Robert W. Woodruff
Library
ouise T. Patterson Library
EMORY UNIVERSITY
Special Collections & Archives
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KELLY MILLER, A. M., LL. D.
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Howard University, Washington D. C.
KELLY MILLER'S AUTHENTIC HISTORY
OF
The Negro in the World War
BEING
An Intensely Human and Brilliant Account of the World
War and Why and For What Purpose America and
the Allies Are Fighting and the Important
Part Taken by the Negro
INCLUDING
The Horrors and Wonders of Modern Warfare,
The New and Strange Devices, etc.
"Fighting for the Rights of Mankind
and for the
Future Peace and Security of the World"
By
KELLY MILLER, A. M., LL. D.
The Well-Known and Popular Author of " Race Adjustment,'
"Out of the House of Bondage" and
"The Disgrace of Democracy"
Illustrated with 128 genuine pictures fiom recent official
photographs, also outline map drawings
made especially for this volume
Published by
AUSTIN JENKINS CO.
Manufacturing Publishers of High Grade
Subscription Books
Washington, D. C.
1920
Copyright, 1919
By
A. JENKINS
Copyright, 1919
By
O. KELLER
THIS COLORED HERO DIED TO SAVE HIS COMRADES
(See Page 569)
CONSTANT ARTILLERY FIRE AND BARRAGE ENABLE AMERICAN TROOPS TO MAKE
THEIR IRRESISTIBLE ADVANCE. THIS GUN MANNED BY NEGRO
CUNNHPS DID WONDERFUL WORK.
ONE LECS SLINKING COWARDLY SUBMARINE. A CENTER SHOT BY COLORED GUNNERS ON BOARD AN AMERICAN DESTROYER.
THE NEGRO'S PART IN THE WAR
By Professor Kelly Miller, the Well-Known Thinker
and Writer.
This treatise will set forth the black man's part in the
world's war with the logical sequence of facts and the bril¬
liant power of statement for which the author is famous.
The mere announcement that the author of "Race Adjust¬
ment," "Out of the House of Bondage,'' and "The Dis¬
grace of Democracy" is to present a history of the Negro
in the great world conflict, is sufficient to arouse expectancy
among the wide circle of readers who eagerly await any¬
thing that flows from his pen.
In this treatise, Professor Miller will trace briefly, but
with consuming interest, the relation of the Negro to the
great wars of the past. He will point out the never-failing
fount of loyalty and patriotism which characterizes the
black man's nature, and will show that the Negro has never
been a hireling, but has always been characterized by that
moral energy which actuates all true heroism.
The conduct of the Negro in the present struggle will
be set forth with a brilliant and pointed pen. The idea of
three hundred thousand American Negroes crossing three
thousand miles of sea to fight against autocracy of the Ger¬
man crown constitutes the most interesting chapter in the
history of this modern crusade against an unholy cause.
The valor and heroism of the Afro-American contingent
were second to none according to the unanimous testimony
of those who were in command of this high enterprise,
lv THE NEGRO'S PART IN THE WAR.
The story of Negro officers in command of troops of
their own color will prove the wisdom of a policy entered
upon with much distrust and misgiving. It is just here
that Professor Miller reaches the high-water mark. Here
is a story never told before, because the world has never
before witnessed Negro officers in large numbers partici¬
pating in the directive side of war waged on the high level
of modern science and system.
Professor Miller's treatise carries its own prophecy.
He logically enough forecasts the future of the race in glow¬
ing colors as the result of his loyal and patriotic conduct in
this great world epoch.
The author wisely queries: "When, hereafter, the
Negro asks for his rights as an American citizen, where
can the American be found with the heart or the hardihood
to say him, Nay?"
The work will be profusely illustrated.
Publishers.
Nov. 27, 1919.
GENERAL PREFACE
WHILE the underlying causes of the greatest war
in all history must be traced far back into the
centuries, the one great object of the conflict which
was precipitated by the assassination of the Archduke
Francis Ferdinand of Austria, in Bosnia, at the end of
June, 1914, is the ultimate determination as to whether
imperialism as exemplified in the government of Germany
shall rule the world, or whether democracy shall reign.
Whenever men or nations disregard those principles
which society has laid down for their conduct in modern
civilized life, and obligation and duty are forgotten in the
desire for self-advancement, conflict results.
Since the days of Athens and Sparta the world's great¬
est wars have in the main been conflicts of ideals—democ¬
racy being arrayed against oligarchy—men fighting for
individual rights as against militarism and military dom¬
ination.
In the World War, which terminated with the sign¬
ing of the armistice, November 11, 1918, which painted
the green fields of France* and Belgium red with blood,
and swept nations into the most significant and bitter
struggle in all history, the fight was against the Imperial
Government of Germany, by men and nations who claim
that humanity the world over has rights that must be
observed.
Germany has brought upon herself the destruction of
her government by ruthlessly trampling upon her neigh¬
bors and assuming that "might is right."
The Imperial Government, led by the House of Hohen-
zollern, was suffering from an exaggerated ego. Her
v
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY
civilization at ISSUE—THE german empire—character of william II THE
Gseat Conspiracy—The War by Years—United States in the War—Two
Hundred Fifty Miles of Battle—The Downfall of Turkey—The Demo¬
cratic Close of the War.
17
CHAPTER II
GEN. PERSHING'S OWN STORY
Organization of His General Staff—Training in France—In the Aisne Of¬
fensive—At Chateau Thierry—The St. Mihiel Salient—Meuse-Argonne,
First Phase:—The Battle in the Forest—Summary 49
CHAPTER III
PRESIDENT WILSON'S REVIEW OF THE WAR
Troop Movement During the Year—Tribute to American Soldiers—Splendid
Spirit of the Nation—Resume the Work of Peace—Outline of Work in
Paris—Support of Nation Urged 79
CHAPTER IV
THE FLASH THAT SET THE WORLD AFLAME
Teutons Find in a Murder the Excuse for War—Germany Inspired by Am¬
bitions for World Control—The Struggle for Commercial Supremacy a
Factor—The Underlying Motives 89
CHAPTER V
WHY AMERICA ENTERED THE WAR
The Iron Hand of Prussianism—The Arrogant Hohenzollern Attitude—
Secretary Lane Tells Why We Fight—Broken Pledges—Laws Violated
—.Prussianism the Child of Barbarity—Germany's Plans for a World
Empire 97
CHAPTER VI
THE THINGS THAT MADE MEN MAD
Germany's Barbarity—The Devastation of Belgium—Human Fiends—Fire¬
brand and Torch—Rape and Pillage—The Sacking of Louvain—Wanton
Destruction—Official Proof jjg
CHAPTER VII
THE SLINKING SUBMARINE
A Voracious Sea Monster—The Ruthless Destructive Policy of Germany
Starvation of Nations the Goal—How the Submarines Operate Some
Personal Experiences 136
ix
s
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII
THWARTING THE U-BOAT
INets to Entangle the Sea Sharks of Wab—"Chasers" or "Skimming dish"
Boats—"Blimps" and Seaplanes—Hunting the Submarine With "Lance,"
Bomb and Gun—A Sailor's Description 154
CHAPTER IX
THE EYES OF BATTLE
Aeroplanes and Airships—They Spy the Movements of Forces on Land or
Sea—Lead Disastrous Bomb Attacks—Valuable in "Spotting" Sub¬
marines—The Bombardment at Messines Ridge 170
CHAPTER X
WAR'S STRANGE DEVICES
Chemistry a Demon of Destruction—Poison Gas Bombs—Gas Masks—Hand
Grenades—Mortars—"Tanks"—Feudal "Battering Rams"—Steel Hel¬
mets—Strange Bullets—Motor Plows—Real Dogs of Wab 185
CHAPTER XI
WONDERFUL WAR WEAPONS
The Terrible Rapid-fire Gun—Armored Automobiles and Automobile Artillery
—Howitzers—Mounted Forts—Armored Trains—Observation Towers—
Wireless Apparatus—The Army Pantry 205
CHAPTER XII
THE WORLD'S ARMIES
The Efficient German Organization—The Eandwehr and Landsturm—
General Forms of Militaby Organization—The Brave French Troops—
The Picturesque Italian Soldiery—The Peace and War Strength-
Available Fighting Men—Fortifications 224
CHAPTER XIII
THE WORLD'S NAVIES
Germany's Sea Strength—Great Britain's Immense War Fleet—Immense
Fighting Craft—The United States' New Battle Cruisers—The Fastest
and Biggest Ocean Fighting Ships—The Picturesque Marines: The
Soldiers of the Sea 243
CHAPTER XIV
THE NATIONS AT WAR
Unexpected Developments—How the War Flames Spread—A Score of Coun¬
tries Involved-—The Points of Contact—Picturesque and Rugged
Bulgaria, Roumania, Servia, Greece, Italy and Historic Southeast
Europe 259
CONTENTS.
