History of the American Negro in the Great World War Part 30

Negro soldiers in the war were singularly free from disease. Deaths from this cause were surprisingly few, the mortality being much lower than it would have been among the same men had there been no war. This was due to the general good behavior of the troops as testified to by so many commanding officers and others. The men observed discipline, kept within bounds and listened to the advice of those competent to give it.

Out of a total of between 40,000 and 45,000 Negro soldiers who went into battle or were exposed to the enemy's attack at some time, about 500 were killed in action. Between 150 and 200 died of wounds. Deaths from disease did not exceed 200 and from accident not over fifty. Those who were wounded and ga.s.sed amounted to about 4,000.

It speaks very highly for the medical and sanitary science of the army as well as for the physical stamina of a race, when less than 200 died out of a total of 4,000 wounded and ga.s.sed. The bulk of the battle casualties were in the 93rd Division.

The figures as given do not seem very large, yet it is a fact that the battle casualties of the American Negro forces engaged in the late war were not very far short of the entire battle casualties of the Spanish-American war. In that conflict the United States lost less than 1,000 men in battle.

While battle havoc and ravages from disease were terrible enough, and brought sadness to many firesides, and while thousands of survivors are doomed to go through life maimed, suffering or weakened, there is a brighter side to the picture. Evidences are plentiful that "housekeeping in khaki" was not unsuccessful.

According to a statement issued by the War Department early in 1919, the entire overseas army was coming back 18,000 tons heavier and huskier than when it went abroad. Many of the returning soldiers found that they literally burst through the clothing which they had left at home. Compared with the records taken at time of enlistment or induction into the draft forces, it is shown that the average increase in weight was twelve pounds to a man.

Improvement of course was due to the healthful physical development aided by the seemingly ceaseless flow of wholesome food directed into the training camps and to France. Secretary Baker was very proud of the result and stated that the late war had been the healthiest in history. The test he applied was in the number of deaths from disease. The best previous record, 25 per 1,000 per year was attained by the Germans in the Franco-Prussian war. Our record in the late war was only eight per 1,000 per year. The Medical Corps did heroic service in keeping germs away, but cooks, clothing designers and other agencies contributed largely in the making of bodies too healthy to permit germ lodgments.

The h.e.l.l of war brought countless soldiers to the realization that no matter how much they believed they had loved their mothers, they had never fully appreciated how much she meant to them.

"I know, mother," cried one youth broken on the field, whose mother found him in a hospital, "that I began to see over there how thoughtless, indeed, almost brutal, I had always been. Somehow, in spite of my loving you, I just couldn't talk to you. Why, when I think how I used to close up like a clam every time you asked me anything about myself--" He broke off and with fervent humility kissed the hand in his own. "Please forget it all, mother," he whispered. "It's never going to be that way again. I found out over there-I knew what it was not to have anyone to tell things to-and now, why you've got to listen to me all the rest of your life, mother."

Angelo Patri, the new York schoolmaster who has been so successful in instilling ideals into the child mind has addressed himself to the children of today, they who will be the parents of tomorrow. His words are: "Man has labored through the ages that you might be born free. Man has fought that you might live in peace. He has studied that you might have learning. He has left you the heritage of the ages that you might carry on.

"Ahead are the children of the next generation. It's on, on, you must be going. You, too, are torch-bearers of liberty. You, too, must take your place in the search for freedom, the quest for the Holy Grail. 'Twas for this you, the children of America were born, were educated. Fulfill your destiny."

Morale and propaganda received more attention in the late war than they ever did in any previous conflict. Before the end of the struggle the subject of morale was taken up and set apart as one of the highly specialized branches of the service. The specialists were designated as morale officers. They had many problems to meet and much smoothing over to do. In the army, an Americanism very soon attached to them and they became known as "fixers."

With respect to the Negro, the section of the War Department presided over by Emmett J. Scott was organized and conducted largely for purposes of morale and propaganda. Much of the work was connected with good American propaganda to counteract dangerous German propaganda.

It is now a known fact that the foe tried to lure the Negro from his allegiance by lies and false promises even after he had gone into the trenches. This has been attested to publicly by Dr. Robert R. Moton, the head of Tuskegee Inst.i.tute, who went abroad at the invitation of President Wilson and Secretary Baker to ascertain the spirit of the Negro soldiers there.

Dr. Moton was told of the German propaganda and the brazen attempts made on members of the 92nd Division near Metz. He gave the following as a sample: "To the colored soldiers of the United States Army.

"h.e.l.lo, boys, what are you doing over there? Fighting the Germans? Why? Have they ever done you any harm?

"Do you enjoy the same rights as the white people do in America, the land of freedom and democracy, or are you not rather treated over there as second cla.s.s citizens? And how about the law? Are lynchings and the most horrible crimes connected therewith a lawful proceeding in a democratic country?

