The Colorado statesman., 1919-02-22

sienin they wo-e on their left Shoul-
der. consisting of Il white rattlesnake
On black background. 1t stands for
the motto of the 369th, Don't tread
On our tall
"On Sept. 26 last we went into ac-
ton with twenty officers and 700
lnen and came out with seven officers
and $50 men," said Major fEsperance
Yesterday "On Oct. we were so
badly shot up that we We're sent back
for Il rest for five days and then we
were sent to the NosgeS and fought
there till the armiStice was signed. 1t
was during the fighting on Sept. 26
three hours after the beginning of the
drive that day, that Major Spencer
fell and the command was turned over
to me.
/. "In June Colonel Hayward had been
hurt in the foot, and although he in
A,iSted on remaining mt the head of his
regiment the surgeons ordered MIN to
hospital for IN operation. Colonel
Hayward was back again at the head
of the 369th n month later HeNwas
lending us when we reached the Rhine
last November.
Major Won Two Decorations.
Major l'Esperance has the Legion
of Honor and the CroiX de Guerre for
his work in commanding the 369th
fighters and for his utter disregard of
danger while in action. Five others
of the old Fifteenth's original officers
returned on the France yesterday, in
Guiding Captains John X. Outwater,
Cummerford Mclaughlin, Eli Shaw
and Il. \. Walton and Lieutenant Wal
ter r. Lockhart.
THE Huns making the big drive
stopped when they came to us" said
Major rEsperance, pointing proudly
to the sturdy heroes on the Frances
deck. "rhese fellows are some fight
ers, let me tell you. In seven days in
September last they captured 80 ma
chine guns, four IT'S and 400 prison
ers. General lie Bouc, famous
French commander, said 10 me ::
These American Negro troops are an
inspiration to my troops and words
fail me To describe the work your men
are doing"
The Germans were positively afraid
of the Negro soldiers, and while they
willingly enough shouted "kamerad
to their white antagonists, they did
everything possible to avoid being
taken prisoner by the men of the
369th and 370th, so that any prisoners.
easily taken, | can assure you. There
was no "kamerad' business about the
taking of prisoners by the Negro sol
diers, as was the case where the white
troops marched in large bodies of en-
emy prisoners.
The men seemed to mould inStinc-
lively into the French manner of liv-
ing and acting. They took in the
French language with remarkable
ease Their seriousness and ability TO
fight appealed strongly to the French
and in their lighter moments their en-
tertaining qualities made an instant
aneous hit with the poiluS. But we
are all pretty well tired out now, and
glad to be home. | dare say you'll
hear lot of French spoken in Har-
lem these days, and l think Califor-
mia red wine will he the drink of the
American Negro soldier, back from the
front, instead of the stronger liquors,
hereafter"
Among the casual officers who came
back on the France was Lieut.. l..
Hanstein of the Tooth infantry, who
was wounded twice. He was formerly
IA troffic policeman attached to Traf-
fic a.
Takes War Into His Own Hands.
Corporal Elmer Earl of No. 80 Full
ton street. Middletown, n. Y, of Com
pany X, Both infantry, practically took
the war into his own hands on Sept.
26, when the Negro fighters were ne
gotating a hill and, afterwards,
swamp fighting Il rear guard action.
He was so busy throwing hand gren-
AIDES that he got far away from the
others of his platoon, from which but
eight out Of total of fifty-eight re-
turned unwounded. Between hurling
grenades he managed to bring in sew