xi
CHAPTER XV
MODERN WAR METHODS
Individual Initiative as Against Mass Movements—Trench Warfare a Game
of Hide and Seek—Rats and Disease—Surgery's Triumphs—Changed Tac¬
tics—Italian Mountain Fighting
281
CHAPTER XVI
WOMAN" AND THE WAR
She has Won "Her Place in the Sun"—Rich and Poor in the Munitions
Factories—'Nurse and Ambulance Driver—Khaki and Trousers—Organ¬
izer and Farmer—Heroes in the Stress of Circumstances—Dying Men s
Work for Men—Even a "Bobbie" 298
CHAPTER XVII
THE TERRIBLE PRICE
A Nation of Men Destroyed—Millions in Shipping and Commerce Destroyed—
World's Maps Changed—Billions in Money—Immense Debts—Nation's
Wealth—The United States a Great Provider 310
CHAPTER XVIII
THE WORLD RULERS AT WAR
Woodrow Wilson, the Champion of Democracy—The Egotistical Kaiser—
The German Crown Prince—Britain's Monarch—Constantine Who Quit
Rather than Fight Germany—President Poincare—And Other National
Heads 32S
CHAPTER XIX
THE WAR'S WHO'S WHO
Striking Figures in the Conflict—Joffre, the Hero of Marne—Nivelle, the
French Commander—Sir Douglas Haig—The Kaiser's Chancellor—Ven-
izelos—"Black Jack" Pershing 344
CHAPTER XX
CHEMISTRY IN THE WAR
Substitutes for Cotton—Nitrates Produced from Air—Yeast a Real Sub¬
stitute for Beef—Seaweed Made to Give up Potash—A Gangrene Pre-
ventmve—Soda Made Our of Salt Water—America Chemically Indepen-
DENT 361
CHAPTER XXI
OUR NEIGHBORING ALLY
Canada's Recruiting—Raise 33,000 Troops in TVo Months—First Expedi¬
tionary Force to Cross Atlantic?—Bravery at Ypp.es and Lens—Meeting
Difficult Problems—Quebec Aroused by Conscription 371
xii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXII
THE HEROIC ANZAC
Forces that Stirred the World in the Gallipoli Campaign—Famous as Sap¬
pers—The Blasting of Messines Ridge—Two Years Tunnelling—30,000
Germans Blown to Atoms—1,000,000 Pounds of Explosives Used—Troops
that Were Transported 11,000 Miles 390
CHAPTER XXIII
AMERICA STEPS IN
President Wilson's Famous Message to Congress—The War Resolution—
April 6, 1917, Sees the United States at War—Review of the Negotia¬
tions Between Germany and America—The U-Boat Restricted Zone An¬
nouncement of Germany—Premier Lloyd George on America in the Con¬
flict 399
CHAPTER XXIV
UNCLE SAM TAKES HOLD
Makes World's Biggest War Loan—Seize German Snips—Intrigue Exposed—
General Pershing and Staff in Europe—tne Navy on Duty in North Sea
—First United States Troops Reach France—Germany's Attempts to
Sink Troop Ships Thwarted by Navy's Guns 427
CHAPTER XXV
A GERMAN CRISIS
The Downfall of Bethmann-IIollweg—The Crown Prince in tcie Lime Light
—Hollweg's Unique Career—Db. Georg Michaelis Appointed Chancellor
~-The Kaiser and How IIe Gets His Immense Power 444
CHAPTER XXVI
UNCLE SAM AND THE NEUTRALS
President Wilson Puts Embargo on Food Shipments—Scandinavian Countries
Furnishing Supplies to Germany Inspires Order—The Difficult Position
of Norway, Denmark, Holland and Switzerland 452
CHAPTER XXVII
THE ACTIONS OF THE WAR
From Bosnia to Flanders—Marne the Turning Point of the Conflict—The
Conquests of Servia and Rumania—The Fall of Bagdad—Russia's Women
Soldiers—America's Conscripts 463
CHAPTER XXVIII
AMERICAN FORCES BECOME FACTOR
United Sttes Soldiers Inspired Allied Troops—Russian Government Col¬
lapses—Italian Army Fails—Allied War Council Formed—Foch Com¬
mands Allied Armies—Persuing Offers American Troops—Under Fire—•
U-Boat B^ses Raided by British 473
CONTENTS. xiii
CHAPTER XXIX
AMERICANS TURN WAR'S TIDE
Brilliant American Fighting Stops Hun Advance—French and British Inspired-
Famous Marines Lead in Picturesque Attack—Halt Germans at Chat-
teau-Thierry—Used Open Style Fighting—Thousands of Germans Slain-
United States Troops in Siberia—New Conscription Bill Passed—Allied
Successes on All Fronts 489
CHAPTER XXX
VICTORY—PEACE
The German Empire Collapses—Foch's Strategy Wins—American Inspiration
a Big Factor—Bulgaria, Turkey and Austria Quit War—Monarchs Fall-i
Kaiser Abdicates and Flees Germany—Armistice Signed—November 11,
Peace 491
CHAPTER XXXI
THE NEGRO IN THE WORLD WAR 507
CHAPTER XXXII
THE NEGRO IN THE NAVY
Achievements of the Negro in the American Navy—Guarding the Trans¬
atlantic Route to France—Battling the Submarine Peril—The Best
Sailors in any Navy in the World—Making a Navy in Three Months
From Negro Stevedores and Laborers—Wonderful Accomplishments op
Our Negro Yeomen and Yeowomen.
CHAPTER XXXIII
THE OLD ILLINOIS 8th REGIMENT
The Training Camp—The Black Devils—They Died That Our Republic May
Live—The Last Soldiers to Cease Fighting—Taking the Bit Between
Their Teeth—The Hindenburg Line Could Not Stop Them—They Cross
the Ailette Canal—Desperate Deeds of Daring—One Man Routs a Ma¬
chine Gun Crew—The Band Played On—Summary of Deeds of the Illi¬
nois Eighth.
CHAPTER XXXIV
THE TREATY OF PEACE
CHRONOLOGY OF THE WORLD WAR
CHAPTER I.
Introductory.
Civilization at Issue—The German Empire—Character op William II—The
Great Conspiracy—The War by Years—United States in the War—Two
Hundred Fifty Miles of Battle—The Downfall of Turkey—The Demo¬
cratic Close of the War.
THE* World War, terminated by the signing of the
armistice November 11, 1918, was attended with
more far-reaching changes than any war known to
history, and is destined to so profoundly influence civili¬
zation that we see in it the beginning of a new age. Some¬
what similar wars in the past were the campaigns of Alex¬
ander; the wars that overthrew the Roman Empire and
the Napoleonic wars of a previous century; but this one
war surpasses them all, measured by any scale that can
be applied to military operations. It was truly a World
War, thus in a class by itself. Beginning in Central
Europe, twenty-eight nations—nearly all of the important
nations of the world—with a total population of about
1,600,000,000—or eleven-twelfths of the human race-
became involved. It cost 10,000,000 human lives, 17,000,000
more suffered bodily injury; the money cost was about
$200,000,000,000, but who can measure the cost in untold
suffering caused by ruined homes and wrecked lives that
attended it? Or who can measure the property loss, con¬
sidering that the fairest provinces of Europe were swept
with the bezom of destruction?
Rightly to judge the real significance of such a world
istruggle, we must consider conditions that made it pos¬
sible; study the issue involved stripped of all misleading
statements; review its course and weigh the nature of the
profound changes—geographical, political and economic—
17
20
INTRODUCTORY.
had accomplished to the formation of the empire as sim¬
ply a station reached in a career of progress which was
to end in a World empire as greatly surpassing that of
Rome in her palmy days as the world of the twentieth
century surpasses the known world of Roman times.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE EMPIRE.
The empire enjoyed a brief span of national life. In
less than fifty years it ceased to exist, a republic of an
uncertain nature takes its place. To outward appearances
the development of the empire was a brilliant one. A
colonial empire wras established—mostly in Africa—nearly
five times as great in area as the home empire; she had
large possessions in the Pacific and had gained a foothold
in China. The rich potash and iron deposits of Alsace in¬
creased her wealth and marvelously built up her industries
and she became one of the greatest manufacturing nations
of modern times. Her population doubled, her foreign
trade increased four fold, her shipping grew by leaps and
bounds. Her army became so perfected that it was ac¬
knowledged to be the greatest military machine the world
had ever seen; she was building a navy that threatened
the supremacy of England on the sea.
BUILT ON A FOUNDATION OF SAND.
In spite of this brilliant development, the empire
rested on a foundation of sand. You will never under¬
stand the World War unless you grasp this thought and
its justification. The government was autocratic, though
under the form of a constitutional government. The entire
military class in Germany held to theories of government,
of national rights and wrongs that belonged to the middle
ages. Theories of state-craft which the world long since
outgrew were proclaimed and taught, and enforced by
every means at command of the government, the military
42
INTRODUCTORY.
tribute to Germany. It was another case of "Thus far
and no farther."
CHATEAU THIERRY.
Chateau Thierry was a thriving city, about 6,000 in
population, on the Marne Biver, approximately 50 miles
northeast of Paris. It is in a fertile valley. There amid
fields of ripening wheat the advancing troops of Germany
were suddently confronted by American marines, hurried
to the scene of action in motor driven vehicles of all de¬
scriptions from Paris. The forces that faced them, bent
on forcing a passage to Paris were composed of the best
Prussian guards and shock troops. They felt perfectly
confident they could drive the Americans back. But the
amateurs went into the battle (the afternoon of June 2)
as calmly as if going to drill on the parade ground. In¬
stead of being driven from the field they repulsed the
seasoned veterans of Germany. It was at a cruel loss to
themselves, 1,600 dead, 2,500 wounded out of 8,000 that
came from Paris on that journey of victory and death;
but they never faltered. This was not a battle of great
dimensions but it is among the most important battles of
the war. It saved Paris; but that is not all. When the
news of that battle was flashed up and down the west front,
not an Allied force but was thrilled, enthused, given new
courage; the message that the Americans had stopped the
Germans at Chateau Thierry, electrified Paris. Strong
men wept as they realized that the forces of the Great
Republic, able and brave, stood between France and the
ravening wolf of Germany.
OTHER VICTORIES.
In the limited space at our command we can only
give a general description of the remaining weeks of war¬
fare in which American forces participated. Before
46
INTRODUCTORY.
general retreat was in progress. But to remove armies
aggregating several million men, with guns and supplies,
from a contracted area, in the face of a victorious and
aggressive enemy, without the retreat degenerating into
a rout is almost impossible; it requires generalship of high¬
est order. Day by day the remorseless jaws of the Allied
military machine, hinged to the north of the Aisne,—Brit¬
ish and Belgian forces on the north, French in the center,
Americans on the south and east,—were closing, and when
the American forces fought their way through the Argonne
to Sedan (forty miles northeast of Rheims) the case was
hopeless. Only the armistice saved Germany from the
humiliation of a surrender, on a scale vastly greater than
the surrender of the French armies near that same point
in 1870.
THE COLLAPSE OF THE TEUTONIC ALLIES.
With Germany herself falling, it is not strange that
the nations leagued with her also went down to defeat.
They*had been almost forced into the war by Germany;
not one of them could carry on a war when deprived of
counsel and help from Germany. Only the threat of force
kept Austria in the war. As the counter-attack in
France gained in force, as the retreat continued, it was
recognized on all hands that the end was approaching.
The will to war—the morale—was completely broken down;
and so on every side the Allied forces gained great vic¬
tories with surprising ease.
Bulgaria was the first nation to surrender. This was
the conclusion of a succession of great victories beginning
September 16,1918, ending by the surrender ten days later.
The case with Turkey was hopeless after Bulgaria fell.
[No reinforcements or supplies could reach them from Ger¬
many. The English forces under General Allenby were
CHAPTER II.
