Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-02-08
FREDCH COIlMlnDER
LLUDS OUD SDl.DIED5
FOB BRAVEnY
90 COLOHED MEN IN TWO KEGI-
MENTS ARE WEARING THE
CROIN DE GUiIRIsE.

L
Long before his entry in the great
European conflict tho American Nc
gro had won enduring fame rs a
warrior bold. This We learned from
the historian and the orator. Quite
often VIC were told, however, that
tho Negro to win laurcls on tho field
properly led. This Implication, de.
spite its verbal camounagc, contained
tho t0cit Inference that in order for
the Nero TO wn laurcis on the field
of battle it was necessary that he
serve under white officers.
1t is, therefore, with a feeling of
pride and citation that l toll Of the
excellent record made by the 37Oth
Infantry, formerly the old Eighth
Illinois. which up to October last was
otliccrcd by colorcd men from Lieu
tenant Colonel down.
With sixty six members OF the reg
iment proudly wearing the CroiX dc
Gucrrc awarded by tho French for
conspicuous bravery .undor fire. thirty
Of whom were cofored officers, It
would not seem that tho American
Negro had been n failure rs leader
OF mon amid shot and shell. This
record alone gives the lie to the
insidi0uS propaganda spread through
out Franco by some follow Americans
OF di 5o0Scd mentality, who arc sock
ing to make 1t appear that race mon
have not made good rs officers. But
this subject | shall discuss at length
in another article.
The 370th, like the old 18th Now
York, %71st end 372nd regiments,
was hriraded with tho French. The
Illinois fighters served under General
Nincendom. commander OF the 59th
French Division. who shortly after
tho signing OF the armistice. sent tho
regiment tho following communica
ton:
"Oncors, non. commissioned off,
GERS and mon:
"Your efforts have been rewarded.
The armstice Is signed. The troops
Of tho Entente, to whom the armies
OF the American Republic have nobly
como to ioin themselves, have van
quishcd the most powerful In strnmnnt
OF conquest that nation could for
get-the naughty German Army
acknowledges itself conquered. How
ever hard our conditions are, the
enemy government has accepted them
all.
The 370th r. 7. u. S. has con-
trihntcd largely to tho success OF tho
59th Division and has taken in bitter
strife both cannon and machine
guns. It's units. fred by noble
ardor, got at times even beyond tho
detectives given them by the hichcr
command: they have Away wished to
be In the front limo, for tho place
Of honor Is the leading rank.
They have shown, In tho course of
our advance. that they are worthy
Of being there"
Just day or two before the year
of 1919 made its exit from the stage
OF action I visited the 370th Regi-
ment. then camped on the outskirts
OF lie Mans. France. To be sent to
lie Mans means that G. II. G." has
decided to transfer your regiment to
the United States as soon as trans,
portation facilities will permit Full
ly approaching the fact that they
would not be manv more weeks on
foreign shores. found officers and
men in a jubilant frame OF mind.
All were anXiously looking forward
to seeing relatives and friends once
more.
ROBERTS LAUDS HIS MEN.
Colonel IT. A. Roberts white, who
succeeded Colonel Dennison. is ex-
ceodingly fond OF his command, and
spoke in n complimentary vein Of
the courage and dash Of his officers
and men. ] learned that quite
number Of officers had been killed or
injured while putting the Hun to
flight. | was agreeably surprised to
meet some OF the younrer officers
who were formerly enlisted men from
TIL old 18th New York and the "Buf-
faloes.' They had been commits
sionod after attending training school
in Franco.
1t was source Of great Measure
to meet the officers OF the 37Oth and
to spnnd few hours with them in
conversation. 7 heard many accounts
OF sacrificc-of how the mon for
days had marched mile after milo
without SUFFICIENT food. of how some
had hcroically met death going over
IT," TON. ""d al to make the world
safe for democracy!
Sergeant Matthew Jenkins, q Chi
caro boy and member Of Companv T.
performed one Of the most daring
fcnts. OTcnrs and mon take great
pride In telling how Jenkins. on SEN
tembcr 20. 1918. at Mont dos Sineos,
went ahead Of his comrades and
captured from the Bochc q fortified
tunnel which he held for thirty six
hours without food or munition, max
ing use OF the enemy mo chine gun
and munition until relieved.
FRENCH HIGHLY APPRECIATIVE
The high aDprecia ton and affection
the Frn"ch have for the members Of
the 370th as fighters and comrades is
set forth In the following order Is
sued by General Vincendon In
December:
"Oficers and Soldiers Of the 370th
r. I. U. S.:
"YOu are leaving ua Tha imnoa