Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-11-09
WITH COLORED TROOPS
OVER THERE
RALPH w. TYLER OFF TO THE
FRONT FOR NEWS OF OUR
GALLANT BOYS.
Striking Incidents OF Voyage Over.
FratcrniZing With Press and HUI
munitarian Forces Aboard
tho Ship.

(By Ralph w. Tyler, Accredited
Representative of The Commit
tee on Public Information
PARIS, FRANCE, September rs
l have just reached this city after ~
ten days voyage, which was, for the
most part, uncventful. We eXper-
fenced delightful weather from the
time we steamed out Of New Yorll's
harbor until we cast anchor in a port
over here. Had it not been for the
democratic spirit prevailing aboard
the big liner, and which gave me
most satisfactory taste Of this world
democracy" for which the Allies arc
fighting, | might have considered the
voyage mOnOtonouS.
Aboard the ship was quite Il galaxy
OF notable writer's for the big dailics
and magazines; feature and fiction
writer's who were taking Il respite
from that occupation to write
"straight STUFF for dailics they are
to represent. Among them were
celebrities like Will Irwin, Robert
w. Richie, Damon ltunyon, II. J.
Focman, erstwhilo managing editor
OF Golfers, and Appregarth, usually
known as "Appy" by the pencil push
ers and readers, OF the Pittsburgh
Post. Each and every one Of these
notable writers-former newspaper
reporters, seemed to have made an
I, especial effort to make me forget,
| did, that my skin was
several shades darker than theirs,
and by so doing to convince mo that
this world democracy for which the
Allies are lighting is neither barren
ideality nor n rainbow vision, but
an actual probability whose advance
courier is discerniblc With the naked
eye.
The treatment accorded me by the
newspaper men aboard was but typl-
cal of the treatment accorded me by
all the other passengers. Among
tho nearly two thousand souls max
ing up tho ships passenger list were
many Red Cross, Y. M. G. A, Y. w.
C. A., knights Of Columbus and Sal
vation Army workers. These all
displayed most notable evidence OF
a healthy spirit OF democracy by
their fraternizing as il they were all
members Of the one and same organ
iZation.
Among tho Y. NJ. c. A. workers
aboard were five Colored secretaries:
Fritz p. Canister, Of Knoxville, Tenn,
Thomas NJ Clayton, of J'iQua, Ohio,
Il. l.. Clark OF Leavenworth, Kan, ID.
d. Mattocks, Of philadelphia, and G.
w. Jackson, Of Louisville, Ky. the
Y. nj. G. A. certainly made no mis-
take in selecting these five men Tor
overseas duty, for they represent the
highest type in the race, ana by their
bearing won the respect ana even
admiration of all on board the ship.
DIVERSION BY SERVICE BhTTAL-
ION ABOARD SHIP.
Aboard the ship also, was Col
ored service battalion belonging to
an Engineer regiment. They were
stout husky fellows whose good hum
or was effervescent, even contagious,
and their rollicking songs and plan
tation melodies cheered an, making
them, those whose thoughts had i'll
voluntarily turned to submaripes-
Germany's acme of kultur. forget
them, and Danish all fear from their
minds One of the songs which they
frequently sang, and with a .gusto
which gave further evidence OF their
100 per cent. Americanism, ana
which never failed to elicit rapturous
applause from the white passengers,
was "Thrce Months From Now we
Will BE In Germany"
I had heard it said that the big
waters frightened Colored soldiers,
but these Colored soldiers aboard
the ship T sailed appeared as con-
tented, self.centered and care-bereft
on the big ship at night, when lights
were out, as they were down in Ala
bama, Virginia, Mississippi and other
Southern States from whence most
Of them came.
Their contcntment at sea, and
when in the submarine zone, consu-
tuted another disillusion. Among
these troopers were some clever box
ers, and the monotony Of Gust sky
and water" was frequently broken
by some rafting boxing matches be-
tween these troopers for pretty sub
stantial purses which the white pas
sengers contributed merely out Of
admiration and respect for these big,
brave black boys, who did not fear
to come over here to fight for world
democracy.
An amusing incident took place,
the second day out Forty or fifty
of the Colored soldiers had formed
circle and wero singing to their
hearts delight, and the delight OF
the passengers. One Of them, seem
ingly, changed his voice with each
song or hymn. "What do you eing?"