The Colorado statesman., 1918-05-25

W7LaLdIAAnMi. sLADENs maraEiSs wTiser MeMurT; II
wv the fourth of his series of ar
ticles published in Golfers
Weekly. pays quite compliment to
our Negro soldiers in the impression
they are establishing among the peo
Pile of the Southland:
.I'm Done Talking Against NigGers."
In writing of the National Army of
the South, 1 must not omit the Negro
soldiers.
There was one unit at Camp Lee
composed of 1000 colored soldiers. Sc
lected from West Virginia. Ten days
after they arrived in camp with the
first quota last fall. the call came for
them to go Immediately to France for
special service. The call was sudden
and unexpected General Cronkhite
knew that the men had not expected
to leave this country for several
months He thought that perhaps
some of the 1000 might have good rea-
sons for not wanting to leave at once,
so he called for volunteers from the
5000 other .colored troops who were in
camp to fill up whatever vacancies
there might be in the oversee unit.
Every one of the 5000 volunteered for
immediate oversee service. Then the
eraI said that there were volunteers
to take the place of any who wished
to remain behind. Only 20 per cent of
the 1,6OO availed themselves of the OPP
portunity to stay at home. When the
general came from the stage on his
way out those newly drafted colored
men. facing active service in the war
zone within less than two weeks after |
having broken their civilian ties start
ed to sing America" AS the general |
went down the aisle the singing grew |
to a harmonious roar of affirmation. /
The thing was absolutely spontaneous
They had not been coached. 1t was |
spontaneous expression of sentiment |
in the face of danger.
Will you say that they had no full |
realization of the danger to be faced? |
Then come with me to Camp Jackson |
I heard there a battalion of Negro SOL |
diers singing under the leadership of
David Griffin, the division singing in
structor. They were drawn up in for
nation before a barrack. singing with |
that abandon and joy that only the
Negro can attain. 1t seemed indeed |
that the thought of the war must be !
very light on their minds.
Come with me to an officers mess
nall the next udy. mere 10 a ShSNe
outside: Hey. Look what's coming"'
We step outside. Down the road. |
thump -thump, thump- -thump, comes
that same battalion of Negro soldiers
in full marching order. These solIiers
from the mills and cotton fields are on
their way to France. The whole camp
knows it; the whole camp is grave,
quiet Thump-thump, thump- -thump!
There is no sound in all that great can
tonment save the beat of marching
feet and the creaking of packs. The
black men know they are on their way
abroad. They are a solemn-looking lot
A minister steps out to the edge of the
overlooking the road
down which the troops are marching.
and calls out shakily: "Good-by, boys.
God bless you! God take care of you,
boysr
There is an uprolling of eyes and
shaky chorus of voices in answer:
"Thanky, sub. ThanlSy kindly. Thanky,
parson. Thanky. suh!"
big Mississippian, standing near.
swore growlingly under his breath.
gulped. and cried.
I'm done talking against niggers."
he declared huskily. Those boys
have been damn fine soldiers here, an
if they ever get back from France.
I'm big enough to lick any man who
don't give 'em a square deal"
They've certainly been good sol
diers." a South Carolinian standing by
agreed 'I never thought to salute n
niger. but I've been glad to return
salutes to those boys. If they die in
France. they're going to be just as