General Pershing's Own Story op the Victorious
American Army.
Organization op His Genebal Staff—Training in France—In the Aisoije Of¬
fensive—At Chateau Thierry—The St. Mihiel Salient—Metjse-Abgonne,
Fibst Phase—The Battle in the Forest—Summary.
THIS is a brief summary of the organization and opera¬
tions of the American Expeditionary Force from May
26,1917, until the signing of the armistice, November
11,1918. Immediately upon receiving my orders I selected
a small staff and proceeded to Europe in order to become
familiar with conditions at the earliest possible moment.
The warmth of our reception in England and France
was only equaled by the readiness of the commanders in
chief of the veteran armies of the Allies and their staffs
to place their experience at our disposal. In consultation
with them the most effective means of co-operation of
effort was considered. With French and British armies
at their maximum strength, and all efforts to dispossess
the enemy from his firmly intrenched positions in Belgium
and France failed, it was necessary to plan for an Ameri¬
can force adequate to turn the scale in favor of the Allies.
Taking account of the strength of the Central Powers at
that time, the immensity of the problem which confronted
us could hardly be over-estimated. The first requisite be¬
ing an organization that could give intelligent direction
to effort, the formation of a General Staff occupied my
early attention.
ORGANIZATION OF GENERAL STAFF.
A well organized General Staff through which the
commander exercises his functions is essential to a suc-
49
CHAPTER III
President Wilson's Review of the War
o
Troop Movement During tiie Yeah—Tribute to American _
Spirit of the Nation—Resume the Work of Peac&-Otjtliot WoffiB
Paius—Support of Nation Urced.
N DECEMBER 2, 1918, just prior to saiUn|k
Europe to take part in the Peace Conference, P»
dent Wilson addressed Congress, reviewing the to
of the American people, soldiers, sailors and civ' ians,in
World War which had been brought to a success col
elusion on November 11th. His speech, in par , 0 0
"The year that has elapsed since I last stoo e
you to fulfill my constitutional duty to give to the
from time to time information on the state of the ni
has been so crowded with great events, great processes an
great results that I can not hope to give you an adequa
picture of its transactions or of the far-reaching change
which have been wrought in the life of our Nation an
of the world. You have yourselves witnessed these tilings,
as I have. It is too soon to assess them; and we who stan
in the midst of them and are part of them are less qua 1
fied than men of another generation will be to say
they mean or even what they have been. But some grea
outstanding facts are unmistakable and constitute in a
sense part of the public business with which it is our duty
to deal. To state tliem is to set the stage for the legis¬
lative and executive action which must grow out of them
and which we have yet to shape and determine.
TROOP MOVEMENT DURING THE YEAR
"'A year ago we had sent 145,918 men overseas. Since
then we have sent 1,950,513, an average of 162,542 each
month, the number in fact rising in May last to 245 951
FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, CHEERS NEGRO VETERANS.
The 369th Colored Infantry acclaimed by thousands upon their return from France. Their record is one of thp br-' - >A
any organization in the war.
ONE OP THE WOUNDED AND HIS MOTHER.
A member of the famous 369th Colored Infantry, who was wounded in the
fighting, and his proud mother. He sacrificed a leg for the cause of righteousness
and World. Peace.
CHEERFULLY DOING THE WORK REQUIRED.
Transporting tan bark, to be used in connection with tanning leather. No slackers.
The colored women did willingly ajid efficiently their part in helping win the war.
By Permission "N. Y. Sun."
NEGRO SOLDIERS LOOKING FOR THE ENEMY.
Negro troops from many parts of the world were engaged in the war. It has been estimated that as many as 700,000 Negro
soldiers were in the French Army alone.
ENTERTAINING CONVALESCENT AMERICAN SOLDIERS AT AUTHEIL.
Negro musicians were in great demand in France. This picture shows Lieut. Europe's
noted colored band.
THE BAND IN LaBOURBOULE, FRANCE.
The arrival of the colored musicians created great excrement". TTiTs band heralded
the coming u£ soldiers to rtfst up.
Photo Press 111. Senr.
A SNIPER AT "WORK.
This papier-mache camouflage, made to imitate a dead horse, furnished good protection
for the sharpshooter.
Piioto .Press ill. Serv.
CDNnaAtJANS ON THE SOMMB FRONT.
"!tie:=o men "were In the thick of fie fishting. Ever ready and always anxious to do
thpir nart.
- ■ '■ 0
© Press 111. Serv.
FRENCH ZOUAVES TAKEN PRISONERS BY GERMANS.
They were formerly artists in a Paris cafe-concert.
—
WOUNDED COLORED SOLDIERS ON THEI MArRnnNTAM
They were with the ambulance X. A., and the majrf aurgeon is distributing cigarefi^.
Of the New York National Guards (now1 the 369th), who have been decorated by
the French for routing 24 Germans and preventing the carrying out of a well-
developed plan to assail one of the most important points of resistance on the
American front.—They hare ^een awarded the War Cross by the French General
of the division under whom tff-y are serving.
Copyrighted by Committee on Public Information.
COLORED SOLDIERS BUILDING ROADS "OVER THERE."
Copyrighted by Committee on Public Information.
COLORED SOLDIERS IN THE TRENCHES "OVER THERE."
(Note the tin hats.)
Copyrighted by Committee on Public Information.
HOTEL BOOKER T. WASHINGTON "OVER THERE."
Th® Negro Soldiers are surely fighting for Democracy. It is coming to them
by leaps and bounds.
Copyrighted by Committee on Public Information.
COLORED SOLDIERS LEAVING AN AMERICAN PORT FOR "OVER THERE."
(floo them dancing on the right.)
THE late Major James E. Walker was born in Virginia, Sep¬
tember 7, 1874. He was educated in the public schools of
Washington, D. C., and was graduated from the M Street
High School in 1893, and the Miner Normal School in 1894. For
twenty-four years he was in the public school service, and since
1899 was supervising principal. In 1896 he was made Lieutenant in
the First Separate Battalion of the National Guard of the District
of Columbia. In 1909 he was made Captain and in 1912, through
competitive examination, was commissioned Major. His command
was called out to guard the White House, and while on this duty
Major Walker's health became impaired. He was sent to the U. S.
Hospital at Fort Bayard, New Mexico, for treatment, where he died
April 4, 1918.
The
Late Major Walker, of the First Colored Battalion,
District ot Columbia National Guard
THE FIGHTING U. S. A. MARINE BRIGADE IN BETJ.KAU WOOD.
Here the Germans were not only stopped in their march toward Paris, but "knocked out." The furious and fast fighting
of the Marines proved their superiority. The Hun was badly beaten. The soldier applying the bayonet is an American Ne&ro,
Drawn by Georges Scott for "L'lllustration," Paris.
© Underwood & Underwood, N. Y.
AFRICAN TROOPS IN FRANCE. THEY FOUGHT FOR THE ALLIES.
A war dance, relieving the monotony and for the benefit of British and French troops These colored roldiers r-vp a good
account of themselves.
KAMERAD! KAMERAD!
Three colored Canadians imitating the Germans, whom they captured in this dug-out near the Canal du Nord, as they put up
their hands and shouted "Kamerad" !
Photo Com. Pub. Inf.
PRISONERS IN GERMANY.
These prisoners of war are from America and other countries. It is stated in the history of the photographs that the two
men shooting- crap are American Negroes.
CHAPTER IV.
THE FLASH THAT SET THE WORLD AFLAME.
Teutons Find in a Mubdeb the Excuse fob Wab—Gebmany Injpibed by Am¬
bitions fob Wobld Control—The Stbugqle fob Commebcial Supbemacy a
Factob—The Undeblying Motives.
THE assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir
apparent to the throne of Austria, together with his wife,
in Bosnia, during the last days of June, 1914, is com¬
monly regarded as the blow which forged the chain that bound
the European powers in bloody warfare. The tragedy was the
signal for putting on the world stage the greatest war play of
all times.
When Austria, regarding the murder of the Archduke as
a National affront, precipitated the conflict which has con¬
vulsed the universe, she marked the way easy for Imperial Ger¬
many to put into effect a long-contemplated plan for territo¬
rial expansion, and to wage a warfare so insidious, so brutal
and so ruthless in its character as to amaze the civilized world.
Word-pictures were drawn, so to speak, of a mighty
nation striving to burst iron bands that were slowly strangling
her, and her perfectly natural wish to find outlets for her
rapidly growing population and commerce. Germany sought
to obtain "a place in the sun," to use one of the Kaiser's most
unfortunate expressions, and the world soon found that the
"place" included the territory embracing a few ports on the
English channel, with control of Holland and Belgium,
Poland, the Balkan countries, a big slice of Asia Minor,
Egypt, English and French colonies in Africa, not to mention
remote possibilities.
Germany's ambitions may have been laudable, but her
methods of trying to satisfy these ambitions were not such as
89
««•
aseogant Hohenzollern Attitttde-
Thb Iron Hand of Prussianism^ fight—broken Pledges—Laws Violated
Secretary Lane Tells -BAEBABrrY—Germany's Plans fob a World
—Prussianism the Child
Empire.
NOT merely to prevent Germany from opening avenues of
commerce to the seas nor to throttle the ambitions of
the Kaiser was America drawn into the vortex of war
with France, England, Russia, Belgium, Italy and other
nations; but that the iron hand of Prussianism, as exemplified
in the conduct of the German Government, might be lifted
from the shoulders of men, and the world given that measure
of peace and security which modern civilization demands.
Germany by her ruthless submarine warfare brought deso¬
lation to many American homes. She sank without a pang of
conscience the great transatlantic steamship Lusitania, and,
while pretending friendship for the United States and plead¬
ing no intent to disregard American rights, broke her own
pledges and repeated her overt acts, ignoring international law
and the rights of all neutrals at sea.
She began her outlawry by the invasion of Belgium,
which was followed by conduct on the part of the German
forces which clearly marked them descendants of the "wolf
tribes" of feudal days, fighting with the motto before them of,
To the victor belong the spoils."
But all of Germany's diabolical acts involving the peace
been ° * ^I?lerica and American citizens might have
l7Z*7^3 i°f ^ternational adjudication but for the arro-
gance of the ruling forces of the Teutons. In a broad wn,e
russianism is credited with responsibility for the cW , .. '
iWar and for the policy which drew America into the c .
The country, led by President Woodrow
OJl> who
CHAPTER VI.
