The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-12-05
LEFT ENGLAND
FOR ACTION ON
SECOND FRONT
Weather Bad In Britain
But Morale OF Men
Standing Up

Negro troops joined in bls-scale
U. S. invasion of North Africa. IT
was confirmed this week in an ex;
elusive interview with Mrs. Eleanor
Roosevelt, just back from her trip to
England.
In the first interview with the
First Lady in the White House by
a reporter for the Negro press. Mrs
Roosevelt verified Negro particips-
ton in the North African action
by stating that she didn't see quite
so many Of "our boys" because they
were getting ready for the Med
terranean move.
She did, however, see quite a few
of them.
In a hak-hou- interview with the
Defender the First Lady discussed
at length her observations and con-
facts with colored troops in Eng
land.
They were in training for al
kinds Of technical duties, Mrs
Roosevelt declared. both as privates
and as non commissioned officers
She mentioned one group she had
noticed learning how 10 handle
parachutes on the ground They
were not. Themselves, paratroopers,
but no doubt had some functions to
perform as ground crew in that
connection.
The men were happy and as
healthy as the weather would per
nit. she stated Her sympathy, she
said. went out TO those who were
from the South. because the
weather wa continuously cold
damp and rainy, and she could
imagine that the problem of ad-
justing to such a climate was par
ticularly severe on some of this
group. One rarely, if ever, saw the
sun,
The morale Of the men was very
good on the whole. Mrs. Roosevelt
said. But she was impressed by the
fact that the Older men seemed
lonely. This, she thought, was
probably duezto their having left
family ties of long standing behind
them, whereas the younger men
were able to thrill over the adven-
ture involved in being in a new
country and looking forward to ac-
tive participation in the war.
The Negro soldiers, she observed
like everyone else in Britain
seemed to have a feeling Of lets
get on with the war and have II
over"
In commenting on the problem Of
race relations in England, Mrs
Roosevelt declared that she under
stood some problems had developer
as a result If the attitudes Of some
of our own white troops and officers
who we're perhaps from the South
and who had taken their prejudices
over with thern.
Hotels in Complaints
She maintained. however. that the
British people seemed to have no
sense of difference between the
races at ali. Although, she said
she did hear there had been some
complaints ABOUT one or Two hotels
in London. These were so crowded
she explained, that she supposed
the management had perhaps de.
cided that it should avoid any pos
sibility of friction with so many
white Americans there, and as a
Consequence. had turned down
some Negroes That was not typica
Of the attitude OF the British popu
lace however.
General BENJAMIN o. Davis, the
only Negro general officer IN the
U. S. army. and General Lee, T.
whose staff Gen. Davis was at
tached while abroad, has done a
fine Job, Mrs. Roosevelt felt. in
handling the problems involved in
the relations of the Negro and white
troops
While talking of the attitudes o.
British. she mentioned having seen
large numbers of colored people
men and women, from Jamaica and
other British possessions. working
side by side in industrial training
centers with their white country
men. preparing for places in the wal
production effotts.
Lauds goth Squadron .
Mrs. Roosevelt expressed the be-
lief that the accomplishments Of
our American Negro troops abroad
will certainly make them more re-
spected, and they can expect a more
welcome respect and treatmen
when they re.urn after the war
She said she could not help feelinl
that when the a9th Pursuit Squad
ron from Tuskegee begins It's com
bat engagements that they vii
make place for themselves anc
increase the respect in which Ne
groes are held.
In this connection. she mentioned
having talked very recently witt
Secretary Of War Stimson. who hac
conveyed TO her how much he wa!
impressed with Lieut. Col Benja
min o. Davis Jr.. son Of Genera
Davis. and with the entire pursu
squadron. Secretary Stimson hac
told her, she SAID. that the squadron
was just about ready to 60 over ant
fight
During her tours about England
Mrs Roosevelt said she visited ih'
Red Cross club there which is com
pletely stated by Negroes.
CALIFORNIAN VISITS
MEMPHIS. Tenn Mrs Mattil