The Phoenix index., 1940-02-24
In
New Slam
AT Army
Expose Rankles
War Department
In Washington

CHICAGO-(A N p Negro
non-comnlssioned officers are de-
tailed as military police but mag
arrest only Negro soldiers Willie
white privates are named military
police and can arrest colored nom
commissioned officers or any other
Negro. according to Levi Pierce,
former university student ana
member of the 9Th and l0th
cavalry whose recent expose OF
discrimination against Negro SOL
diers in the regular army has
ranked the war department IN
Washington.
Mr. Pierce who recently pur-
chased his discharged after ten
wears of service, also SAID tflat
despite federal statutes prohibiting
the government from maintaining
soldiers and detailing them as
house oderlies and servants, those
who rebel are courtmartlaled.
since there are no Negro officers
70 plead such cases before the
all-white courtrnartial, justice Is
seldom meted out to the coloreo
soldier.
Each army post, said the former
cavalryman, has from 40 men up
detailed for police protection with
Two of these Negroes where color
ed soldiers are stationed. These
POSTS include Fort Riley and Fort
Leavenwdrth, Kan.; Fort Sill,
Okla; Fort Benning, Ga; West
Point and others.
RIEN VTCTIMIZED
How black soldiers are victimiz-
ed was illustrated at Levenworth
in summer, 1881, shortly after
Pierce was transferred there. Soon
after his arrival the entire de-
tachment was ordered to line up in
front Of the barracks for a check
by military police (known as
M.P.) to find if one had poisoned
a colonePs dog. Although there
was only an suspicion that a Ne
gro soldier might be guilty, the
group was subjected to exhaustive
questioning without defense. When
no culprft was discovered the
group was dismissed. No apology
was ever made because. says
Pierce. white officers always sus-
tain white M.P.'s in their acts.
Before Gen. Guy v. Henry was
retired from service, there was a
burglary in his home at Fort
Riley. Many 9Th cavalrymen were
lined up for indentification- al
though no white soldier was en-
barrassed in this fashion. Again
no suspect could be found, but no
apology was made. Presence OF
colored officers would remedy this,
Mr.. Pierce feels.
SOLELY BY WHITES
Supervision of military police
units is solely by whites" he ex.
planned 1.-The provost marshal and
his assistants being commissioned
officers are of course white such
as are all subordinate enlisted
members. But the provost marshal
has no jurisdiction over colored
M.P.'s who are responsible to the
commanding officer of each re-
spective unit. This entire sctup is
lop-sided. 1t would De just as easy
for each unit or regiment to- fur-
nish so many private soldiers and
non n-ccmmissioned officers who
would be given certain orders and
by all means the right to quell any
disturbance regardless of the co.,
or of the participants. Generally
colored non-commissioned officers
selected as MP.s are good stool
pigeons or men of limited intelli-
gence and education.
Regarding use Of soldiers as
house orderlies ana servants con-
trary to federal statutes, Mr.. Pierce
states that on last December 20,
Private Spriggs was placed in TIE
post guardhouSe at Fort Riley
because he refused to remain Oh
a job. When brought before Capt.
M. H. Marcus, white adjutant.
who is reputedly prejudiced
Spriggs told him.
"If l could be real soldier 1
would not mind. Maybe when get
through being a domestic servant
and stevedore, will be permitted
10 do some real soldering"
Spriggs was tried, convicted and
sentenced to six months at hard
labor with forfeiture OF two-tirds
Of his pay to the government.
This young man had none to
whom he could turn for protec-
ton said Mr.. Pierce. There are
no Negro officers to argue the case
Of this and other young men. Con-
ditions like this could be remedied
if we are given colored officers.
"Cttizens can place Col. B. o.
Davis in command of either the
9th or 10th cavalry units by writ
ing and telegraphing their sena-
tors, representa- the war Gle
partment and the presidcl, de-
lnanding his removal from con-
mand of q national guard mt to
Jbot of n rnoIIiar army cavalry INIT