The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1941-08-30
'DRAFTEE TELLS
OF BEATING BY
STATE TROOPS

BewildereE and disheartened
one OF the draftees attached TO the
oath Engineers. who had ridden
freight trains back from Arkansas
where he had felt the brutalizing
heel OF southern racial prejudice.
told his story TO Tribune report
err Monday
indicted into service at Fort
Custer April rs. he was one Of the
HOO men Of the oath Engineers
who left Custer Aug. for Camp
Robinson to take part in war man
euvers. The soldiers were station
ed In n woods about five miles
from Gurdon. Ark.
Beaten By VI. P.'S
A number of the soldiers visited
Gurdon Sunday night. and on their
return trip TO camp we're over
taken by truck load of military
police Yfp Aaped out Of the truck.
and. Wlthf&T provocation. began
beating the boys. The soldiers had
nothing TO defend themselves with.
Shortly after their arrival at
camp at 1890 am. the entire
battalion was awakened and the
soldiers given lecture by the Of
Ulcers. The following night
guard was posted on the highway
hut state troopers made him leave
the highway. beating him and a
sergeant Of the guard One Of the
officers. according 10 the soldier.
had to walk guard the remainder OF
the night.
After the trouble Major Herman.
in charge OF the battalion. told the
soldiers that he would do every
thing possible 10 protect them
from further trouble. but there was
not very much he could do.
The soldiers were ordered FUR
Their into the woods Wednesday
morning. the men moving to their
new post In downnour of rain
Ordered OF Highway
Before they arrived al their des-
tination an automobile filled with
state troopers passed and yelled
TO the lieutenant TO not "let those
niggers boiler or talk 10 white
people as they pass" The state
troopers left. hut returned a short
time later with another car of
troopers and truck filled with
military police.
The soldiers were stopped and
the lieutenant was told by the state
troopers to take those niggers off
the road. We're not going TO allow
them on tho highway"
Officer Beaten
The officer demonstrated, telling
the troopers that the men had no
other place 10 walk as the bitches.
running parallel 10 the highway,
were filled with water. Angered
AT the remarks OF tho officer. qone
OF the state troopers knocked him
down. when the officer tried 10
defend himself against the attack
Of the trooper. machine guns and
shotguns were showed against his
side by the troopers who told him
they would elbow ont your brains
n he resisted
After tho soldiers arrived at
iHtlI camp many VI Nit h'h t't'
the officers they were leaving. II
they could obtain permission. The
officers said this was impossible.
but told the men II they did leave
10 return 20 Fort Custer.
The soldier said he was one OF
those who left. He took the wrong
bus and went 10 Little Rock. and
then TO McChee. He returned to
Little Rock. but his money was
spent and he had to hobo to 81.
Louis. and from there TO Mount
pelier. o.. where he was arrested
nv railroad detectives. The off,
GERS did not believe his story. hut
three other soldiers we're arrested
that night and they corroborated
the story Of the first soldier.
The Ohio authorities then set
the four soldiers free and told
them 10 return TO Fort Custer. ne
arrived in Detroit Sunday, and lett
20. Cuafor Tuaedav