i 1 The Monitor i
A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COIX)RED AMERICANS.
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor 'o0
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$2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA. JANUARY 25. 1919 Vol. IV. No. 30 (>. % 'o. 185)
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Laurels for 325th
\ Field Signal Battalion
Only Colored Signal Unit in American
Army Shows Rare Courage and
Skill Under Fire—Maintaining Con
nection hy Telegraph and Telephone
as Dangerous as Work of Combat
ant Regiments.
CROIX I)E GUERRE
FOR EIGHTH ILLINOIS
Heroic Work Done by First Platoon—
Battalion Composed of Well-Educat
ed Young Men, Whose Knowledge
of Radio and Telegraphy Will
Equip Them for Civil Life.
(By Ralph W. Tyler, accredited rep
resentative of the Committee on
Public Information.)
WflTH the Army in France, La
W Mans, Dec. 20.—One of the units
of the American army to arrive here on
route for embarkation to America that
. a- lias made good, without having the
glamour and spectacular settings of
combat, is the the 325th. Field Sig
nal Battalion of the 92nd, Army Di
vision, the only Colored signal unit in
1 the American army. While this bat
talion has not had to occupy front line
trenches; make raids for prisoners, or
march, in battle formation, into big
engagements, it must not be supposed
that it did not have a dangerous, and
a very dangerous, duty to perform.
The boys of this Battalion had to
string the wires for telegraphic and
telephonic connections at times when
the enemy guns were trained upon
them; so, in many respects, their duty
took them into situations fully as dan
gerous as combatant units. This Bat
talion is composed of all young Col
ored men. save the Lieutenant Colonel,
Major and two or three white line of
ficers. They are all, with few cx
/ceptions, college or high school boys
—not a few iff them experts in radio
and electric ehgineering,and those who
were not experts in the work when
the Battalion was formed, are now
most proficient men. Major Spencer,
now Lieutenant Colonel, who was re
sponsible for the formation of this
unit, was firm in the belief that Col
ored hoys could make good, and he
has remained with it long enough to
experience his belief becoming a real
ization. After arriving at Brest June
19th, the Battalion proceeded to Vit
rey, and from that town began a four
day hike to Bourbonne-les Bains, a
distance of more than twenty miles.
From this point it proceeded, after a
few days, to Voisey, and at Voisey
the boys got their first taste of what
was to be, later, their daily duties.
Here the radio company received its
quota of the latest type of French in
^ struments, a battery plant was estab
lished, and a full supply of telephones
and wire was issued to Companies B
and C. Here, too, the Infantry Sig
nal Platoons of the Battalion joined
the outfit and shared in the training.
First Test of Courage.
The first test of real courage given
the men, and ^heir first introduction
into real fighting, in addition to
stringing wires, and sending and re
ceiving messages, came on the after
noon of September 27th, when a party
of liaison men, including the Colonel
ami Lieutenant Herbert, latter being
Colored, advanced beyond the Battal
ion P. C. and at the suggestion of a
French soldier, turned to the left.
They soon found themselves beyond
their lines, and directly in front of a
German machine gun nest. The Col
onel divided his men into small groups
+* *’ and advanced on the enemy’s posi
tion. This sortie resulted in the Sig
nal hoys capturing eight German pris
oners and two machine guns, hut the
attack caused the loss of Corporal
Charles E. Boykin, who did not return.
Two days later, during general ad
vance, Sergeant Henry E. Moody of
the Battalion was mortally wounded
while at his post. Boykin was killed
outright, while Sergeant Moody died
in the hospital from wounds received
—these being the first two of the Sig
nal Battalion to make the supremo
sacrifice.
Take Over Marbache Sector.
On the 10th of October the 92nd Di
vision took over the Marbache sector,
/relieving the 167th French Division,
and here also the 325th Field Signal
Battalion took over all existing lines
of communications, and in the days
following installed new lines, and
maintained connections between the
vaiious units of the 92nd Division.
This was no small duty, when it is re
membered that an army “sector” ex
tends over a wide area of many square
miles, including in it from GO to 100
0
cities and towns. The Marbache sec
tor was an active front, and time and
time again did these boys go ahead
repairing linos, establishing new com
munications under shell fire, with no
thought of personal danger—inspired
only by that ideal of the Signal Corps
man—get communication through at
any cost, but get it through.
On Hindenburg Line.
On the morning of November 10th,
wheii the Second Army launched its
attack on the famous Hindenburg line
before Metz, the 92nd Division, with
which I was during this big attack,
was holding the line of Vandieres-St.