THE THINGS THAT MADE MEN MAD.
Germany's Barbarity—The Devastation of Belgium—Human Fiends—Fire¬
brand and Torch—Rape and Pillage—The Sacking of Louvain—Wanton '
Destruction—Official Proof.
THE conduct of Germany in ignoring international treaties
and invading Belgium first aroused the antagonism of
the United States and the rest of the civilized world, and
furnished the primary glimpse of how Imperialism made light
of human rights. What the Kaiser and his arrogant followers
did is fully set forth in the report which a special envoy, ap¬
pointed by King Albert of Belgum, laid before President Wil¬
son on September 16, 1914.
The mission consisted of Henry Carton de Wiart, Min¬
ister of Justice; Messrs. de Sadeleer, Hymans and Vander-
velde, Ministers of State, and Count Louis de Lichtervelde,
serving as secretary of the mission. On being received by
President Wilson, Mr. de Wiart, for the mission, outlined for
the world and for America, the situation in part as follows:
"His Majesty, the King of the Belgians, has charged us
with a special mission to the President of the United States.
Let me say how much we feel ourselves honored to have been
called upon to express the sentiments of our King and of our
whole nation to the illustrious statesman whom the American
people have called to the highest dignity of the commonwealth.
''Ever since her independence was first established, Bel¬
gium has been declared neutral in perpetuity. This neutrality,
guaranteed by the Powers, has recently been violated by one
of them. Had we consented to abandon our neutrality for the
benefit of one of the belligerents, we would have betrayed our
obligations toward the others. And it was the sense of our
international obligations as well as that of our dignity and
honor that has driven us to resistance.
113
CHAPTER VII.
THE SLINKING SUBMARINE.
A Voeaciotts Sea Monsteb—The Ruthless Destructive Policy of Gebmany—
Stabvation of Nations the Goal—How the Submarines Opebate—Some
Pebsonal Expebiences.
ALMOST the entire story of the world war is written
around the development of the submarine. One can
scarcely think of the terrible conflict without bringing
to mind the wonderful "underseas" boat which has made in¬
famous Germany famous. The truth is that, in so far as Amer¬
ica is concerned, the conflict was precipitated by the ruthless
submarine warfare which Germany waged as part of her plan
to starve out England, France, Belgium—and all nations
which opposed her.
The slinking submarine proved an efficient instrument,
whose activities clearly indicated the diabolical intent and pur¬
pose of Germany to make the whole world suffer, if necessary,
to the end that she might gain her point and perpetuate the
Hohenzollern dynasty. It was not so much that her subma¬
rines wrought havoc—for death and disaster stalk always with
war—but the methods by which Germany waged their warfare
and disregarded all the rules which had been laid down for the
guidance of civilized countries at war proved conclusively that
even the innocent could expect no quarter from her.
The story of the sinking of the brave ocean steamship
Lusitania on May 7,1915, contains in its brief recital a typical
illustration of Germany's lack of humanitarian instincts. The
vessel, torpedoed off the coast of Ireland, went to the bottom
of the ocean, carrying to death more than 1150 persons, many
of them prominent Americans. With an audaciousness which
has no counterpart in the history of civilized warfare, German
13ft
CHAPTER VIII.
THWARTING THE U-BOAT.
Rets to Entangle the Sea Sharks of Wae — " Chasers " ob " Skimming-
dish " Boats—" Blimps " and Seaplanes—Hunting the Submarine with
" Lance," Bomb and Gun—A Sailor's Description.
THE advantage which Germany gained by the development
of what has been termed the supersubmarine placed the
other nations where it became absolutely necessary for
them to concentrate their energies in an effort to counteract
the devastation which the U-boats brought upon the seas.
England tried first to protect the English channel and many
of its ports with mines, floating bombs and submarine nets, and
while the latter served as barriers which prevented the sub¬
marines penetrating into some of the important waters and
harbors, they could act merely in a protective sense.
The submarine net is a specially devised net with heavy
iron or wire meshes, similar to a fishing net. These nets—
miles in length—were born of the nets originally devised to
sweep harbors clear of mines. They are carried between two
boats described as trawlers, which are a form of sea-going tug
with powerful engines, that can draw a heavy load. A heavy
cable runs from trawler to trawler, and from this the chain net
is suspended in the water. It is heavily weighted at the bot¬
tom so as to hold it in a perpendicular position. The trawlers
steaming along, side by side, sweep up with the net anything
which may be placed in the water for the purpose of blowing
up or injuring vessels.
The submarine nets in some places have been anchored to
form a regular barrier against the passage of submarine boats,
and in this way were effective, but their use could in no way re¬
strict the underseas boats in their work upon the open seas.
The most effective plan of overcoming the dire conse¬
quences of the U-boat warfare was found, therefore, to lie in
104
CHAPTER IX.
THE EYES OP BATTLE.
Aeboplanes and Airships—They Spy the Movements of Forces on Land ob
Sea—Lead Disastrous Bomb Attacks—Valuable in "Spotting" Sub¬
marines—The Bombardment at Messines Ridge.
JUST as the submarine has revolutionized warfare on the
seas and presented new problems for the naval experts to
solve, so the aircraft of the last decade has had its effect
upon the operation of land forces. Probably the aeroplane
and the dirigible balloon have had a greater influence on the
conduct of battles and military campaigns as a whole than any;
other device utilized in connection with the war.
It is significant, too, that just as America produced the
first submarine, and then failed as a nation to develop it to its
highest state of efficiency for military use, so American in¬
ventors were pioneers in the construction and successful opera¬
tion of aeroplanes, or airplanes, which were first developed to
their greatest efficiency and utility by the French and Ger¬
mans.
Some of the most striking events of the war centre around
the use of the airplanes or dirigibles, and aside from the pic-
turesqueness and thrilling atmosphere that seem to surround
their use, the operator of thb aircraft has proved himself one
of the most valuable servants in modern warfare. He has re¬
duced the proudest cavalry to second place in the matter of
reconnoissance, and has rendered services which have hereto¬
fore been impossible.
The air-man sails out over the lines of battle, so far above
the earth when necessary as to be out of range of the most
powerful guns, and with glasses looks down upon the whole
country. His machine, whether it be a dirigible balloon or
airplane, is equipped with a wireless telegraph instrument with
170
CHAPTER X.
WAR'S STRANGE DEVICES.
Chemistby A Demon of Destruction—Poison Gas Bombs—Gas Masks—Hand
Grenades—Mortars—"Tanks"—Feudal "Battering Rams"—Steel Hel¬
mets—Strange Bullets—Motor Plows—Real Dogs of War.
THINGS new and passing strange—thousands of them—
have been brought into being by the great world war.
Human minds have developed things undreamed of by
science or fiction—things that a few years ago would have
been considered too strange and fantastic for even the profes¬
sional romancer to weave into the tissues of his stories.
Every known science has been called upon to produce its
quota of new things which might be used for the destruction
or the protection of men at war. The wonders of chemistry
have always lent descriptive inspiration to the pen of writers,
but mankind to get a vivid conception of the horrors of chem¬
istry has had to wait for the great world war.
The conflict which has involved the entire world might
almost be termed a warfare of chemists. Without their dia¬
bolical products, ranging all the way from high explosives to
poison gases, it would have few of the characteristics of ultra-
frightfulness that render it unique in the history of inter¬
national struggles.
But of all the instruments of destruction used in this war,
there is none more horrifying than the so-called "incendiary
bomb," which sets instant fire to whatever it touches and which
spreads flame in a manner so terrific that three or four such
gravity-projectiles dropped from an aeroplane burned up the
whole of a peaceful Dutch village in a few minutes.
Now, what is the fearsome stuff with which such bombs
are loaded? A new chemical compound? Not at all. What
they contain is simply the mixture of two of the most harmless
1S5
CHAPTER XL
WONDERFUL "WAR WEAPONS.
The Terrible Rapid-fire Gun—Armored Automobiles and Automobile
Artillery—Howitzers—Mounted Forts—Armored Trains bserya
tiojt Towers—Wireless Apparatus—The Army Pantry.
IT is a long step from the old, smooth bore, flintlock lifle of
the Revolutionary days to the modern magazine gun, with
its long-pointed cartridges \ and it is almost as great a step
from the crude iron cannons and smooth bore mortars of the
Civil War, with their canister and grape shot, down to the
huge, 42 centimeter guns which have boomed their way through
France and Belgium.
The patriotic citizen who is unfitted for military service
no longer sits at home and aids the armed forces of his country
by melting pewter spoons into bullets, or cutting patches of
cloth to serve as wads to pack down into the muzzle of guns.
The powder horn and the bullet mould are devices of the past.
The whole world working in the old-fashioned way could not
have in the course of the "war-of-nations" made sufficient bul¬
lets to supply the forces for a single week.
Those who must sacrifice in the stress of war now turn
their silverware and precious metals into nuggets that may be
sold to produce revenue, so that the armed forces may pur¬
chase the machine-made cartridges and weapons required to
fight the enemy.
Modern warfare has developed the climax in armament
and the world has learned more within the last few years about
the devilish instruments of destruction which human ingenuity
has devised than was known in all the ages before. Since Ger¬
many and Austria were the first into action—actually precipi¬
tated the great conflict—and as by their years of preparation
they were ready for the emergency, it best serves the purposes
of those who seek enlightenment on the subject of armaments
?05
CHAPTER XIX.
THE WORLD'S ARMIES.
The Efficient German Obganization—The Lanbwthb and Landsttjem—
General Forms of Military Organization—The Brave French Troops—
The Picturesque Italian Soldiery—The Peace and War Strength—
Available Fighting Men—Fortifications.
NO one scoffs at the military organization which Germany
has developed through the years—yes, almost centuries
—of moulding and training, for Germany has proved
herself efficient, even if egotistical and domineering. She built
up what at the beginning of the war was recognized as the
most powerful, most efficient and well balanced military or¬
ganization the world has ever known. And it was not an army
in the sense that America has been taught to think of armies.
It was a trained nation for war—a nation armed—rather than
a small, compact fighting machine.
The strength of the German army on October 1, 1913,
has been given in fairly authentic reports as 790,788 men and
157,916 horses. Of the men 30,253 were officers and 2,483
sanitary officers. There were 104,377 non-commissioned offi¬
cers and 641,811 common soldiers. The general divisions were
515,216 infantry and 85,593 cavalry, 126,042 artillery, and the
rest in the general service, including the commissary and quar¬
termasters' departments, as these are known in America. The
estimated army on a war footing is more than four times this
number and approximates about 4,000,000, while the entire
available force was given at probably 8,000,000.
