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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (July 6, 1918)
| THD MONITOR TrE — .- M - A National Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of Colored Americans THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor $2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy_OMAHA. NEBRASKA, JULY 6. 1918 Vol. IV. No. 1 <Wi.\ No. 157) Hayward’s Story V of Soldiers’ Heroism Colonel of (he 369th Infantry, Wh« Have Won Renown in France, Writes Letter to Wife of Soldier ol His Command Who Was Decorate*! For Bravery in Action. MEN AWARDED PRIZE MONK! Letter Tells How the Two Sable Sam mies, Outnumbered Ten to One ind Wounded, Routed Hun Assailants, NEW’ YORK. — Colonel William Hayward’s own story of the bra very of Private Henry Johnson, 369th infantry, which brought him tiic French war cross, is contained in a letter which the colonel has written to Private Johnson’s wife, Mrs. Edna Johnson, 23 Munroe street, Albany, in which he cites graphically the in stances of coolness and fighting ability of Private Johnson aga'nsi great odds. Johnson was wounded in a trench raid which he and another comrade effectively stopped, and in addition to the war cross 50 francs, which Gen eral Gourand of the French forces gave to Colonel Hayward for the use of the family of the first man in his regiment to be wounded under heroic circumstances, has been sent to Mrs. Johnson. Colonel Hayward’s letter follows: “Your husband, Private Henry John son, is in my regiment, 369th United States infantry, formerly Fifteentii New York infantry. Ho has been at all times a good soldier and a good boy of fine morale and upright charac ter. To these admirable traits he has lately added the most convincing num bers of fine courage and fighting ability. I regret to say at the moment that he is in the hospital, seriously but not dangerously wounded, the wounds having been received under such circumstances that every one of is in the regiment would be pieaseu and proud to trade places with him. It was as follows: “We had learned some time age from captured German prisoners that the Germans had heard of the regi ment of black Americans in this sec tor, and the German officers had told their men how easy to combat and capture them it would be. So this raiding party came over and. on the contrary, Henry Johnson and Need ham Roberts were very much awake and alert and attending strictly to their duties. At the beginning of the attack the Germans fired a volley of bullets and grenades, and both of the boys were wounded, your husband three times and Roberts twice; then the Germans rushed the post, expect ing to make an easy capture. In spite of their wounds the two boys waited coolly and courageously, and when the Germans were within striking dis tance opened fire, your husband with his rifle and Private Roberts from his helpless position on the ground with hand grenades. But the German raid ing party came on in spite of their wounded and in a few seconds our boys were at grips with the terrible foe in a desperate hand-to-hand en counter, in which the enemy outnum bered them ten to one. “The boys inflicted great loss on the enemy, but Roberts was overpow ered and about to be carried away when your husband, who had used up all of the cartridges in the magazine of his rifle and had knocked one Ger man down with the butt end of it drew his bolo from his belt. A bolo is „ a short, heavy weapon carried by the American soldier, with the edge of a razor, the weight of a cleaver and the point of a butcher knife. He rushed to the rescue of his former comrade and, fighting desperately, opened with his bolo the head of the German who was throttling Roberts and turned to the boche who had Roberts by the feet, plunging the bolo in the Ger man’s bowels. This one was the lead er of the German party and on re ceiving what must have been his mor tal wound exclaimed in American English, without any trace of accent, ‘Oh, the son of a - got me!’ thus proving that he was undoubtedly one of the so-called German-Americans /who came to our country, not to be come a good citizen of it, but to par of its plent> and bounty and then return to fight for the kaiser and help enslave the world. He was doubt less selected as a leader of the party to speak English and perhaps fool my soldiers, calling to them in English not to fire, that it was a friend. “Henry laid about him right and left with his heavy knife, and Roberts, j released from the grasp of the scoun drels, began again to throw hand gre nades and exploded them in their midst, and the Germans, doubtless thinking it was a host instead of two brave Colored boys fighting like tigers at bay, picked up their dead and wounded and slunk away, leaving many weapons and part of their shot- j riddled clothing and leaving a trail of blood, which we followed at dawn near to their lines. We feel certain that one of the enemy was