Phoenix tribune., 1918-09-28
RALPH v. TYLER FORMER AUDITOR FOR THE NAVY
FIRST NEGRO To BE NAMED AS WAR CORRESPONDENT
WILL REPORT HAPPENINGS ON WESTERN FRONT

WASHINGTON, D. c., September 25.
Two notable additions have been
made within the past few days to the
list of big achievements that may be
justly credited to the influence of the
recent conference of colored editors
and leaders in Washington.
One of the direct requests of the
Editors Conference in June was that
reliable colored news-writer be sent
to France to report the doings Of the
colored troops on the western front
in France, for the information Of the
anxious millions of colored Americans
in this country and to the end that
the correct story of the valor and pa
triotic devotion of their brethren
might be told fully and in SYM
pathetic vein by one of their own
blood and kindred.
In compliance with this request, the
Committee on Public Information has
designated Ralph w. Tyler. of Colum-
bus, Ohio. former auditor for the Navy
Department at Washington, as regu-
arly-commissioned war correspondent,
to specialize on the conditions sur
rounding the colored troops in France
and to make daily reports of the ac-
tivities and engagements in which the
colored soldiers are prominent. He will
be on the staff of General Pershing,
commander-in-chief of the American
Expeditionary Forces overseas. Every
facility has been provided by Mr.. Geo.
Creel, director of The Committee on
Public Information, for the prompt and
accurate gathering of all facts that
may be of interest to the colored peo-
pie.
First Negro to be Name War Cores
pondent
Mr. Tyler is the first colored man
to be named as a regular war cores
pondent by any government in the
world. He is native of Ohio. For
lseventeen years he served in various
departments on the Columbus Evening
Dispatch and the Ohio State Journal,
which gave him experience in the
technique of the newspaper craft and
afforded him opportunity for associa-
tion with many influential newspaper
men. This intimate cbntact with such
forces will be invaluable to him in his
labors as a war correspondent. The
fact that he has wide acquaintance
with correspondents now at the front,
will make it possible for him to get
news concerning colored troops which,
perhaps, no other colored correspon-
dent could secure.
The claims of number of men were
fully considered in connection with
this important assignment but Mr..
Tyler was finally selected as the most
efficient of those available. Immedi-
ately after war was declared by the
United States on Germany, Mr.. Tyler
wrote the President, rendering his SER
vices in any capacity. He has three
sons, all of whom are at the front in
France
SIS, 900, 900 Loan to Liberian Republic
The second of this series of editorial
conference achievements is, the auth
orization by the government of loan
of $5, 100000 to the Republic Of Liberia
in line with the request of the Con-
ference. This fund is allotted. to aid
in the rehabilitation of that country's
finances, which have been reduced to
dangerously low ebb by the cessa-
tion of trade, and to develop produc-
tion of rice and other foodstuffs for
the allies, as well as to place on the
market many of the greatly-needed
products with which the little over
seas republic abounds. Much Of Lii
beria's commerce was with Germany,
and this has been totally cut off since
the formers declaration of war against
the Teutons.
The granting of this $5.000,0O0 credit
through the United States Treasury
had it's inception several months ago
when DIR. Ernest Lyon, the Liberian
CONTINUED on page A.