The bystander., 1918-10-04

Service League are: President, Mrs.
Amorel Cook; secretaries, Mrs. Il. M.
Holmes, Mrs. M. r. Burrell, Mrs. 4. f..
/. Hilton and Mrs. Emma Wormlcy; and
| treasurer, Mrs. Louise Hilton.
Mr.. j. r. Blanton, in cooperation
| with the War Department Commission
| on Training Camp Activities, is doing
effective work in various camps in or
ganizing Liberty ChorusesD among
the colored soldiers and in instructing
them in the technique Of plantation mel
odies, foik-song singing and the stand
ard "spirituals. He is introducing
with great success Natalie Curtis Bur
, lin Is newly conceived and most happily
harmonized folk-song, ga Hymn of
Freedom, = which is set for singing to
the tune of ride On, Jesus, Ride On. -
Opportunities for the entrance of
competent colored men in the veterinary
corps are now open. Information rela-
tive to this branch of the service may
be had by addressing Major Ray J.
Stanclift, assistant director Of the vet
erinary corps, Washington, d. c.
New barracks are being built at How
ard University and Atlanta University
for the accommodation of the young
men who are coming in from all sections
or the country to take the military
training along with their academic stu
dies and for the vocational classes that
will come from draftees who will be as
signed there by local boards or army
camp officials. The opportunities Of
fered young colored men through the
Committee on Education and Special
Training are being seized with eager
ness, and SO rapidly has the demand for
this type of education grown, and SO
potent are the results noted, that the
government Is policy of thus turning out
specially trained men for it's manifold
needs is meeting with universal ap-
proval and is to be continued indefinite
~. BY next July it is estimated that
10000 young colored men will have re-
ceived this training in some of it's
forms.
Charles Harris, leader Of the Common
wealth Band Of Baltimore, Nd, has
been appointed assistant band leader
and will soon 60 to France with one of
the colored organizations. After six
months he will be made a second lieu
tenant.
High officials in France are said to be
exceedingly fond of the "jazz' music
furnished by the colored bands. Gen
eral Petain recently visited sector in
which there are American troops and
had "the time of his life'' listening to
a colored band playing the popular
"jazz'' music, with some Negro dance
stunts in keeping with the spirit of the
melodies. He warmly congratulated the
colored leader upon the excellence Of the
work of his organization and thanked
him for the enjoyable entertainment
that had been given him.
Colored men, serving as privates, who
have abilities along any special line
will find it to their advantage to ,ac-
quaint their company commanders with
the nature of their qualifications, and
this may lead to congenial assignments
ii keeping with their mental or techni-
cal attainmellts. There is always some
thing for a man to do who is Of proved
ability or special equipment.
There are now forty-one colored chap
flains in the United States army. It is
expected that colored chaplains will be
provided for service at Camp Lee at an
early date.
Colored members of the Committee
of 100, - who are authorized to present
the War aims of the government, are
getting into touch with the State Coun-
ellis of Defense in their respective To-
calities and are thus lending themselves
effectively to the programs marked out
for the particular needs Of the several
states.
5-4z ~ T~o,,1>1n /. :