killed by fire, two by your husband’s bolo, one by grenades thrown by Private Rob erts and several others grievously wounded. So it was in this way the Germans found the black Americans. Both boys have received a citation of the French general commanding the splendid French division in which my regiment is now serving and will re ceive the Croix de Guerre (cross of war). The citation translated is as lollows: “ ‘Some time ago the great General Gourand placed in my' hands the sum' of 100 francs to be sent to the family of the first one of my soldiers wound ed in a fight with the enemy under heroic circumstances. Inasmuch as these boys were wounded simultane ously, and both displayed great hero ism I think it but fair to send to each j one-half of this sum.’ ” War Department Not to Discriminate All Cases of Alleged l nfairness Re ported Will Be Fully Investigated; Secretary Baker Says, “Any Wmng Done Will Be Righted." Washington, D. C., July 1.—The War department has made it clear j that it will tolerate no discrimination i.gainst Colored draftees by the local draft boards in any section of the country and that cases of alleged un fairness will be fully investigated and corrected by the departmental au thorities. Secretary of War Newton D. Baker, in a recent interview, speaking with 1 reference to alleged discrimination against Colored draftees, said in part; “I have heard that draft boards in adjoining counties take a different view of practically identical facts with regard to Colored men; but the an swer in all these cases is that a re view is provided directly by the presi dent, and all that is necesasry for any body to do who thinks there is a giiev ance is to point it out to the War de partment, and it will be investigated. If the draft boards act unfairly we will correct their action. “The War department will brook no discrimination, and any cases of al leged or suspected discrimination brought to our attention will be in vestigated, and any wrong 'lone will bo righted.” SOLDIER NABS ENEMY SPY Mexican Posing as a Negro and Work ing in an Ammunition Plant Arrested as German Spy. New York.—Sergeant Clarence Rea son of the Fifteenth regiment trap ped and arrested a Mexican nosing ns a Negro and working for the enemy at one of the New Jersey ammunition plants. Sergeant Reason a few weeks ago was assigned the task of rounding up several of the men of his regiment who had vot reported for duty and who, it was believed, had sought work in the ammunition plants. Sergeant Reason went upon his task in plain j clothes and at one of the plants he visited came upon the German-Mex I ican tool, who approached him with an | offer and a plan of making “easy I money,” promising a division of $1 000 j a piece if he would join with him in | the firing and bombing of ammunition j plants. Sergeant Reason, seeing the oppor tunity of doing his country a valuable service outside his regular line, asked time, promising to interest a frior.fi who, he told the Mexican tool of haiserism, was “good” at that kind of work. The sergeant then looked around for some one to act as a wit ness in support of his charges against the spy. As soon as this was achieved he had the Mexican arrested. As a result of Sergeant Reason’s patriotic work the Mexican is now re posing in the county jail of Newark, held in $25,000 hail, and several other enemy workers have been ferreted out through information grilled out of the prisoner. Many are giving their lives; you ore asked only to loan your money. Colored Editors and Leaders In Conference Moulders of Public Sentiment Con sider Methods by Which the Negro May Best Aid the Nation to Win the War. NOTH'! I ADDRESSES BY OFFICIALS OF HIGH STATION Free, Frank and Full Discussion of Many Vital Issues Affecting Col- i ored Americans Characterize Rep- j resentative Gathering. Washington, District of Columbia.— By the authority and direction of the War Department and the Committee on Public Information, Emmett J. Scott, Special Assistant to the Sec retary of War, called' to Washington recently for a conference, thirty or forty representatives of important Colored newspapers of the country, | together with a number of the leaders of thought and opinion among the Negro people, to consider methods by which the millions of Colored people of the nation may best assist in the | winning of the war. Proceedings Marked by Dignity and Unity. I he conference formally opened Wednesday morning, June 19, in the 1 main auditorium of the new building of the Department of the Interior, I 18th ano' F streets, northwest, at 10:30 o’clock, and continuer! throughout Thursday and Friday, June 20 and 21. Mr. Scott presided at all of the sessions which were marked by an earnesne.ss of purpose, a broad grasp of the questions at issue, and an un- j wave* ng loyalty to the flag of the i nation, as well as by an intense devo- j tion to the highest interests of the Colored Americans for whom they