The Alaska daily empire., 1920-02-19
WHOLE DIVISION OF TANK INDIANS
 IN ARMY, PLAN
Redskins Made Good in Eur ope, Now Wanted For Reg ular Troops, Crack Shots, According to Huns-Per- shing Favors Such a Plan.

divisions of Indian troops as part of the reorganized army and to be known as the North American Indian division or divisions, is pending in Congress as part Of the army reor ganiZation legislation. a
 Many instances of exploits Of per sonal heroism on the western front such as won for the Red Men in France the nickname of squire hunters" because of the deadly ac curacy of their rifles in sniping con tests with Germans, were furnished the committee as evidence of yalu able man power which it is contend ed would be wasted if the Indians are denied a place in the army scheme.
 Expertness at scouting and patrol ling, particularly at night and in un known territory; disregard for per sonal danger under fire, and unfalter ing loyalty, were among the soldier ly qualities the Indian was described as possessing to an unusual degree Specific cases are cited by Dr. Jos ept Kossuth Dixon, secretary of the National American Indian Memoria Association, of which Rodman Wana maker of New York is founder and president. Dr. Dixon also read { letter from General Pershing givinf his .'hearty approval to a plan tt enlist Indian regiments.
 Many Fron, Southwest
 A majority of the more than 17,00f Indians who saw military service during the WIT were members of the 90th divisioJ.,, the Texas and Oklaho ma National Army Division, the 36tf Division. National Guardsmen from the same two states, and the 1851 Infantry, or old 69th New York which received heavy Indian replace ments to fill the gaps produced ir it's ranks by fighting on the Marne But the Redskins served in many other units and in practically all services. & i|
 Dr. Dixon declared that after wis iting numerous camps and hospitals all officers interviewed, from the commanding officer to the corporal or petty officer who have had In dians. under their command, XIX x with one accord. render universal and enthusiastic commendation of the hrilliance the stability, the amenabil ity to discibnne, the heroism ant vaior of the Indian as a fighting force in our American army and navy"
 Major Tom Reilley, who command ed the 3rd Battalion of the 165th In fantry, was quoted as saying that the Indians were the best and safes replacements he had at any time.'
 "They were expert in rifle fighting game, strong. brave. resolute Ma jor Reilley said. They were supe rior in scouting and patrolwork. They were unexcelled in every phase oi every fight.
 'T have no hesitancy in recon mending any one of my Indians foi a first sergeantcy, or even cap taincy. I had replacements on eight different occasion, so thor ough was the decimation of my ranks, and these Indians were un qualifledly the very best replace ments sent me. Many of them were killed or wounded. for they always sought the dangerous places. I advocate the segregation of IndiaT troops, for I noted that when they were sent out as a distinct Indian force they did their best work"
 Used Braves as Signaiers.
 An instance of how the Choctaw dialect of men under the command Of Lieutenant Colonel William J. Nor rissey, of the 142nd infantry, proved of value in lodging the German "ustening-in" system was related by Dr. Dixon In October, 1918, pre- ceding the ~armistice, when the 142nd infantry was in front of the St Etienne, on the Champagne front, the Germans detected American troor movements by tapping wires. To avoid this Colonel Morrissey organ ized. a signal square of Choctaws to transmit the messages in their orig inal dialect. This barbed wire conversation" Dr. Dixon said, twas barrage that nonplussed the Ger mans"
 In working the "code," it was found that there were no words Tn the Choctaw tongue for many mill tary technical expressions, and it was necessary to make up table Of substitutes. such as ''one grain corn for first battalion and arrows" for ammunition
 Dr. Dixon's plan proposes the es- tablishment of permanent regimental or battalion headquarters on or near important reservations. system of schools on or near reservations for the purpose of preparing Indian youths for military career and du. ties or citizenship. and higher school, to be known as the Indian West Point, for instructing Indians in the duties of non-commissioned officers. The plan would allow In. dian non.commissioned officers to en. ter regular officers schools. t0
 Other sections of the measure