Phoenix tribune., 1919-04-26
cOLORED CITIZENS OF PHOENIX
ROYALTY ENTERTAIN OUR BOYS
RECENTLY BACK FROM FRANCE

Monday night. April 21, the colored
citizens of Phoenix turned out en-
masse to honor our returned heroes.
Tanner chapel. A. M. E. church, was
the scene of this brilliant affair and
the house was packed and jammed
Standing room was at premium and
many were unable to gain admission.
The meeting was opened by singing
THE Star-Spangled Banner" after
which Rev. R. E. Herring, pastor of
Tanner chapel, invoked Divine bless
ing upon the audience. A few musi-
cal selections were rendered by Mrs.
l.. A. Walker and a company of school
girls delighted the audience with a.
flag drill
The master of ceremonies intro
duced Rev R. H. Herring, who read
a letter from Governor Thos. E.
Campbell in which he stated his re-
grets for not being able to attend the
meeting. and assuring the colored peo-
pie of Phoenix that he was with them,
heart and soul, in all their efforts to
uplift the race. Rev. Herring deliy-
cred a short address in which he
heartily welcomed the returned SOL
diers and told how firmly we had stood
behind them while they were fighting
to make the world safe for democracy
tand of our desire to give them due
honor and credit, which they so richly
deserve.
The principal speaker OF the even
ing, in the person of Private Floyd
/ Shomo No. 1877 Motor Truck Corps,
92nd Division, was then introduced.
! The speaker told of his experiences
in the various training camps in this
country, of his voyage across the At
lantic, and of his training and fight
ing on foreign soil. Private Shomo
bears the distinction of being nem-s,
Der of the 92nd Division, and as this
division did the hardest fighting OF
any Americans in the last hours of
the war, its members are well quail
/ fed to tell of actual conditions over
there The 92nd Division was the
only complete Negro unit that fought
under the Stars and Stripes and was
composed of men from nearly every
state in the Union and trained in vari-
GUS cantonments in this country be-
fore their journey overseas. It saw
service in the Vosges mountains, Ar
gonne forest and in the Marbache Sec
tor, operating against the wonderfully
fortified city of Metz. Private Shomo
said that their division took over the
area surrounding Metz on October
and held it until the signing of the
armistice. He also stated that the
enNire division was very active on this
front, taking many towns and captur-
ing many prisoners. The speaker
said that it rains 1886 days in the year
in France and that he and others
slept many nights in the rain Their
ratfons for time consisted of corned
beef and hard tack" nothing more.
He told how the boys there are now
suffering and longing to return home.
He made feryent plea that the. col
ored people purchase Victory Bonds
to the limit as the government was
sorely in need of money. His talk on
his experiences overseas and in be-
half of the Victory Loan struck a re-
sponsive chord and he was enthusi-
astically applauded showing that the
audience was in perfect accord with
him.
First Sergeant Ford M. White, Co.
B, 349th M. G. Bn., was next intro
duced. He read an order from Com
manding Officer Blue in which he
appealed to the people to support the
Victory Loan. Sergeant White then
explained the uses of the gas mask
and of the manner in which they af-
fected the victim. He stated that the
mustard gas was the most poisonous
of all the gases used by the Huns.
Prof. P. Landry, principal of Doug
las school, was next introduced. He
Told the boys that we were glad 10
welcome them back home. That we
had backed them with Liberty Bonds
while they were fighting. and now
that the fight is over we are going to \
continue to back them by purchasing
Victory Bonds. Prof. Landry's talk
was opportune and to the point
The returned soldiers ON the plat
fcont;nnad On nooo >,