came primarily to speak. The discussion covered a wide range and the conferees were given an op portunity to present their views, re flecting the state of mind of the Col ored people of the country, with the utmost freedom and frankness, un hampered by parliamentary restric tions or any effort to direct opinion in any particular channel—save that of utilizing in the most effective man ner every resource at the command of the race to bring victory to the American ur ns in its present struggle for iibertv and world-wide democ racy. Mr. Scott’s admirably tempered addresses at various stages of the deliberations repeatedly admonished the conferees to voice their sentiments fully and fearlessly, laying all griev ances and suggestions for their re dress upon the common altar, with the view of strengthening where needed the patriotism and morale of the Ne gro people. So fair and impartial were the rulings of the chair upon every pioint raised or principle enunciated, that at no time was a single exception taken to them. Ev ery conceivable shaoc of individual opinion was represented in the body, but there was from the outset a firm disposition to subordinate private and personal considerations to the general good, without regard to politics, creed, faction or section. This lofty aim was adhere to most religiously. Dignity of statement, harmony of thought and unity of action were the predominat ing fea'.ures of the three days’ session. The document, reported by the spe cial committee appointed to summar ize the expression of the conference as to the best plans for the mobiliza tion of the resources of the 12,000,000 Negroes oi the republic in support of the war a n.s of the government, was adopted by a unanimous vote, given heart'ly and enthusiastically. “Amer ica” was sung with fervor and unc tion as final adjournment was taken. Notable Addresses by Officials of High Station. The conference was addressed in sympathetic vein, during the session.-, by the following notable officials of high station: Hon. Newton D. Baker, secretary of war. Mr. George Creel, chairman of the committee on public information. Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt, assist ant secretary of the navy. Mr. Edward N. Hurley, chairman of the United States shipping board. Major Joel E. Spingarn, attached to the general staff, United States army. Captain Arthur S. Spingarn, of the medical reserve corps, national army. General Paul Vignal, military at tache of the French embassy. Major Edouard Requin and Major L. . DeMontal, of the French high commission. Extract From Resolutions Adopted The following is extract from the resolutions adopted by the confer ence: "We, the thirty-one representatives of the Negro press which has a cir culation of more than a million co pies, principally among the.Colored people of America, and representa tives of other activities, wish to af firm first of all, onr unalterable be lief that the defeat of the German government and what it today repre sente is of paramount importance to the walfare of the world in general and to our people in particular. “We deem it hardly necessary, in view of the untarnished record of Ne gro Americans to reaffirm our loyaltj to our country and our readiness to make every sacrifice to win this war. We wish, however, as students and guides of public opinion among our profile, to use our every endeavor to keep these 12,000,000 people at th( highest pitch, not simply of passive loyalty, but of active, enthusiasts and self-sacrificing participation in the war. “We are not unmindful of the rec ognition of our American citizenshin in the draft, of the appointment of Colored officers, of the designation of Colored advisors to the government departments, and to other indications of a broadened public opinion, never theless we believe today that justi fiable grievances of the Colored peo ple are producing not disloyalty, but an amount of unrest and bitterness which even the best efforts of then leaders may not be able always to guide unless they can have the active and sympathetic co-operation of the national and state governments. Ger man propaganda among us is powei - less, but the apparent indifference Pf our own government may be dan gerous. "The American Negro does not ex pect to have the whole Negro problem settled immediately; he is not seeking to hold up a striving country and a distracted world by pushing irrele vant personal grievances as a price of loyalty; he is not disposed to cat alogue, in this tremendous crisis, all his complaints and disabilities; he L more than willing to do his full shar ■ in helping to win the war for de mocracy and he expects his full share of the fruits thereof—but he is today compelled to ask for that minimum of consideration ft-hich will enable him to be an efficient fighter for vic tory.” Camp Dodge, la., June 18.