Michel-Xon-Norry. During the entire
engagement, which lasted from 7
o’clock in the morning of the 10th
to 11a. m. of the 11th, the entire Sig
nal Corps functioned splendidly, and
as one man, keeping up communica
tions, installing new lines, repairing
those shelled out.
(Contlnuel on Page 8)
PLANS FOR ANNUAL
T U SK EGEE CONFERENCE
Bishop Gailor, the Hon. Bradford
Knapp, l)r. Haynes Emmett .1.
Scott and Other Prominent Speak
ers on Programme.
Tuskogee, Ala., Jan. 24.—Announce
ment that Bishop Thomas F. Gailor of
Memphis, Term, whose liberal expres
sions on race relations have been so
heartening to the Colored people, will
be one of the principal speakers at the
Tuskegee Negro Conference, insures
an interesting and helpful discussion
of the various problems growing out
of the demobilization of the Negro
soldiers and their reabsorption into
the arteries of industry and farming.
Other speakers include Hon. Brad
ford Knapp of the United States De
partment of Agriculture; Dr. George
E. Haynes of the Department of La
bor and Mr. Emmett J. Scott, special
assistant to the Secretary of War.
HAYS AIMS TO BREAK
THE SOLID SOUTH
Washington, Jan. 24.—Will H. Hays,
chairman of the Republican National
committee, is about to tackle the solid
South in a serious effort to upheave
the Democratic foundation. He will
establish southern headquarters at
Asheville, N. C.; Knoxville, Tenn., or
Atlanta, Ga., and campaign for elec
toral votes for 1920.
He has stated to friends here that
he would like to gather in some of
the southern states, and in furtherance
of that desire will foster Republican
organizations in North Carolina, Ten
nessee, Georgia, Kentucky and Louis
iana with the expectation of winning
congressmen anil presidential votes.
Republican leaders say that before
the Roosevelt-Taft controversy split
the Republican party, protective tariff
sentiment was growing in the man
ufacturing centers of the South.
Chairman Hays will find plenty of
•Republican sentiment in the South
in spite of protective tariff sentiment
there. Let him support and back up
leaders like R. R. Church and his Re
publican league.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Deatli tiptoed in and gently kissed liis
brow,
Straightway a noble spirit took its
flight;
Back to the great Omnipotent, where
It stands transformed by heaven’s
wond’rous light.
Grief walks the earth—’twould seem
from end to end,
Yea, mankind mourns the passing of
a friend;
A man who never faltered in the
fight,
A soldier for humanity and right.
—Andrea Razafkeriefo.
DR. MOTON TO RETURN
NEXT MONTH
Washington, D. C., Jan. 24.—Unless
plans are changed, it is expected that
Dr. Robert R. Moton, on a special mis
sion among the colored soldiers at the
front in France, will return to “the
States” early in February. Dr. Moton
has just concluded a thousand-mile
motor trip through ' the sectors in
which the Colored troops are located,
including a tour of Alsace-I.orraine,
and he has reported to the American
authorities that the condition of these
soldiers is quite satisfactory. This cor
roborates many private letters coming
from our men in the camps visited by
Dr. Moton.
For moving, expressing and hauling
call Douglas 7952. Penn and Sibley.
—Adv.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Virgin Islanders
Resent Lawlessness
-»
United Stales Soldiers and Marines Run Riot in City Streets of
Danish West Indies, Imperiling Lives of Peaceful Citizens and
Destroying Property.
PROMINENT CITIZENS ADDRESS PROTEST TO GOVERNOR
.
—
Send Dignified Letter and Warn That Continuance of Acts of Vio
lence Which May He Practiced and Tolerated in Certain Sec
tions of the Mainland Will Produce Regrettable Results on
the Island.
(Special to The Monitor.)
Port-of-Spain, St. Thomas, Jan. 24.—An unfortunate and re
grettable carousal on the part of •.merican sailors and marines
on Christmas night has highly incensed the people of the island.
Peaceful and law-abiding citizens were insulted, beaten and mis
treated. Homes were stoned, property destroyed and the Mayor
of the city treated with contempt. Apparently no effort was
made by the officers in command to restrain the marauders. The
citizens here begin to appreciate something of the indignities
which their brethren in certain sections of the mainland have to
endure. They feel that this outrage was instigated purely out of
race hatred which is so rampant on the mainland, but which can
not and will not be tolerated here without leading to most regret
table results. A committee of citizens has addressed the follow
ing open letter to the American Governor of the Virgin Islands,
which voices the unanimous sentiment of the islanders:
Sir: Your attention is herein called
to an outrage on our defenseless peo
ple hitherto unknown in this island
and which was done by men in the
United States Navy (Sailors and Mar
ines) on Christmas night last—an out
rage that cries aloud for redress and
punishment.
