The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-07-05
INDIANS DOING
Their SHARE IN
LOANS and WORK

Washington, July 5.-The original
Americans are in the war to the limit.
Enlfsting in the military services
and the Red Cross with an enthu-
siasm unsurpassed by their white
brethren and pouring out their trea-
sure freely by subscriptions to the
Liberty Loans, the Indians are do
ing their share with a fine courage
which gives one more illustration of
the incapacity of the German mind
for computing the bond between ra-
ces when engaged in fight for free
dom.
Subscriptions by Indians to the Lib
erty loans have totalled nearly 3d.,
100000, according to figures COM
piled by Cato Sells, Commissioner of
Indian Affairs That is a per ratio
subscription of about $40 for all In
dams in the United States. Adults
and minors have been about equally
represented among the subscribers.
The number of Indians in the mill
| tary services probably is more than
5000. Mr.. Sells is having prepared
complete record of their participa-
ton in the great war. About 2,200
of the total have been indexed and
CldSSI11Suy SIlOW1AS low III lIIO al III
300 in the navy and 100 in other mil
itary work Their willingness to
| bear their share of the hardships and
! dangers of military life is evidenced
| by the fact that 800 of those CLASH
fled volunteered for service, while
| 600 were drafted-probably a great
er percentage of volunteers than can
be shown by any other of the numer-
Gus races represented in the United
| States.
AS a soldier the Indian makes good
with a rush. Indian schools, with an
attendance of $4,000 annually, have
military drills, almost without excep-
ton and to preliminary training in
military life, the young Indian SOL
der adds additionally fine physique.
One Indian school has a service flag
with $50 stars, all but Is represent
! ing volunteer :nlistments. Anoth-
er school has a flag with IT'S stars.
While the young braves are over
seas fighting an enemy whose cruel
ty is more retired and deadly than
the uncivilized Indians ever practic-
ed, the grizzled old warriors of other
days, men who remember when the
American West was only emerging
from a wilderness and the white man
still was regarded as foe. remain
on the reservations, smoking the pipe
of peace with their white neighbors
and preaching the doctrine of pa
triotism to their people. Sons and
grandsons of Chiefs John Gras, Jo-
seph, John Gall and other Indian
leaders are in the United States ar
my.
Indian women. likewise, are doing
their share by aiding in Red Cross
work Although complete voca-
tiona1 course of four years in nurs-
ing is of comparative recent intro
duction in the larger schools in the
reservation, six young wSmen have
been accepted for hospital \service
abroad and others are being prepar-
ed for similar work. Indian School
papers carry attractive advertise
ments for the Red Cross. One res
ervation boasts ofsa Red Cross ban
ner in every home. Saturday. after
moons are devoted by the women to
sewing for army hospitals and the
boys give up II cir holidays to gath
ering sphagnu1n moss in the boys and
marshes for use in surgical pads and
ambulance pillows.
/ Separate uni for Indians have moi