"Now, all this is entirely different in Germany, where they do like colored people; where they treat them as gentlemen and not as second cla.s.s citizens. They enjoy exactly the same privileges as white men, and quite a number of colored people have fine positions in business in Berlin and other German cities.

"Why then fight the Germans? Only for the benefit of the Wall street robbers and to protect the millions they have loaned the English, French and Italians?

"You have never seen Germany, so you are fools if you allow yourselves to hate us. Come over and see for yourselves. To carry a gun in this service is not an honor but a shame. Throw it away and come over to the German lines. You will find friends who will help you along."

Negro officers of the division told Dr. Moton this propaganda had no effect. He said the Negroes, especially those from the South, were anxious to return home, most of them imbued with the ambition to become useful, law-abiding citizens. Some, however, were apprehensive that they might not be received in a spirit of co-operation and racial good will. This anxiety arose mainly from accounts of increased lynchings and persistent rumors that the Ku Klux Clan was being revived in order, so the rumor ran, "to keep the Negro soldier in his place."

After voicing his disbelief in these rumors, Dr. Moton said: "The result of this working together in these war activities brought the whites and Negroes into a more helpful relations.h.i.+p. It is the earnest desire of all Negroes that these helpful cooperating relations.h.i.+ps shall continue."

In conversation with a morale officer the writer was told that the princ.i.p.al problem with the Negroes, especially after the selective draft, was in cla.s.sifying them fairly and properly. Some were in every way healthy but unfit for soldiers. Others were of splendid intelligence and manifestly it was unjust to condemn them to the ranks when so many had excellent qualities for non-commissioned and commissioned grades. The Service of Supply solved the problem so far as the ignorant were concerned; all could serve in that branch.

The officer stated that the trouble with the War Department and with too many other people, is the tendency to treat Negroes as a h.o.m.ogeneous whole, which cannot be done. Some are densely ignorant and some are highly intelligent and well educated. In this officer's opinion, there is as much difference between different types of Negroes as there is between the educated white people and the uneducated mountaineers and poor whites of the South; or between the best whites of this and other countries and the totally ignorant peasants from the most oppressed nations of Europe.

In the early stages of the war, there was a great scarcity of non-commissioned officers-sergeants and corporals, those generals in embryo, upon whom so much depends in waging successful war. It was a great mistake in the opinion of this informant, and he stated that the view was shared by many other officers, to take men from white units to act as non-commissioned officers in Negro regiments, when there were available so many intelligent, capable Negroes serving in the ranks, who understood their people and would have delighted in filling the non-commissioned grades. He also thought the same criticism applied to selections for commissioned grades.

It is agreeable to note that such views rapidly gained ground. The excellent service of the old 8th Illinois demonstrated that colored officers are capable and trustworthy. An action and expression that will go far in furthering the view is that of Colonel William Hayward of the old 15th New York, who resigned command of the regiment which he organized and led to victory, soon after his return from the war. Like the great magnanimous, fair-minded man which he is and which helped to make him such a successful officer, he said that he could not remain at the head of the organization when there were so many capable Negroes who could and were ent.i.tled to fill its personnel of officers from colonel down. Colonel Hayward has been laboring to have the organization made a permanent one composed entirely of men of the Negro race. A portion of his expression on the subject follows: "I earnestly hope that the state and city will not allow this splendid organization to pa.s.s entirely out of existence, but will rebuild around the nucleus of these men and their flags from which hang the Croix de Guerre, a 15th New York to which their children and grandchildren will belong; an organization with a home of its own in a big, modern armory. This should be a social center for the colored citizens of New York, and the regiment should be an inspiration to them. It should be officered throughout by colored men, though I and every other white officer who fought with the old 15th will be glad and proud to act in an honorary or advisory capacity. Let the old 15th 'carry on' as our British comrades phrase it."

It is to be hoped that we never have another war. Nevertheless these Negro military organizations should be kept up for their effect upon the spirit of the race. If they are ever needed again, let us hope that by that time, the confidence of the military authorities in Negro ability, will have so gained that they will coincide with Colonel Hayward's view regarding Negro officers for Negro units.

CHAPTER XXV.

QUIET HEROES OF THE BRAWNY ARM.

NEGRO STEVEDORE, PIONEER AND LABOR UNITS-SWUNG THE AXE AND TURNED THE WHEEL-THEY WERE INDISPENSABLE-EVERYWHERE IN FRANCE-HEWERS OF WOOD, DRAWERS OF WATER-NUMBERS AND DESIGNATIONS OF UNITS-ACQUIRED SPLENDID REPUTATION-CONTESTS AND AWARDS-PRIDE IN THEIR SERVICE-MEASURED UP TO MILITARY STANDARDS-LESTER WALTONS APPRECIATION-ELLA WHEELER WILc.o.x'S POETIC TRIBUTE.