The infantry is designated as the main body of the army.
The infantrymen carry the "98" gun, already referred to,
which is an improved Mauser, and the non-commissioned offi¬
cers and ambulance drivers carry revolvers. There are several
classes of infantrymen, a distinction being made between the
224
CHAPTER XIII.
THE WORLD'S NAVIES.
Germany's Sea Stbength—Gbeat Britain's Immense War Fleet—Immensi
Fighting Craft—The United States' New Battle Cruisers—The Fastest
and Biggest Ocean Fighting Ships—The Picturesque Marines : thi
Soldiers of the Sea.
JUST as Germany at the outset of the war had the most
efficient and, broadly speaking, the greatest army in the
[world, so England had the greatest navy in the world.
As a matter of fact, Great Britain's domination of the seas was
very largely responsible for the development of the super-
submarine by Germany, and the putting into effect of the sub¬
marine warfare which proved so disastrous to the Allies. This
for the reason that Germany, having sought for means to offset
Great Britain's power and control of the seas, turned to the
under seas craft.
Up to the accession of Emperor William II—the Kaiser
■—Germany's navy was little more than a joke. In 1848 the
National Parliament voted six million thalers for the creation
of a fleet, and some boats were constructed. But the attempts
to weld Germany, then little more than a federation, into a
nation having failed, the fleet was put up at auction, and actu¬
ally sold in 1852. Prussia, a separate state, had started a fleet
of her own and purchased the German boats.
This fleet, just before the American Civil War, consisted
of four cruisers, carrying 28 cannon, and one cruiser having IT
cannon, besides which there were 21 "cannon boats," carrying
two and three cannons each. The Prussian fleet merged into
the North German Confederation in 1867, and in turn became
part of the fleet of the new German Empire in 1871.
In the war with France the German fleet played no part.
There were one or two clashes between French and German
small boats, but that was all. Even the successful outcome of
243 171
CHAPTER XIV.
THE NATIONS AT WAR.
Unexpected Developments—How the Wab Flames Spread—A Score of Coun¬
tries Involved—The Points of Contact—Picturesque and Rugged Bui>
garia, Roumania, Servia, Greece, Italy and Historic Southeast Europb;
THE real history of the greatest war of all times is the
history of the entire world, touching every phase of
existence in a manner that has never been approxi¬
mated by any other conflict. The motives and ramifications
are so great that it is almost impossible for the human mind to
grasp the significance of many things of importance which, at
a glance, seem to be but incidents.
The world looked on expectantly when the war started,
because there was a general knowledge of the conditions exist¬
ing in Europe and the undercurrent was felt by students of
international affairs. But that Russia would revolt and the
Czar abdicate, as he did in March, 1917, and the iron-ruled
country would set up a government of its own—would join
the circle of democracies—was not even hinted at. Neither
was it intimated that Constantine I, King of Greece, would
abdicate in favor of his son, Prince Alexander, as he did in the
following June, under pressure, because of his sympathy for
Germany.
Neither was there a suspicion that the fire started by ffte
flash of a pistol and the bursting of a bomb in Bosnia would
spread until sixteen countries were arrayed against Ger¬
many and Austria, supported by the Bulgarians and the
Turks. And to these must be added the entrance into the con¬
flict of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, possessions of Great
Britain, and smaller possessions of other countries. The flames
swept over the face of the earth in this fashion:
Starting with the movement of Austria against Servia,
after the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand, there lined
259
CHAPTER XV.
MODERN WAR METHODS.
Individual Initiative as Against Mass Movements—Tkench Waufare a Game
of Hide and Seek—Eats and Disease—Sxjbgeby's Tetomphs—Changed Tac¬
tics—Italian Mountain Fighting.
WARFARE such as carried on in the Great World War
is so different from that of any other of the great wars
which the world has seen, that it might be described as
a method of fighting distinctively unique. Undoubtedly, more
ancient methods, and even ancient weapons, have been em¬
ployed than were used in any of the wars which have changed,
from time to time, the boundary lines of nations. The fighting
of mass against mass has been practically obliterated, and mod¬
ern evolutions where the plan is man to man have developed
a mode of fighting where terrible execution has resulted.
Undoubtedly this means of fighting has developed the per¬
sonal initiative of the soldiers, and the modern fighting ma¬
chine of the nations is of a high standard, which, together with
death-dealing weapons, has resulted in terrible havoc.
Massed movements, such as carried on in the War of the Re¬
bellion, have been practically done away -with, and although
there have been long and costly sieges, they have been carried
on by tedious trench fighting, airships, hand grenades, and
massive shells fired from guns of great caliber, and with a
range which is really marvellous.
Shells are fired, shrapnel in some cases, explosive shells in
others, which are timed to the second, so that when fired from
guns many miles from the objective point, they explode at a
measured distance from the earth. They are exploded within
a gauged distance of the target, and the execution is done over
a measured area. On the shells are indicators. Within the
shrapnel shells are hundreds of small shot. As the shell ex-
281
CHAPTER XVII.
THE TERRIBLE PRICE.
A Nation of Men Destroyed—Millions in Shipping and Commebce Destroyed—
World's Maps Changed—Billions in Money—Immense Debts—Nation's
Wealth—The United States a Geeai Provider.
THE human tongue seems almost devoid of power to con¬
vey to the human mind what the war has actually cost
the wrorld in lives, money, property, ideals and all that
is dear to humanity. In all the world there is not a human
being who has not contributed something to the awful cost
and the loss due to the destruction of property, the stopping
of industry, the waste of energy and the curtailment of human
endeavor in the interest of civilization, and the effects which
the struggle has had upon the world cannot even be approxi¬
mated in dollars and cents.
We have been taught to regard war as a terrible thing
and to realize that thousands must be slain, but in no war in
the history of the world has there been as many troops engaged
as have been killed in the European war on the battlefields of
Belgium and France.
At the beginning of the year 1917 it was estimated that
the total casualties of the war were 22,500,000. In a report
based on figures compiled in Washington it was stated: The
human estimated waste and financial outlay are staggering.
The combined casualties of the war, partly estimated because
all belligerents do not publish lists, are 22,500,000. The figures
included killed, permanently injured, prisoners and wounded
returned to the front. Of this number the Central Powers
were estimated to have suffered permanent losses in excess of
4,000,000, and the entente perhaps twice that number, Russia
being by far the heaviest loser.
The financial outlay, based in part on official reports and
31A
[CHAPTER XX.
CHEMISTRY IN THE "WAR.
Substitutes fob Cotton—Nitrates Prodttced from Air—Yeast a. Peal Sub¬
stitute for Beef—Seaweed Made to Give up Potash—A Gangrene Prej-
ventitve—Soda Made Out of Salt Water—America Chemically Indepen¬
dent.
IT IS when men are put to the test that they develop initia¬
tive and are inspired to great things. In the stress of
circumstances there were created through and in the great
war many unusual devices and much that will endure for the
benefit of mankind in the future, lit is probable that the
advancements made in many lines would not have been attained
in years but for the necessity which demanded the exertion
of men's ingenuity, and in no field was this advancement
greater than in that of chemistry.
Any struggle between men is, in the last analysis, a battle
of wits, but it remained for those planning and scheming to
defeat their fellow men or protect themselves in the world
conflict to make for the first time in history the fullest use of
the chemist's knowledge. Largely the successes of the war
have been due to the studies and activities of the chemists,
working in their laboratories far from the actual field of strife.
"Not only has their knowledge been turned to the creation
of tremendously destructive explosives, the like of which have
never before been known in warfare, but the same brains which
have been utilized to assist man in his death-dealing crusades
have been called upon to thwart the efforts of the warring
humans and save the lives of those compelled to face the wither¬
ing fire of cannon, the flaming grenade and the asphyxiating
gas bomb.
In the food crisis which confronted the nations, chemists
drew from the very air and the waters of the river and sea,
361
CHAPTER XXI.
OUR NEIGHBORING ALLY.
Canada's Eecbuiting—Raise 33,000 Tboops in Two Months—Fibst Expedi¬
tionary Force to Cboss Atlantic—Bbaveby at Ypbes and Lens—Meeting
Difficult Problems—Quebec Aroused by Conscription.
THE world has marvelled at the achievement of Canada
at Valcartier camp near Quebec and the dispatch across
the Atlantic Ocean of a fully equipped expeditionary
force of 33,000 men within two months of the outbreak of war
between Great Britain and Germany. But the magnitude of
that feat cannot be appreciated properly until one considers
that on August 4,1914, Canada had a permanent force of only
about 3500 men.
These soldiers, who for the most part were instructors and
men on guard duty, provided a nucleus for a training organiza¬
tion. In addition to its "standing army," the Dominion had
an active militia numbering approximately 60,000 men. Their
training consisted of what has been aptly called "after-supper
soldiering." Members of city regiments drilled for jone night
each week, participated in an annual church parade and spent
two weeks every year in summer camp.
The training of the rural regiments consisted almost
entirely of the two weeks in summer camp. Yet from these
militia units were drawn a large proportion of the men in the
first Canadian oversea contingent, while the militia regiments,
to a large extent, formed the basis of Canada's recruiting
organization after the outbreak of hostilities.
Enlistments during the first two years in the expeditionary
force numbered approximately 415,000, while probably 150,000
applicants were rejected as physically unfit.
Immediately upon the declaration of war Major General
Sir Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia, telegraphed the officers
commanding the militia regiments to commence recruiting for
371
CHAPTER XXIII.
AMERICA STEPS IN.
Pbesident Wilson's Famous Message to Congress—The Was Resolution—
April 6, 1917 Sees the United States at Was—Review of the Negotia¬
tions Between Germany and America—The U-Boat Restricted Zone An¬
nouncement of Gebmany—Premier Lloyd George on America in the Con¬
flict.
THE hoisting of the American flag to the top of the staff
as the emblem of world-wide Liberty followed the action
of Congress in authorizing President Wilson to declare a
state of war existed between Germany and the United States.
What the conditions were which developed during the months
in which Germany to all intents and purposes "laughed up her
sleeve" at the United States, ignored our protests against her
wanton disregard of human rights on land and sea, can no bet¬
ter be told than in the words of President Wilson himself in
his message stating the position which the Government took.
