The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-03-31
Race No Factor In Fighting Ability
Gen. Macarthur Tells Walter White

HOLLANDlA, Dutch New Guinea
Race has nothing whatsoever TO
do with a mans ability 20 fight"
General Macarthur told Walter
White when ne conferred recently
with the New York Post war cor
respondent il the Philippines. ANY
man who says that another mans
fighting ability can be measured by
color IS wrong. | learned that"
declared the general obviously pro-
voked az he persistent rumors dis
credltlns combat performances OF
the 93rd Infantry Division "in serv-
ing a. a junior officer with the
famous 25th Regiment One OF the
greatest armies have ever com.
handed was a Filipino one"
Mr.. White in his report stated
that recent developments in the
attempt on the part of certain
persons Ito brand Negro combat
troops as failures and towards,
may backfire." After ten-day
investigation Of rumors that the
publiciZed 93rd Division had been
broken into port battalions and
other labor units because its re
ported" cowardice at Bougain-
Vile resulted in heavy casualties
in the white division next to Il.
Mr.. White said:
IN THE FIRST place the 93rd
has never been assigned as yet any
beachhead action anywhere. The
assault on Bougairvil.e took place
late in November and early in De-
cember in 1913 The 93rd was not
ordered 10 Bougainville until the
following April Even japanese air
activity over the beach had by
then been stopped 10 such an ex-
tent that MOVIES were being shown
or the beach. There were still then
and now many Japanese troops on
the island as recent communiques
reveal but the enemy had been
driven back into the interior.
Thus the 93rd did not fail in a
beachhead action since it aever
participated IN one nor did any
white or any other color of soldier
or officer receive a pin scratch
because OF the 93rd. The division
did not run anywhere because
there was no need 10 run Incl
dentally none OF the stories told
against the Negro division take
into account the fact that when
troops land on beach there is no
place for them TO run except back
into the ocean.
INSTEAD of falling in the as
signmentS given it the 25th Com
bat Team OF the 93rd Division.
roughly one-third OF the division.
which was the only part given
combat duties, performed in such
creditable fashion as 10 elicit praise
from officers and enlisted person.
nel Of the Americal and 37th Dr.
visions. This was particularly true
of the 93rd artillery. Brigadier
General w c. Dunckel command
ing the Ameucal artillery al Bou-
ganv!lle. in a written and official
commentator declared of the
593rd Field Artillery Battalion OF
the 93rd Division:
Your occupation and con-
structiOn of position areas has
been efficiently accomplished,
and initial results of your regis
trations and fire on japanese
troop movements have been very
successful. MY observers report
that your adjustments have been
very accurate. . fact that implies
that YOUR personnel has been
well trained in the technique Of
the arm and can apply that train
ing in Its first combat service -.
NV only regret is that you did
not join us earlier in the Battle
Of BOugainville. ] know that I'm
the future. all officers and men
of this unit will welcome. gladly.
the opportunity to serve with the
593rd.'
The End Battalion of the 18th
Combat Team OF the 93rd was as.
signed 10 take three days after
arrival in Bougsinville a strongly
fortified japanese position OF five
concrete pill boxes. II did its job
with such efficiency and prompt
ness as 10 cause Brigadier General
Leonard r. Boyd to declare that
the 2nd Battalion's accomplishment
was 'commendable even for a vet
eran outfit. outstanding for q unit
in is first action"