Some went forth to fight, to win deathless fame or the heroes' crown of death in battle. There were some who remained to be hewers of wood and drawers of water. Which performed the greater service?

For the direct uplift and advancement of his race; for the improved standing gained for it in the eyes of other races, the heroism, and steadfastness and the splendid soldierly qualities exhibited by the Negro fighting man, were of immeasurable benefit. Those were the things which the world heard about, the exemplifications of the great modern forces and factors of publicity and advertising. In the doing of their "bit" so faithfully and capably, the Negro combatant forces won just t.i.tle to all the praise and renown which they have received. Their contribution to the cause of liberty and democracy, cannot be discounted; will s.h.i.+ne through the ages, and through the ages grow brighter.

But their contribution as fighting men to the cause of Justice and Humanity was no greater, in a sense than that of their brethren: "Unwept, unhonored and unsung," who toiled back of the lines that those at the front might have subsistence and the sinews of conflict.

The most indispensable cog in the great machine which existed behind the lines, was the stevedore regiments, the butcher companies, the engineer, labor and Pioneer battalions, nearly all incorporated in that department of the army technically designated as the S.O.S. (Service of Supply). In the main these were blacks. Every Negro who served in the combatant forces could have been dispensed with. They would have been missed, truly; but there were enough white men to take their places if necessary. But how seriously handicapped would the Expeditionary forces have been without the great army of Negroes, numbering over 100,000 in France, with thousands more in this country designed for the same service; who unloaded the s.h.i.+ps, felled the trees, built the railroad grades and laid the tracks; erected the warehouses, fed the fires which turned the wheels; cared for the horses and mules and did the million and one things, which Negro brawn and Negro willingness does so acceptably.

Theirs not to seek "the bubble reputation at the cannon's mouth," that great composed, uncomplaining body of men; content simply to wear the uniform and to know that their toil was contributing to a result just as important as the work of anyone in the army. Did they wish to fight? They did; just as ardently as any man who carried a rifle, served a machine gun or a field piece. But some must cut wood and eat of humble bread, and there came in those great qualities of patience and resignation which makes of the Negro so dependable an a.s.set in all such emergencies.

How shall we describe their chronology or write their log? They were everywhere in France where they were needed. As one officer expressed it, at one time it looked as though they would chop down all the trees in that country. Their units and designations were changed. They were s.h.i.+fted from place to place so often and given such a variety of duties it would take a most active historian to follow them. In the maze of data in the War Department at Was.h.i.+ngton, it would take months to separate and give an adequate account of their operations.

BACK WITH THE HEROIC 15TH (369TH INFANTRY). LIEUT. JAMES REESE EUROPE'S FAMOUS BAND PARADING UP LENOX AVENUE, HARLEM, NEW YORK CITY. LIEUT. EUROPE SPECIALLY ENLARGED IN LEFT FOREGROUND.

SERGEANT HENRY JOHNSON (STANDING WITH FLOWERS), NEGRO HERO OF 369TH INFANTRY. IN NEW YORK PARADE. HE WAS THE FIRST SOLDIER OF ANY RACE IN THE AMERICAN ARMY TO RECEIVE THE CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM. NEEDHAM ROBERTS, HIS FIGHTING COMPANION, IN INSET.

RETURNING FROM THE WAR. MUSICIANS OF 365TH INFANTRY LEADING PARADE OF THE REGIMENT IN MICHIGAN BOULEVARD. CHICAGO.

SOLDIERS OF 365TH INFANTRY MARCHING DOWN MICHIGAN BOULEVARD. CHICAGO. THIS REGIMENT WAS PART OF THE CELEBRATED 92ND DIVISION OF SELECTIVE DRAFT MEN.

THE SEVEN AGES OF MEN. CURBSTONE GROUPS IN NEW YORK LINED UP TO GIVE THE HEROES WELCOME. THE SCENES WERE TYPICAL OF MANY IN CITIES AND TOWNS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

COLONEL FRANKLIN A. DENISON, FORMER COMMANDER OF 8TH ILLINOIS (370TH INFANTRY), INVALIDED HOME FROM FRANCE JULY 12, 1918.

FIRST COMMANDER OF THE 8TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY, COLONEL JOHN R. MARSHALL, WHO INCREASED THE ORGANIZATION FROM A BATTALION TO A REGIMENT, EVERY OFFICER AND MAN A NEGRO. UNDER COL. MARSHALL THE REGIMENT SAW DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.

FORMER OFFICERS OF 370TH INFANTRY (OLD 8TH). LEFT, COLONEL FRANKLIN A. DENISON, COMMANDER UNTIL JULY, 1918; CENTER, COLONEL T.A. ROBERTS (WHITE). SUCCEEDING COMMANDER; RIGHT, LIEUT. COLONEL OTIS B. DUNCAN. APPOINTED COLONEL TO SUCCEED COLONEL T.A. ROBERTS.