Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1926-05-15

nln.n, formerly the Fifteenth New
York National Guard--and | will say
to my Democratic friends that they
had white officers, and of these 60
white officers 10 of them were killed
on the field of battle. The Three
handred and SEVENTEEN was a Ma.
tlonal Guard regiment from Chicago !:
the Three hundred and seventy-first
drafted regiment from the South
the Three hundred and seventy-sec.
ond composed of separate battalion
from Ohio, another from the District
OF Columbia, and separate companies
from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and
Maryland. The casualties of these
four regiments were 40 per cent of
their electives. l have letters in my
pocket from officers who served in the
regiment drafted from the South. a
white officers association, and they
are for this bill, and am proud of it.
(Applause).
MIR. CONNALLY, of Texas. Will
the gentleman explain why General
Pershing, chairman of the Battle
commission, is against it, and Senator
Reed on the commission is against it.
and why the gentleman from Mary
land (Mr. HilD is opposed to it?
MR.. FISH. The Battle Monuments
Commission made rule that no unit
under division should be considered.
therefore these regiments could not
be included under that regulation for
a battle monument. But the bill was
amended after Senator Reed had been
before the committee to Obviate some
OF his objections and in order that
the appropriation should not be taken
out of the battle monuments fund a
special authorization of $4,000 was
provided for in this BILL Both amend
ments were made in committee; thew
were not offered by me, but accepted
unanimously by the committee, and
think that answers the statement of
the gentleman who wanted to know
why we reported the bill. This is the
second time in two years, after care.
full consideration, that this bill has
been reported. (Applause). The Bat.
tie Monuments Commission is
creature of Congress, and it is not
only right but just that we instruct
them to provide separate monument
Tor the provisional Ninety third Di-
vision.
The four regiments that make up
TINS division served with the French
Army. They were understrength.
having about $500 men IN a regi
ment. Three of the four regiments
lad their flags decorated with the
French croiX de guerre. Very few
other American regiments had their
flags decorated with the French war
cross. There was no dispute by the
opponents in the committee as to the
heroism, gallantry, and courage of
the negro fighting soldiers of the pro-
Ninety-third Division. Cap
plause). The facts were admitted by
witnesses before the committee; even
the opposition admitted that these
four regiments had conducted them
selves gallantly on the battle fields of
France, and one of these regiments
claims that it served in the line longer
than any other American regiment.
MIR. COOPER, of Wisconsin. /
think the gentleman has omitted an
important fact as stated to me by
member sitting by my side He ex-
pressed surprise when told him that
The distinguished gentleman now ad-
dressing the House was an officer of
one of those regiments. (Applause).
MR.. FISH. My friends, would be
ierelict TO the memory of these col
bred soldiers in my own regiment and
The white officers who were killed in
that regiment if | did not do every
thing in my power to see that they
got proper recognition. (Applause).
There were 100000 negro soldiers
n our Army. There are 100000
Of colored people in the country, and
everyone is interested in seeing that
recognition is given to the soldiers of
he colored race who made the SUI
'reme sacrifice. (Applause). There
gere 457 killed and 3,46S wounded in
.hese four regiments out of battle
strength of approximately 10000 SOL
iiers. With the exception of the
first and Second Divisions. there
we're not many American divisions
which had higher percentage of
,illed and wounded. All we ask here
s to do away with this unjust dis =
against the heroism of
legro soldiers and erect this monu-
nent in France, which will be for all
inc an inspiration to patriotism,
oyaity, and heroism for all the col
red people of America. (Applause).
(Note.-Bill passed the House 227
o 116, only two Republicans voting