The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-25
Says Negro Marines Not Likely
To Continue AS Combat Troops
By FLETCHER r. MARTIN
(NNPA War csrrsspoadsatl

PACIFIC FLEET HEADQUAR.
TIERS by Courier) - Reliable
sources close 10 this headquarters
revealed recently that although
Negro members OF the Marine
Corps in the Central Pacific area had
seen combat. the immediate trend
does not point toward continued
usage OF these troops in q combat
capacity. However. il was pointed
out. plans are subject TO change
daily. IL the situation warrants.
Past history Of Pacific war has
openly REVEALED that original STRAIT
egg has been changed on several
instances. At Saipan when the
enemy drew his forces up for .
fanatical defense Of the coral bloc.
service troops took 10 their rifles.
During the second campaign on
Bouganville as the enemy ham
mered at the small American peri
meter, troops performing a general
service mission also took I'D the
cudgel.
japanese War Cruel
II is agreed by many that the war
with the japanese is one or the
cruellest in human history And as
American forces drive closer to the
coast OF China the fighting becomes
more intense. more rugged. more
gruesome Military censorship has
not tried to hide this fact. Before
the current unpleasantness ends.
perhaps all available, able-bodied
Americans in service on this side
will be flung into the fray. one
wav or another.
The question has been repeatedly
asked why colored troops. combat
units. now stationed in this COM
mand have not been committed to
action. II isn't that these men are
blood thirsty. as one correspondent
has pointed out. but they have
been trained for combat. On several
occasions they were alerted. AT the
present. they wait on their guns.
General Service
From information received ~
Fleet Headquarters. II was learned
that colored troops in forward
areas ere mostly performing mis-
sions OF general service. Very little
specific information has filtered
through on these troops. Head
quarters Spokesman. generalizinx
on the subject. stated that most ct
them are In secured areas. garri-
soned This would seem to indicate
that in Admiral Chester W.
Nimitz's thrust across the Pacific
these TROOPS have heloed unload
,he materiel. construct the airstrips,
Law the roads which are destined
to lead finally TO Tokyo.
Service units have valiantly per
formed. and continually perform
their task. The men Negro men)
who have the guns wait to perform
theirs II isn't that the command
doesn't have reasons for the pre-
valent policy. il il can be so termed
but they refuse TO even hint an
explanation. Thus. the arising oil
questions in some quarters. Perhaps
il will be argued that no explana'
ton has to be made, but the CUES
tions still crop up,
: Task Hard
One fact In outxtnndingly appu1
- ent. The Japsnese have. Won y
: s ssr y D Gelsa sese
: during the last eight years. tn
ruthless enemy Is coming out o
top. at the present And the NOR
! ground he gains in China. IN
harder will be our task.
l. This writer believes, as has bee
stated in several dispatches. tina
the time will arrive when Negn
) troops will be used on a wholesak
scale in the Pacific. Perhaps il
J, China. in Formosa. in the Philip
, pines. But many OF them ques
? toned don't believe il. As result
J they look forward TO returning
home This is toundationed on 1
long tenure in the Pscific-waitini
: 10 fire the millions OF dollars o.
; equipment in their care.