South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-03-15
Other Editors Than Ours
THE TRUTH SUSPENDED SOMEWHERE.
CIT. Wayne JournaI-Gazette.)

The American people are properly interested in
the charge that the French colored troops in Ger
many have been outraging and committing
depredatons Of less serious nature. Because of
this charge meetings have been planned on the or
der of that recently held in New York city where
the chief indoor sport appears have been to de-
nounce Mr. Wilson with scurriiity. We interest
ed, though there is nothing We dor have a
right TO do. America is always against barbarity
such is here charged
The point in controversy just now, however. is
whether the charge is true. Before the meeting was
held New York the head of the American Legion.
charged that the whole cutlery is pro-German propa-
ganda and declared that the coored troops have
been Withdrawn.
Now comes Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, we'll
known throughout the world, who recently met the
German delegates to the international Suffrage al
lance at Geneva. This is her contribution to the
controversy
This campaign of propaganda has been in
progress in the United States for many months.
I had heard good deal Of il before going to
Geneva. J. therefore, called two German dele
gates, one member OF the National Reichstag
and one counselor to the government Of
Wurtemberg, and also the treasurer of the In
ternational Woman Suffrage alliance. Mrs. Colt
who is OF German birth, married to an Ameri-
can who became naturalized British citizen.
She had been visiting her aged father at Frank
fort, which lies in the region where the black
troops were alleged TO have committed atroci-
ties. Mrs Colt said that the people IN the vicn-
ity Of the black troops had told her repeatedly
that they had conducted themselves with more
courtesy and consideration than any white
troops who had been stationed there. The two
German delegates declared that there was no
movement in Germany TO ask France TO remove
these COlOred troops and that far as they
knew there was complaint In Germany on
that These three women promised 10
make inquiry concerning the definite charges
which were being made in the United States
concerning these troops and to let me know
later.
I all three OF them in London in early
December, and again they reiterated the same
statements made IN Geneva, which was 10 the
effect that atrocities such as are being de-
scribed in the United States could not have been
committed by any army OF occupation without
the masses OF the PEOPLE of Germany knowing
about 1t, and that they had heard nothing which
warranted such charges being made"
This is borne out considerable extent by the
official report OF MAJ Gen Henry T. Allen the CON-
nander OF the American troops Germany He tells
that there has been some propaganda in Germany
against the colored troops but that the charges
against these troops used the basis OF the agi-
tation in this country unwarranted. Reminding
that the racial antipathy assertive in this
country does not exist in Europe. he tells us that
there have been number OF 5nternarriaees since
the colored troops reached Germany.
With this radical disagreement IL Is clearly i'm
portant that have satisfactory proof OF
the truth OF the stories before we become unduly
excited