His message to Congress will go down in history, not only
as an instrument of world-wide importance, but as a classic in
literature. Its effect on the Nations was greater than that of
any other message issued by any one country, probably in the
history of the world, and while there were critics who regarded
some of President Wilson's utterances as too idealistic, time
proved that his vision was greater than that of those who criti¬
cised him, and within a short time the eyes of the entire world
were turned toward Washington, which became the active
centre from which the campaign for world-wide democracy was
waged.
The hands of Liberty stretched out to Russia^ Serbia,
Italy, France, Belgium, England, little Montenegro, and they
were given help in the most critical periods of their careers.
The President's message was presented to Congress on April
3, 1917, as follows:
"I have called the Congress into extraordinary session be-
327
399
Copyright Underwood & Underwood
PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON.
President Wilson's latest photograph.
Copyright Underwood & Underwood
GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING.
This is the latest and best photograph of General Tershing.
Copyright Underwood & Underwood
MARSHAL FERDINAND FOCH.
This is the latest photograph of Marshal Ferdinand Foch, Supreme Commander of the Allied
Armies, as he appears since the termination of the war. A comparison of this photograph with
earlier ones shows the effect of the war on the famous general.
Showing the actual drafting by the Allied Plenipotentiaries of the armistice terms which ended the great world war. Left
side of table from left to right: second man. General di Robilant; Italian Foreign Minister Sonnino; Italian Premier Orlando;
Colonel Edward H. House; General Tasker H. Bliss; next man unknown; Greek Premier Venizelos, and Serbian Minister Ves-
nitch. Right side of table from left to right: Admiral Wemyss (with back turned) ; General Sir Henry Wilson: Field Marshal
Sir Douglas Haig; General Sackville West; Andrew Bonar Law; British Premier Lloyd George; French Premier Georeea
Clemenceau, and French Foreign Minister, Stephen Pichon.
Photo from Western Newspaper Union.
SENLJS, PRANCE, WHERE THE ARMISTICE WAS SIGNED.
Amid the ruins wrought by the Huns the envoys of Germany signed the truce terms that victoriously ended the struggle for
democracy.
FAMOUS FIGHTERS—"THE BLACK WATCH."
Some of the best fighters in the British Army, resting by the roadside after having driven the Germans back ir the "Fight of
the Woods," near Kheims.
CLERKS IN NAVY DEPARTMENT,
Washington, D. C.
FIRST COLORED BATTALION, DISTRICT OP COLUMBIA, NATIONAL GUARD.
On Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C., Parading the National Capital before going; to France.
© I. F. S.
SERGT. HENRY JOHNSON, OF ALBANY, N. Y„ THE OUTSTANDING HERO.
Single-handed he routed 36 Huns, killing' 4 of them and wounding the remainder.
When his ammunition ran out he used a bolo knife. Sergt. Johnson, of the 369th
Colored Infantry (old 15th of N. Y.J, was the first man in his regiment to win the
French War Cross.
© Press 111. Serv.
GROUP OP 369TH COLORED INFANTRY WITH THEIR WAR CROSSES.
One hundred and sixty-nine men of this regiment (old 15th N. Y.) won valor medals. They were nicknamed "Hell Fighters."
Top—Fred Rogers. Lower row—George Chapman, Lawrence McVey, Isaac Freeman, Upper row—Wru. Bunn, Herbert IMillS,
Hugh Hamilton, Clarence Johnson. '
© Press 111. Serv.
COL. HAYWARD AND GROUP OP REAL FIGHTERS.
All winners of the Croix de Guerre. When a French general gave orders to retire, Col. Hayward replied: "My men never retire;
they go forward or die, and we are going through here or hell. We don't go back."
From U. & U. © Com. Pub. Inf.
LIEUTENANT ROBERT S. CAMPBELL, U. S. ARMY.
The first man in the 92nd American Division (Negroes) to receive the dis¬
tinguished service cross for bravery in the fighting in the Argonrie. He was a
member of Co. I, 36Stii Infantry,
© Press 111. Serv.
GUARDING THE FLAG. •
The flag of the old 15th (decorated by the French) and Old Glory,
Photo Press 111. Serv.
AT THE Y. M. C. A. ON FRENCH FRONT.
This group of soldiers is being served at a "Y" tent.
NEGRO SOLDIERS ON THE MARCH IN FRANCE.
Along this beautiful stream it was tramp, tramp, tramp the soldiers were marching on to do their duty and help bring the victory
which meant 'World Peace."
HOME AGAIN.
Back from Prance, and what a grand reception awaited them !
asm over their homecoming
OH, HOW JOYFUL!
Conquering heroes on the battlefield and the warmth and enthuSJ."
are beyond words to describe.
© Press 111. Serv.
PHOTOGRAPHED IN A VILLAGE IN GERMANY.
A member of the 369th (old 15th N. T.) brought this picture back with him. He is wearing the smile which tells the story.
The war is over.
LIEUT. "JIMMY" EUROPE AND HIS FAMOUS BAND.
This band was hailed with enthusiasm by the French. Five kettle drums in this band were presented by the French as a
mark of esteem. Another drum, beaten, by "Willie Webb, of Louisville, Ky., was a trophy left by the Germans when they
retreated hurriedly in the Champagne engagement.
Photo I. F. S. Co., Inc.
GETTING READY FOR THEIR DAILY BATH.
Negro troops in a transport goin™ over. No inconvenience marred their good cheer.
Photo I. F. S. Co., Inc.
IN LINE FOR REVIEW.
Members of the 15th Infantry being reviewed. A sturay and determined line of fighting men.
A QUARTETTE WHICH GAVE GOOD ENTERTAINMENT.
These colored members of the 801st Stevedore Regiment were attached to the 23rd Engineers in Prance.
Photo I. F. S.
LINED UP AND READY FOR ACTION.
Members of the 15th Infantry. Note the serious and determined exoression in their faces. They mean business and will obey orders.
AT THE SIGNAL, BOX REIADY TO SOUND THE GAS ALARM.
These men had a great responsibility placed upon them. The sounding of the Gas Alarm quickly and accurately, when gas wio
detected, meant saving the lives of many men.
BOTH WORKING FOR THE Y. M. C. A.
Mr. Kelly and his colored driver at work during- the last German offensive.
Photo U. & U.
BAPTIZING NEGRO SOLDIERS AT CAMP GORDON.
A religious and very effective scene. These Christian men had faith and confidence in their religion. The class of men who make
the best soldiers when fighting for tho right principles.
COLORED TROOPS IN PUERTO RICO.
A brilliant Fourth of July parade through Allen Street, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
NEGRO SHARPSHOOTERS
Copyrighted by Underwood & Underwood.
NEGKO CHILDREN WEAVING CLOTH.
Itecently photographed in Kamerun, the last of the German provinces in Africa to surrender to the Allies. Illustrating child
labor at the lowest possible cost.
AFRICAN NEGROES IN KAMERUN, SHOWING NATIVE HEADDRESS.
These pictures were photographed in Fumban, the largest and most densely populated section of Kamerun
colonies in Africa captured by the Allies.
© I. !•'. S.
one of Germany's
native children spinning cotton in kamerun, africa.
Kamerun was the last German province in Africa to hold out against the Allies. This picture was taken by the Allies since they
Captured the colony. The natives were never before photographed.
Africa and the World Democracy
HOW AFRICA WAS DIVIDED IJP AMONG THE NATIONS
OP EUROPE BEFORE THE WAR
Area
Country
Sq. Miles
Populat'n
British Empire ■ , ,
3,700,000
52,325,000
France
4,641,000
29,577,000
Germany !.
931,000
13,420,000
Portugal
8,244,000
Italy
1,579,000
TT ed
Area
Country Sq. Miles Populat'n
Belgium (Belgian
Congo) 909,000 15,000,000
Spain 88,000 660,000
INDEPENDENT STATES
Abyssinia 432,000 8,000,000
Liberia .• 40,000 1,800,000
by permission of the "Crisis," New York.
Copyrighted by Underwood & Underwood-
AFRICAN TROOPS BEING TRAINED IN PRANCE.
These husky fighters are bound to deliver the groods.
XW ,,
Sgfafr U.r
GENERAL PETATN. GENERAL MANGIN. GENERAL. D'ESPEREY.
Three French Generals who fought their way to fame. In many a battle they saved the day, and through their heroic
deeds France was saved from the Hun.
French Official Photograph.
© Western Newspaper Union Photo Service.
ENGLISH BOMBING PLANE ON THE AISNE FRONT.
Preparing the departure for a bombing expedition. The bombs and their holders can be seen in the foreground.
UNITED STATES COLORED LABOR TROOPS BOARDING A TRANSPORT.
An American Negro battalion entering a pier ready to board a transport. These husky doughboys perform their tasks with a
vira and a will.
From Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. W Coni...niee o.i Public Information.
FIRST LOOK AT FRANCE FROM A TRANSPORT.
United States soldiers seeing France as the transport arrives in sight of land. This vessel was formerly a Hamburg-American
(German) liner.
BRITISH TANKS ADVANCING ACROSS THE HINDENBURG LINE.
This battery of tanks shows the new superstructure on their fronts, which is used to carpet the slippery mud which the cater¬
pillar wheels do not grip.
MAMMOTH BRITISH GUN "KILL, JOY."
Used by the British forces in Flanders. No gun of more power was used Dy any belligerent. It is greater than the "Busv
Berthas" of the Germans. J
Photo from Underwood & Underwood, N. Y.
A RAPID FIRING GUN ON A FRENCH AEROPLANE.
This remarkable picture from a close-up photogTaph shows the little Nieuport "scout" plane. The electric gun is worked from
the pilot seat by a wire. It produced great havoc among German birdmen.
THE GUN WITH THE PUNCH. A FRENCH 320 M.M.
Photographed While in Action—Loading.
One of the largest and most effective guns used in the war. An idea of its immense size is gained in comparison with
men. It is moved about on a specially constructed railway. prison witn me
THE RETURN OP THE HOLY SCROLL. IN JERUSALEM.
General E. H. H. Allenby, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in the Holy Land, is seen seated at the left The ceremony >
was very impressive.
From Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. (c) Committee on Public Information.
THE GUN WITH THE PUNCH.
