Phoenix tribune., 1918-09-07
FIVE NEGRO SOLDIERS
ARE SHOT DOWN BY
WHITES IN CAMP
PUT OUT OF Y. M. c. A. BY
soUTHERNERs
One Colored Man Killed, Shot in Back
by Guards Who Fired Without
Provocation or command-Thirteen
White Men Arrested-WilI Be Pun
ished II Found Guilty.

NEW YORK CITY, N. Y.-The facts
regarding the race riot at Camp Mer-
ritt, N j., on August IT, in which it
was reported that several men were
killed and wounded, were ascertained
today in an interview with Colonel ].
A. Marmon, commanding officer of
the camp, by Walter F. White, assist
ant secretary of the National Associa-
ton for the Advancement of Colored
People. The morning papers of Au-
gust 20 stated that the camp was
closed to newspaper reporters and
others seeking in formation regarding
the disturbance, but the association, in
keeping with its policy of aiding the
government in allaying suspicion and
preventing friction between the races,
sent Mr.. White to obtain the facts in
the case. These were given to him
freely by Colonel Marmon, and show
that the incident was not as serious as
was at first supposed.
On the night when the trouble oc.
Cured. two colored soldiers were,
elected from the Y. M. c. A. No. by
two southern white soldiers, when
their presence was resented by
the southern white men, although
there is no discrimination allowed in
any of the Y. M. c. A. buildings and
the colored soldiers had a perfect
right to be there. AS they left the
luilding a chair was thrown at them.
Previous to this incident there had
been one or two minor clashes be-
tween soldiers of both races, who
were quartered in adjacent sections of
the camp, which necessitated both
using the same general street. The
white soldiers involved were from
Mississippi, while the colored were
from Camps Dodge. Taylor, Grant and
Sherman. About half an hour after
the election of the two soldiers from
Y. M. c. A. No. 2, white soldier was
cut by a colored soldier. Contrary to
press accounts, he was not badly cut
nor has he died. Colonel Marmon
stated that his wounds were SO trivial
that it has been unnecessary for the
wounded man to appear at hospital
for treatment. For this reason, they
have been unable to learn who the
wounded man is nor has it been pos
sible to learn who is the assailant.
Shortly after this occurrence,
groups of soldiers of both races gath
cred in one of the camp streets and
threats were passed. Fearing trouble
the guard was called out and orders
were given to the men to disperse.
The guard consisted of between 30
and 40 men in charge of sergeant.
Standing at a short distance from the
guard. officers of both the white and
colored troops conferred as to the
sest method of preventing trouble. A.
group of colored troops were moving
away in obedience to the command Of
the guard, when suddenly. without a
command being give, shots rang out
and five of the colored men fell. The
sergeant in command of the guard
rueshed in at once and knocked up
! the guns to prevent further firing. One
colored soldier was killed, four wound
ed. none of them seriously, and all
will recover The most seriously
wounded of the four has bullet
wound in his groin and one of the
fingers of his left hand is shot off,
evidently by the same bullet The
man killed was shot in the back.
The guns or the guards were imme-
diately examined after the shooting
and thirteen of them were found to
have been fired. The thirteen men
to whom these guns belonged were
Immediately arrested and placed in
the guard house. Colonel Marmon
stated that these men would be tried
for firing without orders and pun
ished if found guilty.
The camp is now entirely quiet and
no further trouble is anticipated.