The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-05-07
Negro Soldiers and Imperialist War

The notorious Bulletin No IS, which was issued
to crush protest against discrimination, was given
out by General c. c. Ballou Of the 92nd Division.
The manager of theater at Manhattan, Kansas,
had refused to admit a Negro soldier Of TIE
92nd. Ballou's Bulletin appealed to the Negroes
to stay "in their place" To quote mo useful
purpose will be served by such acts as will cause
the color question to be raised" ALI colored'
members should refrain from going where their
presence will be resented" Referring to the SER
geant who tried to enter theater the Bulletin
stated: 1.-THE sergeant is guilty of the greater
wrong in doing anything, no matter how legally
correct that will provoke race animosity.' THE
success of the division depends upon the good
will Of the public. That public Is nine tenthS
white" Don't go where your presence is not
desired" This bulletin was issued after con-
sultation with Mr.. Motion, the famous Negro mis-
leader, Motion came to Fort Des Moines at the
time to plead with the Negroes to stay in their
places
The white army officers did everything possible
to stir up race hatred against the Negroes on
the part of the French Besides diligently spread
ing lies about rape propensites" of the Negroes,
the u S. army officials urged the French not
to seem to mix socially with the Negroes not
to eat with them, and not to praise them in the
presence Of white Americans" On August 7, 1918,
the following secret information went out from
Pershing's headquarters:
at is important for the French officers in
command of black American troops to have an
idea as to the position occupied by the race in
the United States" The document then re-
ferTed to Negroes as a menace Of degeneracy"
a menace which had to be combatted by the
cleavage between the races because OF the fact
that they were given to the loathsome vice Of
crinlinaly assaulting white women" The French
were called on mot to treat the Negroes with
familiarity and indulgence, which are matters OF
grievance concern to Americans and an affront
to their national policy
Attitude of the War Department
The War Department announced openly that
it did not seek through its program to break
down the color line in any institution where it
was observed" The Secretary Of War stated
that there is no intention on the part of the
War Department to undertake at this time to
settle the so-called race question"
Murdered as Shock Troops
The Negro troops were sent where the fighting
was thickest and the odds worst. The 92nd
Division was sent into the Vosges sector without
proper equipment. They were sent into the
Argonne forest without training in the often
sive, with no artillery rifle grenades no wire
cutters no horses. None of their equipment was
issued in full quota. Labor battahons and pioneer
regiments without arms were showed up to the
front during the entire fighting. The 18th
National Guard at the front was moved down
in the thick of the fight, while its white Of
ficers stayed in the rear and later claimed the
glory. The 368th Infantry Negro officers and
one battalion, were cut off and hemmed in by
short-range artillery fire and these officers we're
threatened with execution to cover up this dis
tardly slaughter Of Negroes.
At Pont de MuSson, the commander Of the
92nd Division got word that the armistice would
be signed at II o'clock that same day. For the
sake Of a little more glory, he ordered the ad-
vance OF the SAITH and 350th Field Artillery, the
365th Infantry and other Negro troops into open
fire in the Moselle River. The men we're moved
down by the machine guns of the German adj
vance, more than 500 Negro soldiers falling in
one hour
The facts in these articles--which are only
few of the many examples of Jim Grow and
brutality to Negro soldiers in the World War
are taken from conversations with Negro
workers who served in the World War from
the books Optical History of the Negroes in
the World War" by Emmett J. Scott and
'Sideiights on Negro Soldiers" by G. ii. Will
Jams; and from the files of Negro newspapers
and magazines Of the war and post war period.
The Daily Worker urges Negro and white
ex-seryicemen and all Negro and white workers
TO send further facts, that this phase of
national oppression and discrimination may be
exposed before the working cIsse