The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-08-28
By NOBLE SISSLE
For AMP


editor NOTE: Nobl. Sissle,
famous orchestra leader writes a
second article for the Associated
Negro Press recounting his ex-
periences in World War ] when
he was q second lieutenant in the
renowned 36sth Infantry regi-
ment Of New York;
NY faith in the masses OF white
people is based on my experience
before. during. and after Word
War l. Facts and changes that We
prayed, worked. struggled. and
fought for. but that I, personally.
never thought I'd live TO see have
come TO pass
was in college in 1914 and left
TO Join the vanguard OF Negro mu-
sicians and singers who came 10
New York City at the solicitation OF
James Reese Jim) Europe. Many
Of the lucrative positions followed
the succssSful introduction OF his
cxsak1es xAS1 nxnhel thak hass proven
TO be the very foundation, upon
which The American expression o:
dance was built. came in when
the American 400" commanded
Negro musicians and put aside their
gavettes, schottisches, lancers. and
popular court dances OF European
pattern to create and popularize our
One Step" Castle Walk" and the
Fox Trot." These Immediately sup
planted all other dances and now
form the base OF American dance
expression. -"
Marked Progress
saw American Negro musicians
supplant European musicians in
every seaboard society rendezvous
from the exclusive Royal Poinci-
anna hotel in Palm Beach, Fla, TO
the Copley Plaza hotel in Boston
Broadway found its true self II was
gay. dancing. mad, festive crowd
that danced to Negro jazz orchestras
at "Churchills," "Rectors," Muir
rays" Castle in the Air" "Zieg-
field Midnight Follies" all the way
up Broadway 10 Healey's at seth
street. Negro musicians played in
the drawing-rooms OF Park avenue,
on the lawns at Long Island. on the
, decks OF swanky yachts at Newport.
breakfast dances. luncheon dances.
tea dances. dinner dances. and sup
per dances, until dawn just TO start
all over again | was in the middle
OF that renaissance. saw il with
my two eyes. There were no radios
TO blast it, il happened mostly be-
hind exclusive society walls.
That same Jim Europe. the first
undisputed king OF jazz, at the out
break OF World War | became IL.
jim Europe and with his band in
France. led our regiment (369th
InD literally fox trotting down into
nc front Inc trenches That was in
February, 1918 Ne were the first
American Negroes in the line OF
combat there, and among the first
$4,000 Yanks in action. 1t Europe
vas the first Negro officer TO COM
mand troops n action on the west
ern front, and was the first leu
tenant in charge Of the machine
sJn company. 81 was in the middle
OF thai. too
History vas in the making in
FeSrIary, 1918 when our brown
boys danced up TO those lines 10
become part OF the French l65:h
division Of Gen. Gourouds w
French army. green national
guard outfit No one had the re-
moiest idea that as q regiment OF
that historical epic-making. VIC
iorious army that we, after having
won every citation OF the French
army. finally were 10 be given the
coveted honor OF all The allied
army-thst OF being the first Of
the entire allied armies TO place
foot on the banks OF the Rhine.
II Was No Accident
That was no accident. Gen Henri
Gouroud did Z deliberately. His
army, OF which We were a part
crushed. nesr.y depleted by 1871
days OF continuous fighting. at the
end found his weary troops at the
eastern pivot Of the allies This posi-
ton put his army nearest the Rhine.
As the general neared the coveted
goal where. after four years Of bit
ter bloodshed. the allies finally
pushed the Germans. Gen. Gourouo.
on, OF appreciation - our regiment
who had fought il through with his
French army isolated from our
American army. made our regiment