The Monroe journal., 1919-02-11
ISDI.NS HAVE MADE GOOD
IN THE NATIONAL CRISIS

Five Hundred More Performed
Other War Work-Storics Told by
Indian Fighters.
The North-American Indian has
distinctly made good in The great ma
tional crisis" asserts the Washington
Star, in a typically complimentary ed
ltorial on Indian Commissioner Sells
annual report. and the New York
Evening sun follows with some in
iervieNs obtained from wounded In
dians. showing how they did il. Out
III $4,000 tligibles. nearly 5000 en-
tered the service. and 500 more per
formed other waT-woTk. As scouts
and small-group fighters they won
greatest fame. From th stand
aoint of discipline" admits .- sun,
the Indians were not the best sol
iiers." They would not salute eN-
cept when compelled 10 do so. and
instead Of a snapPy Sir TO an ON
Ger, which military regulations de
.aand, they "grunted. But when it
came TO fighting, and scouting. and
sniping. 'wooicraft was bred in their
zones" and their tactics helped TO
keep down the casualty lists. Silas
Samuels, a full-blooded Choctaw from
Oklahoma, arrived in New York not
long since, with a wound and a story
af how they carried on:
Samuels was with the S12th In
iantry. which walked all .over
France. night lot. hut plenty of food
most of time" He was over the top
our times. and knows positively that
le killed AT least one German, who
opposed him during a trench raid,
he led a party over The top in raid
me night at midnight, and, guiding
hem along over the shell-torn ter
lane. was among the Germans before
the latter knew of the foes presence
The Huns fought for a few min
etes, and then their artillery lay
Down box barrage of shraplel ana
gas. The gas got fourteen OF the In
dams party and shrapnel accounted
iGr three more. However. ne assist
"A in bringing back fifteen prisoners,
and saw one other Hun fall before his
he. His dark eyes fairly glistened
As he told of the death of the enemy.
He made a quick. instructive move
Of the hand. and one could almost
see the knife flash.
You know the cannon?" he asked
ln his rich. cultural tones. Guns
ever still on our front. They roar
al the time like Thunder God in the
mountains. Nothing so much like II
except the Thunder God in the noun
tains. When German guns talk II is
just like battle of good and bad gods.
His eyes glistened as he resorted 10 4
naiive figure of speech to convey his
oppression OF the artillery.
Twice the young Choctaw and his
band attacked the German trenches
after violent artillery preparation.
BY damn. Germans run away and
hide. Not stand and fight like us
troops. We catch some in dugout.
They come UP, they yell something
and feel silly. No fight till die like
Indians, quick give up" he said.
The fourth time Samuels charged
over the top he was struck by shrap-
mel fire. With typical Indian stoi'
cism he walked back to the dressing
station and asked for first aid so that
he might rejoin his troops. The sur
ceons examined his wound, and he
mas been in a hospital ever since
Leg sore, but | can't fight when they
don't let me. Old time Indians hurt
worse still fight" he said, revertine
10 his own race for comparisons.
Samuels did duty as sniper al
odd times. He says he accounted fol
few of the Boche, and his eyes
danced as he described the death OF
one of them. This Jerry was peeping
over trench one night when Samu-
els was exploring around in a she'll
role. Years of hunting deer at night
gaye the Indian skill with the rifle
that can be obtained in no other way
and the German went West" on one
bullet.
Samuels said that the whole Choc'
taw nation was glad of the chance &c
fight They answered the call, but
now that il is all over. he said ht
was clad TO ret back TO America, and
he hoped TO 20 home to Oklahoma
and stay there. Having expresi Eii
opinions on the war and told his
experiences, the Indian stood up and
said. That's ALL" He shoof
hands gravely and returned To some
of the other boys in the war.
Louis Atkins, a Pottawatomie
Indian, is another brave who ans
wered the call TO service. Atkih.
was educated at the Shawnee Mission
School, and is "a modern Indian oi
the finest type" He was with th'
l03rd Field Artillery, attached to thu
a6th Division. and is still sufferint
from the effects of "gassing" re
ceiyed near Nerdun. Tho reticent a
first, he later. says the reporter
warmed TO the conversation:
I'VE were in heavy artillery regi
ment," said Atkins. I'VE devoted
most of our attention TO shelling
certain cross-road over which the
Germans were bringing up detach
ments of troops and issues Of sup
plies and ammunition. We hurled
six inch shells on this road ever,
night at two-minute intervals. o.
course we never saw our target, so
cannot tell you just what We accom-
plished. but If Jerry was around wher
we were shellmg he certainly got his
Occasionally we were called in tt
participate in artillery duels with thu
German batteries. On such occasions
we caught glimpses of the enemy po
raH tn. tt.t fn,