The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1943-10-02

Editors Note: Harold Preece 4
The Arthur of "I.IQhtenIng-lp
Ilberln" and Noted Authority
ON Africa and the Negro In
Latin America.
Hard-hiiling hard shooting sold
iers OF the Belgian Congo tuned
In their field radios last week
and wished they we're at Salerno
whore The Nazis were giving our
boys so much trouble
katonobo. Bungamuzi. kabome.
SawilI and other celebrated
heroes OF the Congolese anti
fascist army would Ike to take
look az that country called
Italy They've had a personal in
terest in the place since less
than 5000 OF them marched into
Ethiopia and caught brace ~
$4,000 Italians including nine
fascist generals who had mere
medals than CUTS.
They figure that they We're
helping The yoteless people Of
Italy throw out the wind-bag die
tator. Mussolini when they We're
shooting Mnssolini's week kneed
troopers out Of Ethiopia. when
they helped restore the ndepend-
ence Of Ethiopia they put The
jinx sign on Mussolinl IN his own
country.
II looks like that the strap
ing, six-foot lads from he con.
go will be getting their second
crack at the Axis before he last
Nazi gets buried In Iialy A biz
bunch OF them are nov being
given intensive invasion training
at Port Twelfk 10 The Middle East
after travelling 1900 miles across
choking deserts in American ieep
trucks
En- route. the men had TO cross
the steep Seventeen Gins OF The
Devil" IN the hot Sudanese waste
lands. But the men scaled those
needle-ike ridges in their jeep-
trucks In the same daredevil spirit
with which they sealed The 4ooo
feet elevation OF Saio two years
ago
We think that we are mighty
lucky in this year OF 1913 be-
cause we are at least holding the
whip hand over the Axis. Maybe
We wouldn't be so confident IL
black men had not realized that
democracy was at its lowest ebh
in 1871 and II black men had
not acted to saved democracy.
Hitler and Mussolini were stu
riding high in 1911 Italian oc-
cupaiion OF Ethiopia threatened 10
deprive Briiish-held Egypt Of its
lifeline the headeaters OF the
White Nile. Britain could spare
bnt few troops from the fibyan
and Sudanese fronts to protect
that river whose loss would also
mean the loss OF Egypt and thar
great passageWay between The
Mediterranean and the Red Sea
the Suez Canal.
Then Britain took step Thar
saved her from overwhelming
disaster step that had 10 he
taken with the help OF Africans
by agreement between military
authorities Of The BELGIAN Congo
Gieat Britain. and the Cuion OF
South Africa, a trans African ex-
petition OF Congolese soldiers
was decided upon 70 reinforce and
supplement the British South Afii-
can forces already operating "a
Ethiopia and Sudan
Crossing by trucks and some
times In river boats The nrsf'
battalion OF Congolese soldiers
and porters struck out across
1900 miles OF mostly uninhabiied
country to strike at Italian held
Asosa in the region OF the Bluc
Nile. Six weeks after leaving their
homeland. the black soldiers hac
reached the gates OF Asosa. 5000
feet above The sea.
There they were Joined by The
black British soldiers OF The
Kings African rifles. To ihpir
bitter disappointment The italians
abandoned the city on iha lay
OF March II. 1871, almost with
out firing a shot.
"Shucks.' one can imagiue them
saying. we want TO 60 70 some
place where We can see action