Huge American railway artillery of 16-inch calibre for the U. S. Army This bie
gun can be put into position in 15 minutes and will fire all around the horizon The am¬
munition car for shell and powder is attached.
British Official Photograph. © Underwood & Underwood, N. Y.
A MONSTER BRITISH HOWITZER NICKNAMED "GRANNY."
One of the guns which blasted the way along the Menin Road in the big offensive. "Shells hastily delivered and with a punch,"
that's all Granny had to^say. Any German trooper will vouch for its accuracy.
THE HANOT-RY TAOR SUPER AERIAL. COMBING DREADNAUGHT.
Designed by Mr. Handley Pa?p, a British manufacturer. It was claimed that this giant plane conlri cross the ocpan under
its own power.
AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY MARCHING UNDER INSPECTION.
The Anzacs, ramouc Tor their brave and daring accomplishments, and among the best of fighters, made their own rpmn
which will stand in history for all time. ^
© I. F. S.
WELCOME HOME. ALL HAIL TO THE CONQUERING HEROES.
When New York's Negro Soldiers marched amid the cheering crowd, Harlem was mad with joy over the return of its own.
© I. F. S.
SOME OF THE WOUNDED IN THE NEW YORK PARADE.
The 369th Colored Regiment was cited as a whole for bravery in action—at Champagne, Chateau Thierry, Mihiel Salient, or in
the Argonne, wherever there was hard fighting to be done.
cerr
SHOULCtR
A RMS
msKcmn]
i of I
| A FKMS
RIGHT j
SHQULOtm
ARMS
RIFLE.
SALUTE
PftESEHT
ARMS
SALUTE
CHARGE
BAfONET
PORT
ARMS
PARADE
REST
Photo. Americau Press Association.
MANUAL OF ARMS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Showing the different positions in the drill.
© American Press Association.
GROUP OF RUSSIAN SAILORS.
They are the first to come to New York since the United States entered the war.
©American Press Association.
SERBIAN CORPS ORGANIZED IN THE UNITED STATES.
Hundreds of Serbians organized an army and went to France and joined the offensive The
photo, shows the men leaving San Francisco, where they were mobilized. The United States
paid for the transportation ol the men.
CHAPTER XXIV.
UNCLE SAM TAKES HOLD.
Makes World's Biggest War Loan—Seize German Ships—Intrigue Exposed-
General Pershing and Staff in Europe—The Navy on Duty in North Sea
—First United States Troops Reach France—Germany's Attempts to
Sink Troop Ships Thwarted by Navy's Guns.
SCARCELY had the ink had time to dry on the Nation's
command to begin war than Congress voted an appropria¬
tion of $7,000,000,000 for war purposes. This, the largest
single appropriation ever made by a government in the world,
was passed without a dissenting vote. Still later, a deficiency
bill of $2,827,000,000 for war expenses was passed. Other
legislative measures provided for the increase of the army and
navy and for "selective conscription," although the latter was
passed in the face of considerable opposition on the part of
many who believed that in a democracy armies should be raised
by volunteer recruiting. Many felt that compulsory service
was not in accordance with the ideals of liberty.
The Conscription Act provided for the registration of
every male citizen or resident in the United States between the
ages of 21 and 31 years, and was enacted on May 19, 1917-
Registration of these military available was made on June 5,
when 10,000,000 names were entered on the rolls as subject to
draft by the Government. The principle of "selective con¬
scription" is that the authorities shall have the right to exempt
from military duty among those registered such persons whose
employment in civil life is necessary to the maintenance of thq
industries and business of the country, as well as those who,
though physically lit, have others dependent upon them for
support.
One of the first acts of the Government after the declara¬
tion of war was the seizure of the German merchant vessels
interned in United States ports. These vessels had a ton-
CHAPTER XXV.
A GERMAN CRISIS.
The Downfaix of Bethmann-Hollweg—The Crown Prince in the Lime Light
—Hollweg's Unique Caeeeh—Dr. Georg Michaeijs Appointed Chancellob
—The Kaiser and How He Gets His Immense Power.
THE active participation of the United States in the war,
as distinctly marked by the sending of troops to France,
aside from giving needed inspiration to the Allied forces,
may be said to have had a decided effect in -Germany. While
the German subjects are loyal, there has developed in the
country, as in every other country, a large element of Social¬
ists and progressives.
Something of a climax was reached in the affairs of the
Hohenzollern dynasty just when the United States troops
were preparing to take their places on the battle line in France
and WThen the first of the conscripted forces of the country
were being summoned to the colors.
With a suddenness that startled the entire world, Dr,
von Bethmann-Hollweg, the German Imperial Chancellor,
resigned on July 14, thus ending his career as the spokesman
of the Kaiser, which he had maintained for a surprisingly long
period. At the same time Dr. Alfred Zimmermann, Foreign
Minister, who was responsible for the correspondence which
revealed the fact that Germany was trying to induce Mexico
and Japan to form an alliance against the United States, also
quit his post.
The resignation of the Chancellor came quite unexpect¬
edly, for von Ilollweg, in the prolonged party discussion and)
heated debates of the main committee of the Reichstag which'
had been in progress, seemed to have triumphed over his
opponents.
His opponents had been clamoring for his head, but he
CHAPTER XXVIL
THE ACTIONS OF THE WAR.
From Bosnia to Flanders—Marne the Turning Point of the Conflict—The
Conquests of Servia and Rumania—The Fall of Bagdad—Russia's
Women Soldiers—America's Conscripts.
THE end of August, 1917, found twenty-one nations in a
state of war and five in what might be termed a condition
of modified neutrality, with nearly 40,000,000 sum¬
moned to arms and 5,000,000 killed in bitter warfare.
This was the fiery reflection of the shots which caused the
death of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, of Austria, in the
quiet little town of Serajevo, the capital of Bosnia, in June,
1914. And so, with their backs to the wall, Austria-Hungary,
Germany, Turkey and Bulgaria faced Servia, Russia, France,
Belgium, Great Britain, Montenegro, Japan, Italy, Portugal,
Rumania, the United States, Cuba, Brazil, Greece, Siam,
China and little Liberia, while Guatemala, Panama, Haiti,
Uruguay and Bolivia stood by in a position of neutrality, but
for the most part indicating a willingness to help the Allies.
And in those elapsed three years after the Bosnia tragedy
an Emperor of Austria had died; a Czar had stepped from his
throne, and a King had been compelled to toss aside his crown.
Prime Ministers and Ministers of War in all of the principal
countries, who held the confidence of their peoples when the
war started, were no more.
Cabinets had been dissolved and new ones set up, states¬
men brushed aside and commanders of the war forces com¬
pelled to step out that others might carry on the battles.
Though it was Austria's ultimatum to Servia which pre¬
cipitated the world-wide struggle, it was Germany that took
the first step and crossed the French frontier with its armed
forces. After Servia refused to accede to all of the demands
463
CHAPTER XXVm.
AMERICAN FORCES BECOME FACTOR.
United States Soldiers Inspired Allied Troops—Russian Government Col
lapses—Italian Army Fails—Allied War Council. Formed—Foch Com¬
mands at,t/mr> Armies—Pershing Offers American Troops—Under Fire—
U-Boat Bases Raided by British.
THE influence exerted by the actual presence of the
American troops on the western front was soon appar¬
ent. The spirits of the English, French and Canadian
troops were raised and the presence of the Americans was
heralded to the world as an evidence of complete unity on the
part of the Allies that meant ultimate death to Kaiserism.
The advent of Uncle Sam's fighting men on the firing
line had, however, one serious effect, viewed from the Allied
standpoint. Germany realized that every day she delayed in
making attack meant the strengthening of the Allied forces
by the arrival of additional United States troops, and it was
seen by the English and French leaders that the Kaiser would
make an early drive to annihilate, if possible, the stubbornly
resisting, though somewhat tired and weakened, lines opposing
his brutal soldiery. Not-for months, therefore, was it per¬
mitted the world to know anything about the numerical
strength of the American troops sent into France.
Simultaneously with the action of American troops in
entering the resisting line of Allied troops on the western
front the Austro-German troops had swept into the Italian
plains, capturing 100,000 prisoners and upward of 1,000 guns,
taking several towns and compelling the retreat of the Sefcond
and Third Italian armies. The Italian forces were opposed
by four times their number, but it was also said that the unity
of the Italian forces was broken by the spreading of German
propaganda.
473
AMERICAN FORCES BECOME FACTOR.
477
help from Russia sank. Germany entered into a peace compact
with Ukrainia, and the hand of the Kaiser was seen in the
Russian situation when officers of the German Army were
reported in Petrograd in conference with the representatives
of the various Russian factions. Russia suggested a separate
armistice, or a separate peace, against which both the U. S. and
France protested.
The failure of the Russian Government to assume any
degree of stability made it possible for the Germans to with¬
draw many troops and transfer them to the Italian and West¬
ern Fronts.
One result of the Allied War Council deliberations was to
show the necessity of rapid action on the part of the United
States and get troops into France so that they might take over
a definite sector. While it was estimated that several hundred
thousand Americans were in France, the necessity for a larger
force was made apparent by the statement that 90 reserves are
required for every 400 fighters on the line.
DROPPED THEIR TOOLS FOR RIFLES.
The first bitter attack in which American troops figured
was when a company of United States engineers, caught be¬
tween crossfires, dropped their tools for rifles and joined the
English troops in helping to repulse the Germans near
Cambrai.
A notable event in the progress of the war was the declara¬
tion of war upon Austria by the U. S. on Dec. 8, 1917, Con¬
gress adopting a resolution of war with but one dissenting vote.
Events which brought the seriousness of the war home
to America began at this point to occur rapidly. First the Tor¬
pedo Boat Destroyer Jacob Jones was sunk in the war zone
when nearly 30 men were reported lost. This was followed
shortly by a report to the War Department that 17 'Americans
caught in the crossfire by the Germans at Cambrai were missing
or killed. The report of the sinking of the Alcedo, a patrol
478 AMERICAN FORCES BECOME FACTOR.
boat, with the loss of several officers, was also received, as was
that of the sinking of the U. S. Destroyer "Chauncey" rammed
in a collision, when two officers and eighteen men were lost.
One of the high spots of the war and one of the notable
events in the history of the world, was the surrender of the City
of Jerusalem to the British on Saturday, December 8, 1917.
Gen. Allenby entered the famed city and established his troops
on the ancient Jerico Road.
