalled nearly S13,-
0O0, 900, according to figures compiled
by Cato Sells, Commissioner Of Indian
Affairs. That is q per capita subscrip-
ton Of about $40 for all Indians In
the United States. Adults and minors
have been about equally represented
among the Subscribers.
The number Of Indians in the mill
tafy ssFyices probably is more than
5000, Mr. Sells is having prepared a
complete record of their participation
in the great war. About 1900 Of the
total have been indexed and classified
showing, 1900 in the army, 300 in the
navy and 100 in other military work.
Their willingness to bear their share Of
the hardships and dangers Of military
life Is evidenced by the fact that 1900
Of those classified volunteered for serv-
ice, while 900 were drafted-probably
a greater percentage Of volunteers than
can be shown by any other of the num-
erous races represented in the United
States.
As q soldier the Indian makes good
with rush. Indian schools, with an
attendance of 10000 annually, have
military drill, almost without excep-
tion and to preliminary training in
military life, the young Indian soldier
adds traditionally fine physique. One
Indian \school has a service flag with
$50 stars. all but Is representing vol
unteer eplistments. Another school has
a flag with 175 stars. ....-,
While the young braves are overseas
fighting an enemy whose cruelty IL
more refined and deadly than the un-
civilized Indians ever practised, the
Krizsled old warriors. of other days,
men who remember when the American
West was only emerging from q will
derness and the white man still was re.
Earded as q foe, remain on the reserva.
tions, smoking the pipe of peace with
their white neighbors and preaching
the, doctrine of patriotism to their
people. Sons and grandsOns Of Chiefs
John Grass, Joseph, John Gall and other
Indian leaders are in the United States
army.
Indian women, likewise, are doing
their share by aiding in Red Cross
, work. Although a complete vocational
course of four years in nursing is Of
comparative recent introduction in the
larger schools in the reservations, six
yonng women have been accepted for
hospital service abroad and others are
being prepared for similar work. In
dian School papers carry attractive
advertisements for the Red Cross. One
reservation boasts of Red Cross ban.
ner in every home Saturday afternoons
are devoted by the women to sewing
for army hospitals and the boys give
up their holidays to gathering sp6ag,
mum moss in the bogs and marshes for
uae in surgical pads and ambulance
pillows.
Separate units for Indians have not
ueen oIBaplzed Dy the army because
Of the desire to have them rub elbows
with fellow citizens and become better
acquainted.
Wonderful and spontaneous Hdel.
ity to the highest welfare of the M.
ton" is the way Commissioner Set!s
describes the response of the Indian to
his eountry's need.
~ hail this growing manifestation
In Indian life as sure basis for the
strong and trustworthy citizenship to
which our efforts are directed"
- ". .. o.