The Washington herald., 1918-12-26
OUR INDIANS
IN BIC WAR
Fought Bravely and Are
Proud of 1t; Athletes First
to Answer the Call.

When the complete history OF the
world war is written, a chapter will
be reserved for the American Indians,
who contributed their full share of
the valorous deeds performed by our
troops. Many of our native Americans
are sleeping under French soil, await
ing the final reveille The red race
gave generously from its waning num-
bers, and proved its bravery under
the most trying conditions. 1t con-
tributed to the general scheme of tao
tics in action, and thus aided in mini
mixing the losses of the American
army.
Tales have come back to the United
States of the reckless bravery of the
Indian in battle. The deeds of Ser
geant Ross. the big Ute Indian who
is known as the best scout in the
American Expeditionary Force. have
been praised again and again. How
the Carlisle. Haskell and Sherman In
dian schools were almost emptied by
enlistments when war was declared is
part of history now.
The day of the blanket Indian Is
passed in America, except in isolated
districts, where some of the old GUS
toms prevail and old traditions are fol-
lowed. The Acknowledgement of the
Indians has awakened a new pride In
the race. and they are eager to keep
pace with their white brothers in
citiZenry. So they hailed the chance
to plunge into the fight against the
common foe. They carried into battle
the glorious bravery of their race.
their indifference to physical injury
and stoicism in moments of peril.
Indian Commissioner Sells told in
HIS annual report that 5000 Indians
were in the army, IS per cent of whom
enlisted. The others exercised the
option of the draft as did the white
men. A few Indians enlisted in the
navy. many entered the Marine Corps.
but the vast majority entered the
army In this branch of service they
won greatest fame. Indian companies
/ formed in this country were disband-
ed in France. and the men divided
among the other units.
1t is said that from the ndpoint
of discipline the Indians were not the
best soldiers. They would not salute
except when compelled Instead OF
replying with a snappy Sir" to an
officer. they grunted. But when it came
| to fighting and scouting and sniping.
the red men were supreme. Wood
craft was bred in their bones. They
could snake along over the rough
country and get within point blank
range of Jerry's trenches, where a
white man would have been peppered
to death. They gloated in the work,
too, for It made them stand forth
among their comanions.
The men from Carlisle School
alumni and under graduates focked
to the colors. Gustave WEIGH. one
time captain of the football team,
won a commission. and is now a cap
tain. WEIGH was leader OF the Camp
Meade gridironers last season. WEIGH
is one of the few Indians to rise to
any such rank since the civil war.
when a fullblooded Indian was a
brigadier general with Grant. Gard
ner is a first lieutenant. A grand
son of the implacable Sitting Bull,
medicine chief of the Sioux. is now in
a hospital recovering from wounds
The Carlow brothers. Bill and Jim.
are in the Marines; Jake Herman is
in the navy. Hawk Eagle, Eagle
Feather. Standing Bear. Jimmie
Dogg. Looks Around, Bird, Wofford,
the Brokaw brothers and the NORM
brothers are a few. a scant few of the
Indians who are known to have gone
from Carlisle School. The total can
not be told now, for Carlisle School
was suspended and the buildings
turned into hospitals.
The students of offensive tactics
turned 10 the aborigines and bor-
rowed their method of advancing in
short rushes, and taking cover as
they rushed. These tactics were used
in midnight foravs against the Ger
man trenches. When the Indian SOL
diers got into the fight in the Ar
gonne Forest they showed the white
men how to do. and held the casualty
lists comparatively low.