Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1919-06-21


spilled their blood for their white brethren
whose manacled slaves they still remained
In the Civil War at the call of their Great
Iiberator Abraham Lincoln, over two hun
Crend thousand Negroes fought for the
Union-and for the first time for their own
Freedom
In the Spanish american War at San
Juan Hill it was the feet of American
Negroes that first pressed the hei ghts Of
Victory
Consider now the Negro in the World
War overseas. It is magnificent record.
1t should make the heart of every American
white or black-thrill with pride. We
pass by the Negro stevedores who won the
world s record in freight and supply hand
ling and come to the American Negroes ~
battle In general these Negro units were
known as the 369tE, 37Oth, 371st and 372nd
Regiments of the Ninety-third Division.
They were differed largely -almost en-
tirely, in fact-by Negro officers when they
charged the Germans. And charge they did,
too! Here are some of the results
The Negro lieutenant colonel of the 370th,
a Negro Major, eight Negro captains, seven
teen Negro leutenants, eight Negro nom
commissioned officers and twenty-six Negro
privates were decorated with the CroiX de
Guerre in last November General Vincen-
uell, lue Tfencl commanding OI1cof. SalQ Oh
the 37Oth on November 18th, the day of the
signing Of the historic armstce: ''Fired by
q noble ardor they 90 at times even beyond
the detectives given them by the higher
commands they have always wished to be
in the front lines. In the name of France
| thank you.' In his farewell address to
this Negro regiment General Vncenden
said: You have given us of your best and
you have given it out of the fullness of
your hearts. The blood of your comrades
who fell the soil Of France mixed with
the blood Of our soldiers, renders indis-
soluble the bonds Of affection that unite us
We have besides, the pride Of having
worked together at a magnificent task and
the pride Of bearing on our foreheads the
ray Of a common gradeur. A last time
Au Revoir." This is the language of man
who recognized bravery and the red blood
OF courage regardless of the color of the
skin whence it gushed
Have some more. 1t is good stuff This
tells OF the 371st and the 372nd brigaded
with the 18TH French Division under
General Goybet-known as a martinez and
a fire eater-Who said ''For seven months
we have lived as brothers at arms partaking
OF the same activities, sharing the same
fardshlps and the same dangers. Side bv
side we took part in the great Champag one
q
tremendous victory Never will the 18th
Division forget the indomitable dash, the
heroic rush of the American Negro regi-
ments up the observatory ridge into the
PLAIN OF Monthois. The most powerful de-
Ie1ses, the most strongly organized machine
gun nests, the heaviest artillery barraoes-
nothing could stop them. These crack regi-
ments overcame every obstacle with ii most
complete contempt for danger Dear friends
from america when you reach the other
side OF the ocean do not forget the Red
Hand (the 157th) French Division. Our
brotherhood has been cemented in the blood
OF the brave and such bonds will never be
DESTROYED" The Distinguished Service
Cross was awarded four Negro officers five
Nee"o privates and one Negro corpora1 from
the 3|2nd Regiment. Two colored corpora]s
ana two colored privates from the 37lst re-
ceved the CroiX de Guerre and seventy
o1her citations for valor were awarded
among the Negro troops.
Space prevents further dotai1c hu+ Tho e,o+