The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
AMPS London
Writer Gives I
Vivid Report
Natives Win
C1orv in East '
By RUDOLPH DUNBAR


LONDON-(ANP) - Whtp the
chronicles of the Abyssinian cam
paign are to be written. historians
will do we'll to emphasize the i'm
portant part played in the opera
tions by West African Negro
troops.
Equally important Is the sensa-
tiona! taking of Kufra, the capital
of the Senussis, by 200 Sengalese
troops under French commando
strategic move of immense I'M
portance in the Libyan campaign
the effect of which still may prove
to be a decisive factor in the final
issue.
Gen. DeCaaulle by his choice in
employing Negro troops in his
first independent action of the
Free French forces, clearly shows
the confidence he places in the
fidelity and military competence
of his African allies.
Negroes all over the world will
view with no small satisfaction the
fact that, for the first time IN
their history, British and Negro
troops are cooperating to rid At
;:ica Of the F'ascists. Abyssinians
will be naturally well disposed to-
wards their West African brothers
while the psychological effect OF
highly disciplined Negro regiments
driving Aasta's crack italian troops
before them, will hearten and
strengthen African Negroes in
their struggle against the most
powerful Of all invaders, Adolf
Hitler.
CREAM OF AFRICA
These West Africans represent
the cream of African civilization
and they are closely in touch with
what is happening in Europe. They
know only too we'll that they are
regarded by the Nazis as objects
of extreme revulsion, as savages
who jumped down from trees on
European soldiers whom they pro-
.ceed to mutilate and drink their
blood. Should Hitler succeed IN
ccnquering Africa, these West At
ricanS know that they would be
subjected to rule of unprecedent-
ed and scientifically organized col
or prejudice, and that the privl-
leges even of their most powerful
potentates would be reduced to
nothing.
Fighting in some of the most
desolate country in the world-Ital-
ian East Africa-Soldiers of the
Royal West African Frontier force
and their comrades Of the Kings
African Rifles enlisted in East
Africa have proved themselves su-
perior to crack italian and native
troops. These African soldiers are
nc longer merely riflemen. They
maintain and operate their own
transport and signal sections and
are trained in the use of the Bren
gun and anti-tank guns. A special
unit of the Kings African Rifle
mans lcng-range defense guns and
searchlights on the Kenya coast.
Disproving the theory that Al
rican troops would not stand up to
modern warfare, soldiers Of the
Royal West African Frontier force
have smashed many attacks by
Italian armored cars and have
charged enemy machine guns
across open country.
TAKE OBJECTIVE
On one occasion, when all the
officers of Gold Coast company
had been killed on wounded, the
men carried on and took their OBJ
jective. 1t was the Gold Coast
regiment of the Royal West Af-
rican Frontier force who were in
the desperate fighting in the ad-
vance on italian Somaliland
which forced the vital crossing of
the Juuba rivera victory which
was the first step to the virtual
overthrow of italian East Africa.
During the advance on Moga-
principal port of italian
Somaliland, Nigerian troops per-
formed one of the most remarkable
feats of the campaign. Crossing
the Juba river near the mouth,
they carried out night march
through desert country and cut the
only road communications between