New-York tribune., 1920-02-12
Army Officers
Back Move for
Indian Division
yalor Of Red Men In France
Is Cited as Evidence
They Should Have Place
in Reorganization Scheme
Soldierly to Last Degree
Deadly Shots, Expert Scouts,
Fearless and Amenable to
Discipline, Record Shows

WASHINGTON. Feb. u.--A proposal
to organize one or more full divisions
of Indian troops as part of the re-
orcanized army aud to be known as the
North American Indian division or di-
visions, is pending in Congress as part
of the army reorganization 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 accuracy of their
rifles in sniplng contests with Ger
evidence of valuable man power, which
il is contended would be wasted if the
indians arc denied place in the army
scheme.
Expertness at scouting and patroll-
ING, particularly at night and in un-
known territory: disregard for per-
soual danger under fire and unfalter-
ing loyalty were among the soldierly
qualities the Indian was described as
possessing to an unusual degree. Spe-
cific cases arc cited by DR.. Joseph
kossuth Dixon. secretary of the Ma
tional American Indian Memorial AS
sociation, OF which Rodman Wana.
maker, Of New York, is founder and
l..
from General Pershing giving his
"hearty approval to a plan TO enlist
Indian regiments.
Commanders Commend Indians
A majority of the more than II 900
Indians who saw military service dur
ing the war were members of the Goth
Division, the Texas and oklahoma
National Army Division, the 36th
j e.. L
same two states. and the 165th In
fantry. or old Goth New York, which
received heavy Indian repla acements to
FIJI the gaps produced in it's ranks
by lighting en- the Marne But the
redskins served in many other units
and in practically all services.
Dr. Dixon declared that after visit
ing numerous camps and hospitals. all
Officers interviewed from the COM
manding officer to the corporal or
petty officer, who have had Indians
under their command. with one accord,
gave universal and enthusiastic COM
mendation of the brilliance, the sta
bility. the amenability to discipline,
the heroisn and valor of the Indian
as fighting force in our American
army and navy
Major Tom Reilley, who commanded
the Srd 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"
Expert Shots. Strong and Brave
They are expert in rifle lighting,
game, strong, brave, resolutc," Major
Reiliey said. They were superior in
scouting and patrol work. They were
uneNcelled in every phase of every
fight
Il have no hesitancy in recommends
ing any one of my Indians for first
sergeantcy or even q captancy. | had
requirements on eight different occa-
sions. so thorough was the decimation
OF naS ranks, and these Indians were
uuQualifedly the very best replace
ments sent me. Many Of them were
killed or wounded, for they always
sought the dangerous places. l advo-
cate the segregation of Indian troops,
tor | noted that when they were sent
out a :; distinct Indian force they did
their best work"
An instance of how the Choctaw dia-
,ect OF men under the command OF
lieutenant Colonel William ]. Morris
sey. OF the l42d Infantry, proved of
value IN dodging the German "listen-
ing-in' system was related by DR..
Dixon. In October. 1918, preceding the
armlstlce, when the 142d Infantry was
In front OF st. Etienne, on the Cham
pagne front, the Germans detected
American troop movements by tapping
wires. To avoid this Colonel Morrissey
organized signal square of Choctaws
to transmit the message in their orig
inal dialect. This barbed wire con
versatlon,' Dr.. Dixon said, was a bar
rage that nonplussed the Germans"
Military School Proposed
In working the code" it was found
that there were no words in the Choc-
'aw tongue for many military technical
expressions, and it was necessary to
make up a table of substitutes, such as
"one grain corn" for list battalion"
and arrows" for ammunition"
Dr. Dixon's plan proposes the estab-
iishment OF permanent regimental or
battalion headquarters on or near i'm
portant reservations, system of
schools on or near reservations for the
purpose OF preparing Indian youths
1or military career and duties of
citizenship, and higher school, to be