The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-10-09
Veterans Condemn Army
Court Martial Policies

CHICAGO, Ill. - (ANP) - n
strongly worded resolution was d.
rected last week to the Veterans
OF Foreign War national encamp-
ment in New York by the Charles
L. Hunt post No. 2o24. roundly
scoring the army court martial
policy and segregation and dis
elimination practiced by the army
command and civilians against Ne
gro soldiers.
Calling the recent court martial
OF Col. William Colman, former
commander OF Seltridge Field.
Mich, "outra geous" and "travesty
upon Justice" the resolution said
that millions OF Americans are
concerned with the type Of leader
ship in our army II high ranking
officers could indulge in drunk
eness while on duty, especially II
intoxica:ion were TO be used as an
excuse for the wsnton shooting OF
a private soldier" For his crime
OF shooting Pvt. Willie McRae. Col
man was merely reduced TO the
rank ofa captain.
Says Policy Alarms Negroes
Negroes Nare alarmed over the
policies OF The army with respect
TO Negro troops which allows them
10 be abused by our white COM
handing officers" and by civilians
in many sections Of the country, de-
spite the fact that they are in
the uniform OF The United States"
and pledged TO fight for democracy
stated the paper.
The resolution presented 70 the
national body by Lieut.. Col. Louis
Johnson was signed by DR.. Clsr-
ence Payne. Lester Milsap. Ohio
B. Kerr Thomas Miller. and john
son. Declaring that the whole
army policy OF segregation is wrong
the resolution pointedly asked:
VIVA. excuse is the war depart
ment giving for training our IA
nous Eighth regiment for over two
wears and then refusing to send
Them 10 the 'front.' What reason
IS given that the 93rd division
which, according 10 the inspector
generals office. has been trained
up 70 modern standards for battle
remaining on these shores? They
lie in semi-activity at Fort Hua-
chuca. Why are hundreds OF Ne
gro medical officers assigned 10
non-medical posts as sanitary en-
sinccrs 20 combat mosquitoes or
dredgc swamps. when manv OF them
according 10 high standards OF
medical science should be render
.ng service according 10 their aoil-
ity in the hospitals and field sta
IONS O, the nation
Negro Officers "Stifled"
why is It that high ranking
Negro field officers are kept in
mucous positions where their
voice OF command is Stifled re-
duced 10 an insufficient whisper?
Why Is IL that our northern boys
are sent to southern camps and
refused not only the protection OF
the civil authorities. but also that
o, the military authorities. under
whose service many OF them serve
BY necessity Why is j: that from
all portions OF the country come
reports and letters from our SOL
dcrs tina; they are not being fed
wcllH Why is il that over 90 per
cent OF the Negro troops on foreign
soil arc used as labor ba:;alIons'
Tcrm.ns the general army set
up as regards Negroes "a pattern
Of scr.mnation and humiliation
and violation OF every sense OF
dccency toward a people whose
trusting faith in the destiny Of
their country has never been oucs-
toned" .hc resolution urged all
whites and Negroes 10 indicate their
pro.eS. 10 the President. and the
chefs OF s;afls OF the army and
navy. II THIS IS 100 much 10 ask
o. Nc men who form our policic:
\, home what evidence have the
darker nations o, the world 70 be-
licve tina. Justice viii be admin
is:cred 10 them concluded the
paper.