The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-11-16

b ~F Og - - SAO"O5 u
people, including citizens of both
races, of Trenton and the adjoining
counties, joined in a monster home
coming reception last Wednesday
night in honor of Private Needham
Roberts, the Negro soldier mailing
from Trenton, member of the 369th
Infantry-the Fighting Fifteenth" of
New York-who so signally disting-
uished himself in France some months
ago by his ~ravery and rare fighting
qualities as to win the french Croix
de Guerre and a personal citation for
valorous conduct from General Per
shing, Commander in Chief of the
American Expeditionary Forces.
1t will be remembered that Roberts,
with a fellow-soldier in arms, Harry
Johnson, put to rout twenty Germans,
who attacked them while they were
doing guard duty at one of the Allies
most important strategic points on
frances western front. They thus
saved the lives of thousands of their
sleeping soldier comrades. The re-
ception was general throughout l.
ton and its environs, an an i'm
promptu parade was one of the strik-
ing features of the occasion, partici-
pated in by the appreciative C..izens,
regardless of race or color.
At a big mass meeting, held in the
State Armory, Hon. Frederick w. Don
nelly, Mayor of Trenton, through
whose earnest cooperation the recep-
ton was conceived and made a bril-.
liant success, presided and delivered
a stirring address in which he lauded
without stint the mastery courage OF
Trenson's hero. A ringing letter was
sent by DR.. Emmett ]. Scott, Special
Assistant to the Secretary of War a
Washington, who was prevented BY
official business from being present
DR.. SCOTS letter was as follows:
An Appreciation from Emmett j. Scot
Wal Department,
Washington, D. c., Nov. 5, 1918
Hon. Frederick w. Donnelly,
Mayor, City of Trenton,
Trenton, New Jersey.
My dear Sir:-I note with pleasur,
that the people of Trenton hav,
planned to hold a reception of city
wide proportions OIL Wednesday night
at your suggestion, in honor of PR
vate Needham Roberts, who so proud
ly distinguished himself on the battle
front in France as to win the Croix d
Guerre. l am further gratified tina
you have done me the honor to in
wife me to be present and participat,
IN the exercises you have arrange
for the occasion.
1t is with the deepest regret that
must inform you that, owing to tn
tremendous pressure of official bus
ness here in the War Department, az
cumulate by reason of frequent an
enforced absences from my desk TO
the past few weeks, it is impossible
for me to be with you and to add il
person my tribute to the general fun
of praise which this New Jersey her,
has so richly earned. Although al
sent, in Washington, my heart will b
with the lib~erty-loving citizens of Ney
Jersey, and | shall rejoice with then
that the first of her sons to receiv
the Croix de Guerre and the persona
citation of General Pershing TO
bravery of a most extraordinary type
has e returned to you alive, eve
II bearing the scars of the world-wid
combat for freedom and democracy.
To have had the opportunity to rer
der this signal service at a crucia
moment is in itself a reward and a,
honorable recognition, but the plauC
its which you are reserving for Need
ham Roberts Wednesday night place
a capstone upon his marvelou
achievement that proves to him an
to all Of us that Republics are nc
ungrateful' to those who brave dar
gers for their preservation.
Last Saturday night I was in Ne,
York, attending a meeting at Cal
negie Hall-a monster meeting whic
also testified its admiration of Neet
ham Roberts wonderful courage an
rare resourcefulness as a fighter an
as a patriot. Irwin Cobb, who's
hearty encomiums of the valor of tn
Negro soldiers on the western from
in France, known to him-not b
hearsay, but of which he was an eye
witness, has won the gratitude of co
ored Americans everywhere, gave +
Needham Roberts a merited acknow
edgement Of the nations indebted
ness. He said that the timely actiol
of this fearless warrior, in riskinI
death that thousands of his fellow
c~ountrymen might live. entitled hin
to a place in history beside the in
mortal Crispus Attacks, whose bloc
was the first to be shed in the Reyc