The century voice. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 194?-19??, 1942-12-01
BLACK FRENCHMEN
OFFICE OF WAR INFORMATION


From the land OF Battling Ski-French West Africa
may reinforce the United Nations Armies So
900 OF the feared and effective soldiers France the
dreaded Senegalese
The black troops particularly formidable in desert
fighting close quarters, with the bayonet rifle and
chine gun Already under Fighting French command in the
Chad region Negro troops have confirmed the almost egen
diary reputation they earned the bateeds OF France
the last
If supplied by the United States and Britain with
equipment, the Seneeaese along with other veteran French
Colonial troops is believed constitute formidable adj
dtion the armies the disposal OF General Esen
hover in the African War.
Fighting French sources in Washington estimate that
there > 900 Senegaese Dakar and addition
als25000 scattered throughout French territory.
1t French Colonial troops, including Sencgacse, who
rhe Chad province struck of the first blows for French
liberation by preventing junction between the Italian Lib
van Army under Marshal GRAHAM and the Fascist Ethiopian
forge under the Duke OF Aota in the early days OF the french
arinsce
This stroke engineered by Felix Eboue, South Ameri-
canborn Negro governor of the Chad province native OF
French Guiana the South American coast and brilliant
graduate OF French schools Eboue the first OF the colon
ial administrators DEFY the Niclv Government and
the determination of Africa to fight Tor Fighting
France His declaration played part in the subsequent ae-
tons of other administrators in French Congo, Cameroons
and ubangiShari who later joined the Fighting French
When Charles de Caue visited the Fight
ing French colonies in September, 1910 he appointed eN
Eboue governor general of Fighting French Africa.
Equatorial Africa has since become important reser-
voir for military manpower Tor the Allies Fighting French
Army has been built up these regions under the direction
OF General ecercq de Gaules abet officers. These
troops have already proved their excellent fighting spirit
in daring attacks Italian oupotS Ibya and Eritrea
and thousands rushed TO Western Desert when Gen
Rommel's forces threatened the conquest OF Egypt
OF equal Importance O the Allied the I'M
mediate OF Fighting French Africa important cor
nerstone the United Nations defense system Through the
construction of network OF modern arpors there British
and pilots able Terry much needed bombes
and fighting planes the African continent the E9yp-
tan BATTLEFRONT to the Middle East and India Fort Iamy
in the Chad province the great aerial turntables
of Africa And veteran colonial troops from Fighting French
Africa are now fighting all these fronts.
One reason the excellent spirit OF the French
tive soldiers is the attitude OF the French in establishing
rigid color bars French have exhibited Jar less racial bias
against the native than Anglo SaXons The educated
tives become citizen OF France with the rights
white Frenchman A black Frenehman aspire the high
est posts in the political and administrative hierarchy French
men African have served Niceesient OF the
Chamber Deputies and Under Secretary OF State And Felix
Eboue is now Generaof Fighting French Africa
Although General dc taule has decorated scores OF
Fighting French native soldiers with the Cross OF iperato'
Frances highest honor the Senegaese past performance
are rated as troops Africa From their ranks came
Battling Sikh" ful-boodcd Senegalese pugist who won
the worlds ghheavy weight title and became the idol OF
Paris after the Sikh to America in 1923 and
engaged coloru bouts here He international
fame courage however by battling lrshman named
Mike McIig,e in Dublin ST. Patrcks Day. Sikh lost that