Batches of these men paraded our
streets armed with automatic revolv
ers, bottles, knives, sticks and stones,
yelling like Indians, and when not do
ing so, using language the most vulgar
—their actions resembled those of
savages—to speak the truth, the peo
ple whom we hold as being despicable
(the Germans) would not have done
as much.
Civilians were chased off the
streets, some beaten, some searched,
while others wore fired at when they
refused to obey the requests of these
mauraders to stand still—the bulbs of
public lights in several streets were
broken—our homes stoned, our furni
ture and jalousies therein destroyed
or damaged and other intrusions too
numerous to mention.
The municipal policemen—our only
guardians and protectors—were ren
dered powerless, being armed only
with clubs; they were attacked by
these sailors and marines and thus
situated they were utterly unable to
defend themselves or*to tender any
assistance to the defenseless inhabit
ants according to police regulation,
the existence whereof we hold you to
have knowledge thereof—the Mayor
of the town was also treated with con
tempt on several occasions when in
the lawful exercise of his official duty.
What are we to understand? Is
there no protection for the taxes that
we pay ? Are you not held responsi
ble tq some department in Washing
ton for the safeguarding of our lives
and property? Is this the way the
“Organic Act” (our Magna Charta) is
being observed ? Sir, you are the pos
sessor of unlimited civil, military and
judicial powers in these Islands and
therefore in our as well as in the es
timation of all just men, you are re»
sponsible for the maintenance of or
der in our Island.
Why w’ere these men not ordered
off the streets?
Would the civic rights of the peo
ple on the mainland have been so dis
respected? Is this Democracy?
This outrage is race hatred pure
and simple, and however it may be
practiced and tolerated in certain
sections of the mainland, we are con
vinced that a continuation of such will
surely produce regrettable results.
Name another peaceful, law-abiding
people who, when their homes w'ere
assailed by a band of marauders,
would sit still and permit it.
You cannot, sir. You cannot.
Be you not deceived, sir; this is not
an evidence of our cowardice, but to
the very contrary, be .use we are con
scious of the result that resistance
may produce, and because we are
more civilized than the men who per
petrated this uncalled for outrage;
hence we pursue this nobler attitude
in the matter.
We demand that all available meas
ures be adopted and assurances given
that such an outrage will never be
made real again.
We are of the opinion if such be the
case the results will be far above the
conception of those who may perpe
trate such an outrage. This remark is
not used as any threat against the
peaceable men of the Navy, but in de
fense of our rights as men and all
i that we hold dear and sacred.
Believing that you will exercise the
power vested in you to compensate
all those who suffered material losses
through this outrage and prevent a
similar occurrence.
In solemn protest against this un
justifiable outrage we affix our names
and beg to remain yours respectfully,
ROTHSCHILD FRANCTSS,
OCTAVIUS C. ORANADY,
CHAS. A. EMANUEL,
RANDOLPH A. INNIN.
COLORED OFFICERS
MAKE NEW RECORD
Camp I’ike, Ark., Jan. 23.—The last
group of Colored officers to graduate
froir the Camp Pike Training School
have made the highest record on psy
chological examinations known to na
tional military history. The highest
mark is A and a recent examination
of 3,000 white officers of the Quarter
master’s Department produced only
three A’s. Out of the Colored gradu
ating class of 29, eight made the mark
A, thus showing a higher percentage
than any made heretofore.
Among the eight making the A
grade were two Omaha boys, Lt. Law
rence A. Parker and Lt. Cunningan
Wilson. Lt. L. A. Parker was the
youngest officer receiving a commis
sion, having recently passed his twen
ty-first birthday.
NEXT YEAR’S
SMARTER SET SHOW
Omaha, Neb., Jan. 24.—Messrs. Sa
lem Tutt Whitney and J. Homer Tutt,
well known proprietors of the Smarter
Set Company, have announced through
The Freeman that the name of their
next year’s show will be “The Chil
dren of the Sun.”
While playing in Omaha, these gen
tlemen met several of the members
of The Hamitic League of the World,
and were presented with a copy of
“The Children of the Sun,” the offi
cial publication of the League. After
reading the book, the Smarter Set
brothers declared that they had found
nothing that better meets the grow
ing demand of the race for historical
fact, and requested that they be per
mitted to use the title for their forth
coming show.
The request was readily granted
and the author of the hook has prom
ised Messrs. Whitney and Tutt to fur
nish all data- and archeological mat
ter to make the new Smarter Set show
one of the greatest performances yet
offered to the race in America.
ROOSEVELT CARRIED
HEAVY LIFE INSURANCE
New York, Jan. 22.—Col. Theodore
Roosevelt carried $85,000 life insur
ance, according to a statement in the
Weekly Underwriter, a New York in
surance publication, in its issue today.
