The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1920-02-13

Va - a&tS No n hStNS ~
our American army and navy"
Major Tom Reiiley. who COM
manded ltheysrd battalion OF : the
1s5th infantry, was quoted as say
ing that the Indians were 'the best
and safest requirements he had at
any time -,
They were expert In, rife fighting,
game, strong, brave, resolute."
Major Reilley said. "They were
superior in scouting and patrol
work. They were %unexcelled in
every phase of every fight.
II have no h~esitancy in recon-
mending any one of my Indians for
a first ~sergeantcy, or even a zap
taincy. had replace
ments on eight different occasions.
so thorough was the defamation of
my ranks, and these Indians were
unQualifiediy the very best replace
ments sent me. Many of them were
killed oil wounded, for they always
sought the dangerous places.
I advocate the segregation of Indian
troops. for l noted that when they
We're sent out as a distinct Indian
force they did their best work"
An instance of how the Choctaw
dialect of men under the command
of Lieutenant Colonel William j.
Morrisey, of the 142nd infantry,
proved of value in lodging the Ger
mar "listening-in" system was re-
lated by DR.. Dixon. In October,
1918, preceding the armistice. when
the 142nd infantry was in front OF
st .Etienne, on the Champagne front,
the Germans detected American
troop movements by tapping wires.
To avoid this, Colonel Morrissey or
gained a signal square of Choctaws
to transmit the messages in their
original dialect. This barbed-wire
conversation" DR.. Dixon said. was
a barrage that nonplussed the Ger
mans"
In working the .'code,", it was
found that there were no words in
the Choctaw tongue for many mill
tary technical expressions, and it
was necessary to make up a table of
substitutes, such as lone grain corn"
for first battalion" and arrows"
for Ammunition"
DR.. Dixon's plan proposes the es-
adjustment of permanent regimental
or battalion headquarters on or near
important reservations, a system Of
schools on or near reservations for
the purpose Of preparing Indian
youths for a military career and
duties Of citizenship, and a 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
regular officers schools.
Other sections of the measure
would declare all Indians of one
eighth or more blood. who shall have
reached the age Of 81 years, or who
'hall have taken the prescribed oath
If a regular soldier of the United
States, to be full citizens Of the
United States. Subject to a reading
md writing test, after 1929 all In
liam graduates of the reservation
would be declared full citizens on
'eaching 81 years of age.
T%estifying before the house com
nittee, DR.. Dixon charged that the
commissioner of Indian affairs does
lot believe in Indian citizenship, and
he had prohibited the delivery
o Indians in some sections of copies
# testimony before the house mill
airy committee in 1917, when DR..
Dixon argued for the recruiting of
or more regiments of Indian
for use in the war. Under a ,
uling by the attorney general, the
commissioners of Indian affairs was
.eld to have the same power of reg ,
Ilation owe the mail of Indians as ,
he warden of a ~penitentiary in pre- ;
enting the delivery of mail to con f.,
:
Il ask you to note" DR.. Dixon G
aid, that the Indian, in the ma
'rity of cases a ward of the govern s
lent, was treated as a convict, but
till was considered worthy of being '
rated"
The secretary of war opposed the
r~ganization of the Indian regiments 6
/ 1917 on the ground that he did e
OF favor segregation Of troops ac- t
ording to race. t
iARINE NAMES BABY n