The Colored Troops

(From Office of Emmett J. Scott,
Special Assistant to the Secretary of War.)

For release October 24.

THE COLORED TROOPS
Complete Stories of Negro's Achievements on Battle Front Will be Appreciated by White and Black Alike----
No Color Line in Record of Service to The Flag.
WASHINGTON, D. C., October 24.

Under the caption of "The Colored Troops," the Washington Evening Star, one of the foremost newspapers of the country, carried in a recent issue an editorial, the full text of which is given below.
WASHINGTON EVENING STAR ON "THE COLORED TROOPS.
"This announcement is made:" 'Complying with the request of the recent conference of colored editors, the committee on public information has designated a colored man, Ralph W. Tyler of Columbus, Ohio, former auditor for the Navy Department, as a regularly commissioned war correspondent, to specialize on the conditions surrounding the colored troops in France and to make daily reports of the activities and engagements in which the colored soldiers are prominent. He will be on the staff of Gen. Pershing, commander-in-chief of the American expeditionary forces overseas. Every facility has been provided for the prompt and accurate gathering of all facts that may be of interest to the colored people. '"A step in every way commendable. The bearing of the colored troops abroad has not been overlooked, or minimized, in the news. On the contrary, it has been praised. Order in camp, diligence in the discharge of routine, and bravery in battle have all been mentioned."Nevertheless, reports in future on this subject will be of greater interest to the colored people of America because of the knowledge that they bear the additional impress of one of their number -- a man qualified for the work, and certified to the authorities abroad by the authorities at home."
And of greater interest also to the white people, who have not failed to note and appreciate the responses of the colored people to the calls of the war. No color line has run in that matter. According to their numbers and ability, the colored people have done well. They have offered themselves freely for Army service; and Secretary McAdoo has publicly complimented them for their activities in behalf of the liberty loans."The war is growing, and American troops, white and colored, are crossing the Atlantic in increasing force steadily. War news has the right of way in all American newspapers and is read by everybody. Trained men are busy collecting it. All war features are covered by them. All facilities for doing their work are afforded by the military authorities. It is one of the most difficult and comprehensive tasks ever undertaken by modern journalism.
"While the war lasts, therefore, the task should continue to be executed with due consideration for all printable details, and due appreciation of the performances of all participants. Americans on the firing lines are described as doing their best, and are eulogized by their European allies, not only for courage but competency. Hence, the more complete the stories that come to us about what the American troops abroad are doing, and how standing the strain of the conflict, the better the reading public -- the whole public of both colors and all conditions -- will be served."
(From Office of Emmett J. Scott,
Special Assistant to the Secretary of War)
For Release October 24.

THE COLORED AMERICAN IN WAR WORK.

Issued from the Office of Emmett J. Scott, Special Assistant to the Secretary of War.WASHINGTON, D. C., October 23.There are now fifty colored chaplains in the United States Army.
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The September call for selective draftees, issued by Provost Marshal General Crowder, included 29,016 colored men.
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In the total of 1,900,000 American troops sent overseas, a goodly proportion may be accredited to the Negro race. This total was given by the War Department officials at a recent hearing before the House Committee on Military Affairs.
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Many press reports, commenting on the American army in France, intimate that the Germans have a wholesome fear of colored troops in action. General Pershing is lavish in his praise of the colored soldiers and has testified officially that they show marvelous coolness under shell fire, and an entire regiment, as well as individual colored soldiers, has been cited for decorations of honor
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Preliminary to the recent session of the National Baptist Convention at St. Louis, a patriotic meeting was held at the Colliseum, in the course of which 10,000 enthusiastic colored people proclaimed their loyalty to the United States. A long parade, a chorus of 300 voices and a program of stirring addresses and songs, featured the celebration. The general theme of the orators embodied a review of the part which the American Negro is playing in the destiny of the nation from the time that slavery was first introduced, through the Civil and Spanish-American wars, into the present conflict.
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A canteen has been established by the colored women of New York City at Numbers 4 and 6 West 131st Street for the exclusive patronage of colored soldiers and sailors. Spacious accommodations where the men may read and write and have their meals served at cost, are provided. The canteen is officially known as Canteen No. 5, of the Mayor's Committee, and is operated by a committee of public-spirited colored people of Harlem, under the leadership of Mrs. E. C. Goode. Such canteens are being established in many cities and they are doing a mint of good for our soldiers and sailors.