—By a War department order the entire offi cers’ training school of the Ninety second division was transferred from here to Camp Pike, Little Rock, Aik. | DEBS ARRESTED ON ESPIONAGE CHARGE Cleveland, O., July 1.—Eugene V. Debs was arrested Sunday on a secret indictment, said to contain ten counts, under the espionage act. The indictment was in connection with a speech made at the socialist state convention in Canton, O., June 16th. Debs, socialist candidate for the presidency four times, was about to deliver an address here when United States marshals arrested him. Debs has always been a great friend of the Colored people and outspoken in their defense. AMERICAN “BIRDS” FLY 400 MILES IN ITALY Rome, July 1.—An escadrille of American airmen, piloting Capronl planes, flew from Milan to Rome, a distance of 403.65 miles. They were under comamnd of Captain La Guar dia, former New York congressman. — Negroes Cool As They Beat Huns Colored Boys Prove Value as Fighters ; in Attack Near Verdun; Only One Is Wounded. BY FRANK J. TAYLOR, United Press Staff Correspondent. ITH the' American Armies in France, July 1.—American Ne gro troops proved their value as fight ers east of Verdun June 12. The Ger mans attempted a raid in that sector, but were repulsed completely bv the Negroes. The boches began a terrible bom bardment at 12:01 a. m., throwing over between 3,000 and 4,000 shells from guns ranging in size from 67 to 340 millimeters. The bombardment was concentrated on small areas. Many of the shells made holes from ten to fifteen feet across. The Negroes coolly stuck to theii posts, operating machine guns and automatic rifles and keeping up sucii a steady barrage that the German in fantry failed to penetrate the Amer ican lines. The Americans sustained only one wounded. “Dixie luck was a-workin’ with us,” explained one. “We all got knocked down lots of times, but every man got right up.” Officers Praise Negroes. During the attack a machine gun crew was bowled over by minenvverfer attacks, which made a fifteen-foot hole, ten feet from them. They all got up, remounted the gun and continued shooting until it jammed. Then, de spite the bombardment, they fixed it anil again turned it on the Germans. This was repeated twice. Both French and American officers reported that the Negroes performed like veterans and compared with the j best troops. Equal Rights Made To Coi'^ress Delegates to Session Here Put Peti tion in Senator Penrose’s Hands. (Washington Post, June 30, 1918.) CONGRESS is requested to make lynching a crime against the fed eral government, and as such subject to the jurisdiction of the federal courts, in a petition unanimously passed by the National Colored Lib erty Congress, which closed its ses sions here yesterday. This and five other requests for the abolition of specific race discrimina tion are advocated by the petitioners as a win-the-war measure. The peti tion has been placed in the hands of Senator Penrose and is to be presented to the senate this week. The Colored congress protests that Negroes are discriminated against in public and federal buildings in fed eral territory, in public carriers oper ated by the government in certain states, in the army and navy schools, in the right of suffrage in certain states and in the civil service. The petitioners ask, in view of the military service rendered by their race during the present war, “that our own republic may not be a part of the world not safe for democracy.” They also protest the segregation of races in the officers’ schools. The congress was called for the pur pose of laying the cause of the Color ed man before the United States con gress and was attended by 115 dele gates from thirty-three states. H. H. Harrison of New York was chairman of the congress and Prof. J. W. Bell of Kentucky secretary. William M. Trotter of Boston was elected chair* man of the national executive com mittee for the coming year. M. W. Spencer was elected secretary. COLONEL YOUNG VISITS THE WAR DEPARTMENT Washington, D. C., July 1.—Colone! Charles Young of the United States army, who has been stationed at his home in Wilberforce, O., since his re tirement from active military service, was a callev at the War department this week. He was presented to Sec retary of War Newton D. Baker by Emmett J. Scott, special assistant. CIVILIANS MUST NOT GIVE DRINK TO SOLDIER GUESTS Washington, D. C„ July 1.—Fur nishing of liquor to officers and men of the army within private homes is prohibited under new regulations for mulated by President Wilson and Sec retary Baker and made public tonight by the commission on training camp activities. Dry zones around every camp, where as many as 250 men are stationed for more than thirty days, also are established. The Monitor YOUR NEWSPAPER WHICH YOU LIKE After July 1st, 1918: $2.00 a year In Advance BUT We Will Accept Renewals and New Sub scriptions at Old Rate: $1.50 Until JULY 10th Send In Your Subscription At Once PAY NOW ! SUBSCRIBE NOW ! THE MONITOR 1119 North 21st Street OMAHA, NEB.