The amount was divided among four
companies, which waived proof of
death and sent their checks at once
in payment.
—
STRUCK NEGRO SOLDIERS
AND IS DISCHARGED
Washington, D. C., Jan. 24.—First
Lieut. Ulus C. Miller, 60th Pioneer In
fantry, has been dismissed from the
aimy by order of the president. Lieu
tenant Miller was convicted by a court
maitial at Camp Wadsworth, S. C., oi
the charges of striking two Colored
soldiers on their hands with a club
and with striking another Colored sol
dier'bn the head with his fist.
PROTEST JAPANESE
ANNEXATION OF KOREA
Washington, D. C., Jan. 25.—Reso
lutions protesting against the annex
ation of Korea by Japan and ask me
President Wilson and the Ameriear
peace delegates to apply the princi
ple of self-determination to thai
country have heen sent by the New
Korea association to the president anc
members of the foreign relations com
mittee of Congress.
The League oi *'*
Darker People
Villa Lewaro-on-the-Hudson, the
Birthplace of a New League of
Deep Significance.
MADAME WALKER STARTS IDEA
A New World Movement Emerging
Out of the Great International De
bacle, Impressive Because of Its
Practicality and Interesting Because
of Its Personnel.
New York, Jan. 26.—At Villa Lew
aro-on-the-Hudson, the palatial home
of Mme. C. J. Walker, a conference
composed of persons of distinction,
position and prestige from all parts
of the country was held recently. At
the invitation of the above well known
race woman and race champion, more
than a score of people gathered for
the purpose of organizing a movement
of aims and purposes and visions
which would leap across the bounds
of narrow nationalism and embrace
all darker peoples into a league that
would command the respect and con
sideration of the world.
A permanent program of large pro
portions was suggested, in broad out
lines, by Madam J. C. Walker-, and is
now in process of definite iormulation,
by the executive board—-a program
which will continue to engage world
opinion even after- the peace confer
ence shall have ended. An immediate
program was mapped out for the pur
pose of cementing the influence of the
darker peoples and delegates to the
Peace Conference, while the larger
and more permanent program pro
posed is as follows:
1. The League proposes to main
tain a permanent intei-national coun
cil of darker peoples, which shall con
fer with similar international bodies
upon the negotiation of loans, econom
ic spheres of influence, political suz
erainty, extra-tei'ritorialty, treaties,
agreements, concessions, compacts,
with a view to preventing the expro
priation of the darker peoples of their
natural resources and labor. The
council shall seek to review, publish
and discuss for the enlightenment of
world opinion all documents relating
to the interests of the darker peoples.
It shall be composed of Africans, Jap
anese, Chinese, Haitians, American
and West Indian Negroes.
2. The League shall also maintain
a publicity bureau which shall collect,
collate and publish all data presenting
the aims, achievements and the inter
national and national, social, economic
and political disabilities of darker peo
ples, in their struggles for freedom,
for justice, under all flags and in all
lands.
3. It shall establish international
leagues wherever darker peoples are
found. These leagues shall function
as subsidiary bodies to the larger, su
per-national organization.—The Inter
national League of Darker Peoples.
4. The League has entered upon a
campaign to raise one hundred thou
sand ($100,000) dollars to be used
for the purpose of promoting the
aforenamed aims.
5. It shall retain sociologists, lin
guists, economists, experts in engin
eering, etc., to travel in Africa, India,
Persia, China, Japan, the South Amer
icas, the Pacific Islands, who shall
study the tribal organizations and
higher social forms, customs, lan
guages, natural wealth and commer
cial opportunities of the darker peo
| pies, in order that a true and scien
tific history of the various peoples
of Color may be compiled. This will
serve to enlighten the posterity of all
peoples of the social potentialities of
the peoples of color. It will also tend
to stimulate the ambition of the youth
of the darker peoples to succeed in all
fields of human endeavor.
6. The League shall also hold race
congresses. The congresses shall be
j designed to create and crystalize a
spirit of harmony and good-will; to
exchange ideas, opinions and views for
the purpose of preventing misunder
| standings, which, too frequently, oc
[ casion l-ace conflicts. The represent
atives of all races shall present papers
on ethnological and anthropological
question.
MERE BOY HAS THREE WIVES
Knoxville, Tenn., Jan. 24.—A trio
J of “better halves” is too much of a
| monopoly for 17-year-old youths.
| Judge T. A. R. Nelson, in criminal
court here, thought so anyway, so he
gave Edward Freeman, hauled into
criminal court on a charge of bigamy,
four years in the State Agricultural
and Industrial School at Nashville.
Freeman confessed.
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