Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-02-15
INDIAN DIVISION FOR NEW ARMY IS
 BEING PLANNED
Redskins Made Good Records on European Battle
 Fields

to organize one or more full divis- ions of Indian troops as part of then 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.
 Many instances of exploits of per- sonal heroism on the western front. such as won for the Red Men in France the nickname of "squirrel hunters because Of the deadly ac- curacs of their rifles in sniping con- tests with Germans, were furnished the committee as evidence of valua- bic man power which it is contended would be wasted if the Indians are denied place in the army scheme
 Expertness at scouting and patrol ling, particularly at night and in unknown territory; disregard for personal danger under fire, and un faltering loyalty. were among the soldierly qualities the Indian was described as possessing to an un- usual degree. Specific cases are cited by Dr. Joseph Kossuth Dixon, secretary of the National American Indian Memorial Association, Of which Rodman Wanamaker of New York is founder and president Dr. Dixon also read letter from Gen eral Pershing giving his "hearty approval" to a plan to enlist Indian regiments.
 A majority of the more than IT, 00O Indians who saw military ser- vice during the war were members of tke 90th division, the Texas and Oklahoma National Army division, the 36th division, National Guards men from the two states, and the 165th Infantry, or old 69th New York, which received heavy Indian replacements to fill gaps produced in it's ranks by fighting on the 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 or petty officer, who have had ln- fdians under their commane> with one accord render universal and er- thusiastic ccmmendation of the bril- liance, the stability, the amenability to disciDline, the heroism and valor of the Indian as fighting force if our American army and navy"
 Dialect Helps.
 Major Tom Reilley, who command ed the 3rd battalion of the 1G5th In fantry, was quoted as saying that the Indians were "the best and saf- est replacements he had at any time' J
 "They were expert in rifle fight ing. game. strcno, brave, resolute," Major Reilley said. "They were ST. perior in scouting and patrol work. They were unexcelled in every phase of every fight"
 T have no hesitancy in recon mending any one of my Indians for ? first sergeantcy, or even a captain cy. 1 had replacements on eight diff ferent occasions, so thorough was the decimation of my ranks. and these Indians were unnualifiedly the very best replacements sent me. Many of them were killed or wound ed, for they always sought the dan rerous places. I advocate the seg- regation of Indian troops. for I not cd that when sent out as distinct Indian force they did their bes. work"
 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 "listening in" system was related by Dr Dixon. In October, 1918. pre- ceding the armistice, when teh 142na infantry was in front of St. Etienne. on the Champagne front, the Ger mans detected American troop move ments by tapping wires To avoid this Colonel Morrissev organized q signal square of Choctaws to trans init the messages in their original dialect s'This barbed wire conver- sation.' pr. Dixon said twas 9 bar rage that nonplussed the Germans.
 In working the ''code" it was found that there were no words in the Choctaw tongue for many mili- 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"
 pr. Dixon's plan proposes the es- tablishment of permanent regiment al or battalion headquarters on or near important reservations, a sys- tenn of schools on or near reserva- ticns for hte purpose of preparing Indian youths for a military career and duties of citizenship, end a higher school, to be known as the Indian West Point, for instructing Indians in the duties of non-c n-commis- stoned officers. The plan would al low Indian n-commissioned off cers to enter regular officers schools.
 Other sections of the measure would declare all Indians of one eighth or more blood who shall have reached tha age Of 2l years or who shall have taken the prescribed oath ri ? regular soldier oR the United States to be full citizens oi the United States. Subject to 9 leading and writing test, after 1929 ali h. dian graduates o1 the reservation would ba declafed full citizens or reaching 21 years Of age
 Testifving before the House Com nnittee Dr Dixon charged that the Commissioner Of Indian affairs does and that he had prohibited the de livery to Indians In some sections Of eonies of Testimony before the House Military Committee n 1917. when Dr.. Dixon argued for the recruiting of ten for more regiments of Indian cavalry for rse in the war. Under ruling by the attorney general, the commissioner of Indian affairs was held to have the same power of reg, ssllation over the mail of Indians as the warden of a penitentiarv in pre- venting tbe delivery of mail to con- FxrfpfS