The Colorado statesman., 1918-10-26


draftees issued by Provost Marshal
General Crowder included 29,0l6 coll
ored men.
In the total of 800, 900 American
roops sent overseas, a goodly proper
on may be accredited to the Negro
zee. This total was given by the War
partment officials AT recent hear
lg before the House Committee on
ulitary Affairs.
Many press reports. commenting on
he American army in France, init
nate that the Germans have a whole
some fear of colored troops in action
General Pershing is lavish i'm his
praise of the colored soldiers and has
-estfied officially that they show mar
yelous coolness under shell fire, and
N entire regiment as well as individ'
d; colored soldiers. has been cited
or decorations of honor
Preliminary to the recent session of
The National Baptist Convention at St
Louis. a patriotic meeting was held at
he Coliseum. in the course OF which
1000 enthusiastic colored people pro
'laimed their loyalty to the United
States. A long parade, chorus of 800
voices and a program of stirring ad
dresses and songs, featured the cele-
hration. The General theme of the
rators embodied review of the parl
which the American Negro is playing
in the destiny of the nation from the
time that slavery was first introduced.
through the Civil and Spanish-Ameri-
IN wars, into the present conflict.
A canteen has been established by
the colored women of New York City
at Numbers and West 131st street
for the exclusive patronage of colorsd
soldiers and sailors. Spacious accom-
modations where the men may read
and write and have their meals served
at cost, are provided. The canteen is
officially known as Canteen No. .. of
the Mayors Committee, and is operat-
ed by a committee of public-spirited
colored people of Harlem, under the
leadership of Mrs. L. c. Goode. Such
canteens are being established in
many cities and they are doing a mint
of good for our soldiers and sailors.
The War department Commission on
training camp activities has made pro-
vision for the entertainment OF a La
Dor Battalion of about 1000 colored
troops which has been sent to Camp
Kearney, Linda Vista. Cal, for santa
ton work around the camp. This bat
allion is made up of colored men unfit
for overseas duty by reason of minor
physical disabilities.
Conservative estimates place the
number of colored soldiers now in the
United States army establishment on
both sides of the ocean at little less
than 100000.
Mrs Rippin of the War Community
Service, in charge of the protective
work for girls, is planning to place col
ored protective workers in Chillicothe,
Ohio, and Rockford, Ill, just as soon
as the salaries are available for these
positions. Camps Sherman and Grant
respectively, are located near these
cities.
The colored man now holding the
highest rank in the Regular Army is
Lieut.-Col. Benjamin Oliver Davis,
native of Washington, ID. c., stationed
with the Ninth Cavalry in the Philip
pines. He has seen service in Mexico
and number of points in this country
and won distinction as military at
tache of the Uited States in Liberia.
He was in the Spanish-American war
and won his way up from the ranks
through sheer merit
The seasoned Tenth United States
Cavalry has been doing some effective
work in repulsing Mexican aggres-
sions on our border in the Southwest
Home for Colored Female War
Workers.
1t is highly encouraging to note that
the colored women of Chester, Penn
c,.I,.a,,ia G. ncti,,lr a,,rI.inoc Of