The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-02-25
from Tuesdays Dailyl
Anent The Negro Troops.
Mankato. MINI Fehru

Mankato, Mimi, February 10, 1921
TO The Free Press: Your Thurs
days issue brought the statement by
Secretary COiDy. about negro troops.
Some time ago he sent a letter al
most similar to this one to Con-
gressman Voigt. But he did not con-
vince the gentleman as the answer
to Mr.. Colby plainly shows. The let
ter reads as follows: ...
Dear Mr.. Secretary: Your recent
letter CIV. e. 862101) in regard to
outrages committed by black French
troops in the occupied parts of Ger
many at hand. ! am satisfied that
France is maintaing some $4,000 to
10000 block uncivilized troops in
Germany. 1t matters not to me whe
Their they are Senegalese, Moroccan
or Algerian: they are of another
race, and 1t is very evident that these
troops will commit outrages on the
white women, girls and boys of the
occupied area. On page 81 of Dill
Ions Inside Story of the Peace Con-
ference is found a French official
order regarding the management and
regulation of houses Of Ill fame in
the occupied area for the use of
these colored troops. The officials
of German cities are compelled to
maintain brothels for these troops
German children are compelled to
witness long lines of these colored
standing in front of these houses.
The fee for a visit to these houses
which the German officials are com
PEELED to maintain in many cities
and villages, Is fixed by French
military order. An English Editor,
e. d. Morel, has made personal
investigation of the conditions in
the occupied area and what he says
about the attacks made by these
troops on innocent women and girls
and in some cases boys, is absolute
ly horrifying. In your letter to me
you say that the reports are largely
untrue, hut you do not say that they
are wholly untrue. Even If there
are not as many cases OF rape anc
murder as reported, it still is ter
rible condition.
I protest again against this occu
patton by colored troops. 1t is q
certainty that they will rape and
murder innocent women and girls.
respectfully but very urgently re-
quest you. Mr. Secretary to protest
to the French government in the
name of our government agains
any occupation other than by white
troops, (Signed) Edward Voigt
/ wish to say that the word pro
paganda'' which Mr.. Colby prefers to
use Is here entirely out OF place
For someone who knows little
about conditions in Germany 1t is
not strange at all that the reports OF
atrocities committed on German
women and children by negro troops
come from Berlin. Secretary CODY
should know that the newspapers
are not allowed to print anything
about the army conditions. More
than sixty papers who tried to stand
for Justice and humanity were OPP
pressed ard their editors deported.
What would Secretary Colby say
IL the So called "anti French propa
ganda" originates from the Ameri-
can circles in Berlin. There are
many well known Americans ike
Ray Beveridge, Laura Dincent, Aga
the Marshall Built, George Scnef-
faner, Edwin Emerson and Others,
who work hard to moke their pro-
test against the black crime sue
cess. Yours very truly, Mrs. William
Popken.
The American Legion is taking
cognizance of the situation com
DIained of and has issued state