The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-08-02
HEADQUARTERS BRITISH AND
CANADIAN RECRUITING MISSION.

oil r1ICn ave, NeW 1OrK, July 20, lSll
Editor Of Bystander: We are sub
mitting an article which should prov,
Of great interest to your many readers
Unheralded, yet glorious, is the par
which has been played by the coloret
race in this great world war. Far TOT
little has been written Of their par,
and only when the official records OF
the Allied nations have been perused
sometime in the future will it be known
and realised how completely the senti
ment Of loyalty Of the colored race in
good cause has swept away time
honored distinctions, erased deep-seated
prejudices, spruned geographical dis
tance and even over-ridden all selfish
interests at this crucial time. Count.
less numbers Of dark skinned patriots
have taken their places upon the battle
fields Of Mesopotamia, the Balkans,
Africa and the other fighting fronts,
displaying the same skill, the same
yalOr, and the same tenacity as their
white brethren. Many too have made
the supreme sacrifice for the great
ideal which has lead the peace loving
nations Of the world to do battle with
the bestial Huns.
Some day history Of their part in
the greatest of all wars shall be writ
ten and it must prove one of the
brightest chapters in the brilliant story
Of the Allies achievements for Liberty
and Righteousness.
It is unfortunate that so little has
been heard of the exploits Of our col
ored soldiers for they have proven
themselves to be equal Of all others in
actual combat. The great predomi-
nance Of white soldiers and the fact
that the colored troops have done most
Of their fighting on the far off fronts
Of Mesopotamia and Africa has prob
ably been the cause. Upon their battle
record is inscribed the expulsion Of
everything German from the great con-
tinent Of Africa; in the reclamation Of
the Holy Land they have played their
part; and, on the battle fronts in Flan-
.ders and France they have helped to
stem the German onslaught. Indeed it
would be impossible to even touch upon
their many achievements. They would
6ll many large volumes.
A striking example Of the glorious
achieyements Of the eolored race ID the
British West Indies Regiment. AT the
outbreak Of the war such IN organiza-
tion % this regiment was little known.
The cause Of the Empire was the cause
Of our colored subjects in these tropical
islands and they clamored for recogni-
tion that they might do their share.
Though miles and miles Of ocean lay
between the mand the battle field the
eolored population in the islands, 10
one man, focked to the cause and from
every island, from every far of British
Colony they came eager to do their
share for the cause. The British West
Indies Regiment, with its numerous
battalions has given to the armed
forces Of the British Empire, one Of the
most remarkable examples of success
full military y.samalgamation in the an
mails Of the war. They have won a
place in the forefront Of Britain g fight |
ing forces.
+ Great Britain realizes what her col
ored subjects have accomplished, but
until q short time. ago, owing to the
colors in the West Indies and other Col
onies, the recruitment Of her col0red
subjects in the United States was of
necessity somewhat limited. It has
been decided, however, to sound the
call to those in this country and orders |
have recently been received by the
British and Canadian Recruiting Mis-
sion to increase their efforts in this di-
rection. Already large numbers have
prohered their services and many col
ored Britishers from this country are
now on their way to take their place be-
side their compatriots on the battle
front.
II is predicted that before the British
and Canadian Recruiting Mission has
completed it's work in this country the
answer to their appeal for colored Brit
ishers to enlist will astound the world.
Conditions governing the enlistment
Of colored British subjects are practl-
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