South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-15

WASHINGTON. Feb. IA pro-
posal 20 organize one or more fun
divisions Of Indian troops as a part
Of the reorganIzed army and 20 be
known as the North American In
dian division or divisions. is pending
IN congress as part az the army re-
organization regislation.
Many Instances OF exploits Of per
sonal heroism on the western front,
such as won for the Red Men i'm
France the nickname OF squirrel
hunters" because of the deadly &C
curaty OF their rifles in sniping con-
tests with Germans. were furnished
the committee as evidence of valu-
able man power which 10 Is con
tended would be wasted If the In
dians are denied q place iu the army
scheme.
Expert SCouters.
Experiences at scouting and pa
trolling particularly at night and IN
unknown territory. disregard for
personal danger under fire, and UNI
faltering loyalty were among the
soldierly qualities the Indian was
described as possessing 10 an unusual
degree Specific cases are cited by
Dr Joseph Kossuth Dixon. secretary
n the National American Indian
Memorial association. Of which Rod
man Kananaker Of New York is
founder and president DR. Dixon
also read a letter from Gen. Perish
ing. giving his hearty approval 20
a plan 10 enlist Indian regiments.
a majority Of more than 1900
Indians who saw military service
during the war were members OF the
10th division. the Texas and Okla
homa National Army division, the
Seth division. National Guardsmen
from the same two states. and the
165th infantry, or old seth New
York. which received heavy Indian
repIacements to iii the gaps pro-
duced in It's ranks by fighting on
the Marine. But the Redskins served
IN many other units and In practi
cally all services.
Very Reliable.
Dr. Dixon declared that after Vis-
iting numerous camps and hospitals
all Officers interviewed, from the
commanding officer to the corporal
or petty officer who have had In
dams under their command. with
one accord, render universal and en-
thusiastic communication Of the bril-
lance the stability the ameuabil-
ity 70 discipline. the herOism and
valor OF the Indian as a fighting
force in our American army and
navy"
Maj. Tom Kelley. who com
manded the 3rd battalion Of the
165th infantry. was quoted as saying
that the Indians were the best and
safest requirements he had at any
time"
They were expert in rife fight
ing. game. strong brave. resolute. -
Mai. Kelley said They were supe-
rior I'm scouting and patrol work.
They were unexcelled in every phase
Of every light.
II have no hesitancy in recon-
mending any one Of my Indians for
a. first sergeantcy. or even a cap
taincv. had replace
rnents on eight different occasions.
SO thorough was the defamation OF
my ranks. and these Indians were
unqualiiedly the very best replace
ments sent me. Many OF them were
killed or wounded. for they always
sought the dangerous places.
L advocate the segregation Of Indian
troops. for I noted that when they
were sent out as a distinct Indian
force they did their best work"
Indian Dialect.
An instance OF how the Choctaw
dialect OF men under the command
of Lieut.. Col William J. Morrissey
OF the 142nd infantry proved OF
value in lodging the German list
cning-in'' system was related by DR..
Dixon In October. 1918. perced-
ing the armistice. when the 142nd
infantry was in front OF St. Etlenne.
on the Champagne front. the Ger
mans detected American troop
movements by tapping wires. To
avoid this Col. MorriSsey organized
signal square Of Choctaws TO
transmit the messages in their origi-
nal dialect. This barbed wire con-
versation." DIT. Dixon said. was a
barrage that nonplussed the Ger
mans"
In working the code" IL was
round InaL there were no words III
the Choctaw tongue for many mill
tary technical expressions. and II
was necessary 20 make UP a table
OF substitutes. such as zone grain
corn" for FIRST battalion" and
arrows" for ammunition"
Would Install Schools.
Dr. DixOns plan proposes the
establishment of permanent regi-
mental or battalion headquarters on
or near important reservations. a
system OF schools on or near reser-
vauons for the purpose or prepar-
ing Indian youths for a military ca
reer and duties or citizenship. and
"a higher school. 10 De known as