Greenwood daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1919-1926, 1920-02-11
NORTH AMERICAN
INDIAN DIVISIONS
Proposal Organize One Or Two More
Fuil Divisions OF Indian Troops
AS Part ReOrganized Army.
Associated Press


ion or divisions, is pending in Con-
gress as part of the army reorganiza-
tion legislation.
Many instances of exploits or per-
sOnal heroism on the western front
such as won for the Red Men in
France the nickname of "squirreI hun
ters' because of the deadly accuracy
of their rifles in sniping contests with
Germans, were furnished the commit
tee as evidence of valuable man pow
er which it is contended would be
wasted if the Indians are denied
place in the army scheme.
Expertness at scouting and patroll-
ing, particularly at night and in un-
known territory; disregard for per
sonal danger under fire, and unfalter
ing loyalty, were among the soldierly
qualities the Indian was described as
possessing to an unusual degree
Specific cases are cited by Dr. Joseph
kossuth Dixon, secretary of the Nat
iOnal American Indian Memorial AS
sociation, of which Rodman Wanama-
ker of New York is founder and pres
ident DR.. Dixon also read letter
from General Pershing giving his
hearty approval to plan to enlist
Indian regiments.
majority of the more than 1900
Indians who saw military service dur
ing the war were members of the Goth
Division, the Texas and Oklahoma
National Army Division, the 36th Di-
vision, National Guardsmen from the
same two states, and the 165th In
fantry, or old Goth New York, which
received heavy Indian requirements
to fill the gaps produced in it's ranks
by fighting on the Marine. But the
REDSKINS served in many other units
and in practically all services.
DR.. Dixon declared that after Wis
iting numerous camps and hospitals,
all "officers interviewed, from the
commanding officer to the corporal OF
petty officer, who have had Indians un-
der their command with one accord
render universal and enthusiastic COM
mendation of the brilliance, the sta
bility, the amenability to discipline
the heroism and valor of the Indian
as fighting force in our American
army and navy
Major Tom Reilley, who command
ded the 3rd Battalion of the 165th In
fantry, was quoted as saying that the
Indians were "the best and safest re-
placements he had at any time"
''They were expert in rifle fighting
game, strong, brave, resolute," Major
Reilley said. "They were superior il
scouting and patrolwork. They Were
unexcelled in every phase of every
fight.
Il have no hesitancy in recommend
ing any one of my Indians for a frs
sergeantcy, or even capitaincy.
had requirements on eight differen
occasions so thoroughly was the deci
mation of my ranks, and these indians
were unqualifiedly the very best re
placements sent me. Many of then
were killed or wounded, for they al
ways sought the dangerous places
l advocate the segregation of Indial
troops, for l noted that when the.
were sent out as a distinct 1ndial
force they did their best work.
An instance of how the Choctav
dialect of men under the command o
Lieutenant Colonel William j. Morris
sey, of the 142nd infantry, proved o
value in dodging the German listen
ing-in" system was related by Dl
Dixon. In October 1918 preceding tn
armistice, when the 142nd infantr
was in front of st. Etienne, on tn
Champagne front, the Germans detec
ted American troop movements b.
tapping wires To avoid this colone
Morrissey organized signal squar
of Choctaws to transmit the message
in their dialect "This barbed wir
conversation" DIR. Dixon said, twas
barrage that nonplussed the Ge,
mans"
In working the "code" it was foun
that there were no words in the Choe
taw tongue for many military tech
nical expressions, and it was neces
sary to make up q table Of substitr
tes, such as zone grain corn" for "firs
battalion" and 'arrows" for ammun
tion."
Mr.. Dixon's plan proposes the e'
tablishment of permanent regiments
or battalion headquarters on or mes
important reservations, q system
schools on or near reservations II
the purpose of preparing India
youths for military career and d
ties or citizenship, and q hlgh'
school, to be known as the India
West Point, for instructing Indian
the duties of non-commissioned OF
Gers. The plan would allow lndls
non-commissioned officers to ent
regular officers schools
Other sections Of the measure wou