The capture of Jerusalem by the British forces marked the
end, with two brief interludes, of more than 1200 years' posses¬
sion of the seat of the Christian religion by the Mohammedans.
For 673 years the Holy City had been in disputed ownership of
the Turks, the last Christian ruler of Jerusalem being the Ger¬
man Emperor, Frederick, whose short-lived domination lasted
from 1229 to 1244.
THE FALL OF JERUSALEM.
Apart from its connection with the campaign being waged
against Turkey by the British in Mesopotamia, the fall of
Jerusalem marked the definite collapse of the long-protracted
efforts of the Turks to capture the Suez Canal and invade
Egypt. Almost the first move made by Turkey after her
entrance into the war was a campaign against Egypt across the
great desert of the Sinai Peninsula. In November, 1914, a
Turkish army, variously estimated at from 75,000 to 250,000
men, marched on the Suez Canal and succeeded in reaching
within striking distance of the great artificial waterway at sev¬
eral points. For several months bitter fighting took place, the
canal being defended by an Anglo-Egyptian army aided by
Australians and New! Zealanders and French and British
forces.
For the greater part of 1915 conflicting reports of the sit¬
uation were received from the belligerents, but in December
of that year definite information showed that the Turks had
been driven back as far as El Arish, about eighty-five miles east
484 AMERICAN FORCES BECOME FACTOR.
captured documents showing what they planned to do in the
early hours of their offensive.
By March 24s the attacks of the Germans had been re¬
doubled, and it was estimated that more than 1,000,000 Huns
had been thrown into the struggle against the British forces
on which the attack was concentrated.
The most notable feature of the attack from the spectacu¬
lar viewpoint was the bombardment of Paris by monster Ger¬
man cannon, located in the forest of St. Gobain, west of Laon,
and approximately 76 miles away from Paris.
BIG GUN ONE HUNDRED FEET LONG.
Though no official description of the big gun was ever
given, it was stated by military authorities that it was approxi¬
mately 100 feet in length, and that several were in use, and
more being built by the Germans. At first the statement that
a gun could shoot such a distance was doubted, but when 75
persons were killed in Paris and one of the shells hit a church
doubt no longer existed. It also developed that the gun was
originally an American invention, and that similar weapons
Were being built by the United States.
The use of the big gun was in the nature of a "side-issue"
to bring terror to the French, and in line with the policy of
Rightfulness instituted by the German militarists. Its use
was continued daily. Meantime the German hordes swept on
marching in close formation into the very mouths of the rapid-
fire guns and against the strongly fixed British lines.
For ten days the hostilities continued, without cessation,
with fighting along a whole front such as had never been known
before.
The Germans continued to hurl great forces of infantry
into the conflict, depending largely on weight of numbers to
overcome the increasing opposition offered by the heroically
resisting British.
The battle on the historic ground about Longueval was
CHAPTEli XXIX.
AMERICANS TURN WAR'S TIDE
Brilliant American Fighting Stops Hun Advance—French and British Inspired
—Famous Marines Lead in Picturesque Attack—Halt Germans at
Chateau-Thierry—Used Open Style Fighting—Thousands of Germans
Slain—United States Troops in Siberia—New Conscription Bil-l Passed—
Allied Successes on All Fronts.
ALL history contains no greater story of bravery and
heroism than that which echoed around the world con¬
cerning the exploits of the American soldiers in France
as the war entered its fifth year.
Casting aside all precedent, ignoring the practices which
'had been developed by the English, French and German com¬
mands during four years of stubborn fighting, a little force of
Americans—barely a handful, led by the picturesque Marines
*—brought the Huns to a standstill in their drive upon Paris
and turned the tide of war.
Once again history repeated itself, for the Germans were
turned back at the beautiful river Marne, where the brave
Americans and heroic 'French smashed their lines. The spec¬
tacular event in which the Americans participated was a mere
incident of the great conflict raging across France, but the
story must ever be one of the outstanding features of the war
because of the effect it produced upon the whole situation.
In the struggle against the Huns the Belgian army had
been reduced to its lowest ebb; the manpower of France and
England had been sapped by constant call for reserves, and
the Allied forces, while resisting and fighting heroically, were
without reserves to draw upon to effect a decisive blow1 when
the opportunity presented.
The German hordes had swept forward with hammer¬
like blows toward Paris in what was a continuation of the giant
offensive started in March. The second movement was
4s9
502
VICTORY—PEACE.
Government was taken over by the people. This was fol¬
lowed by the surrender of Austria on November 8 and the
abdication of the Emperor Charles.
THE END.
Austria in her surrender agreed to the immediate sus¬
pension of hostilities, the demobilization of the army of
Austro-Hungary and the withdrawal of all forces from the
North Sea to Switzerland, the evacuation of all territories
invaded, the evacuation of all German troops from Austro-
Hungarian territory and the Italian and Balkan fronts, as
well as the surrender of fifteen submarines and all German
submarines in Austro-Hungarian territorial waters, to¬
gether with thirty-four warships, and also the repatriation
of all prisoners of war.
With her forces demoralized and Bulgaria, Turkey
and Austria out of the war and her power broken in Russia,
Germany was driven to the necessity of accepting terms
submitted by the Allies as the basis of peace as outlined by
President Wilson.
SUMMARY.
Thus came peace after fifty-two continuous months of
fighting, in which it is estimated that nearly 10,000,000
were killed and that there were about 27,000,000 casualties,
while $200,000,000 were expended by the combined
nations.
America's casualties were 236,117, divided as follows-,
Killed and died of wounds, 36,154; died of disease, 14,811;
died from unassigned causes, 2,204; wounded, 179,625;
missing, 1,160, and prisoners, 2,163.
England by contrast had 658,665 killed, 2,032,122
wounded and 359,145 missing and prisoners during the four
years, while Italy had about 1,600,000 casualties; France,
3,500,000; Belgium, 400,000; Rumania, 200,000, and Rus-
THE NEGiRO IN THE WORLD WAR.
BEFORE THE WAR.
Civilization evolves destructive forces of change. War
is change in explosive form. World notions, points of view,
and general ideas of 1914 have spun the cycle of years with
accelerated speed. At that time the public mind gained its
concept of the Negro from encyclopaedic information. He
was regarded as a "sub-species of mankind, dark of skin,
wooly of hair, long of head, with dilated nostrils, thick lips,
thicker cranium, flat foot, prehensible great toe and lark
heel."
He was described as si creature with "mental constitu¬
tion very similar to that of the child, on a lower evolution¬
ary plane than the white man, and more closely related to
the highest anthropoids." His brain weight, we were told,
was 35 ounces as compared with the gorilla's 20 ounces and
the Caucasians 45.
In America, conception of the Negro has ever fluctu¬
ated in direct ratio to the rise and fall of military domina¬
tion of the affairs of the republic. Whenever the military
agencies of the government have been exalted, the Negro
has been benefited by reaction of the public mind. From
1865 to 1870 exaltation of the military element of American
life brought along not only emancipation of the black man,
but that conception of him which resulted in the conferring
of manhood rights and privileges. In this short space of
five years, so highly had the Negro come into public estima¬
tion that, with the protection of the military arm of the
government, there were actively engaged in his interest an
Emancipation League, a Freedmen's Pension Society, a
507
508
THE NEGRO IN THE WORLD WAR
Freedmen and Soldiers' Relief, a Freedmen's Aid Society
of the M. E. Church, a Society of Friends of Great Britain
and Ireland for the Relief of Emancipated Slaves of Amer¬
ica, an American Missionary Association, a Freedmen's
Bureau, a Freedmen's Bank, a British and Foreign Anti-
Slavery Society, an American Negro Aid Commission, and
other organizations, too numerous for mention. So im¬
portant, however, was military organization and predomi¬
nance to the success of any one of these organizations, that
Carl Schurz, reporting to Congress the condition of the
South, declared: "If the national government firmly and
unequivocally announces its policy not to give up the con¬
trol of free labor reform until it is firmly accomplished, the
progress of the reform will be far more rapid and far less
difficult than it will be if the attitude of the government is
such as to permit contrary hopes to be indulged in."
In 1870, as the military power of the United States
weakened its control over the nation, forces of opposition
arose to pull down to the depths the black man, who had
been exalted by the agencies of military government. The
Ku Klux Klan, headed by the Grand Wizard of the Invi¬
sible Empire, and the Grand Dragon of the Realm, with
malignant fanaticism worshipped the lost cause. Hatred,
of white man for Negro, accentuated and embittered by
hatred for the Yankee carpet-bagger and the southern
scalawag, resulted in the rise of a powerful southern par¬
tisanship, stunned only so long as military power held sway.
Peonage took place of colored free labor. Disproportion¬
ate appropriation of taxes between blacks and whites low¬
ered the Negro measurably year by year. With the com¬
plete removal of military supremacy, the Ku Klux courted
publicity which it had hitherto shunned. A leader, the
statesman of the new era, in the person of the late Benja¬
min R. Tillman, of South Carolina, appeared. He split the
loose organization of southern aristocracy with the blacks
THE NEGRO IN THE WORLD WAR
509
with lily white wedge, and trampled into dust every
agency which favored the black man. He deprived the
black of all weapons of offence or defence, disfranchised
him, shunted him off into the ghetto, and called the world
to mock him in his lowly position. This southern states¬
man lived to see the Solid South come into national power
in 1912. From that time, until the beginning of the world
war in 1914, the American negro reached the lowest point
of his political and social status.
Compared with Anglo-Saxon, Frenchman, Italian,
Austrian, German or Russian, he was of an order and de¬
gree reputed farthest down. No celebrity attached to his
menial state. No distinction might be his as an award from
the courts of nations. Dignity, grandeur and majesty ap¬
plied to Guelphs, Hapsburgs and Hohenzollerns. Theirs
was all arrogation of supereminence. And to them all, the
Negro, throughout the world, was, if a man at all, pre¬
eminently the mere Man Friday.
From such a status of debasement, existing in an in¬
tolerable atmosphere of derogation and disrepute, the hum¬
ble and humiliated American Negro sought the exaltation
of international honor. Denied and disavowed at home,
through vicissitude of international war, he hoped for
affirmation of a new world dictum in acknowledgment of
his human qualities and worth. He did not, like Toussaint,
long for the high honors of the continental emperor. He
sought democratic equality, and he would as lief think of
bringing the Kaiser to his level as exalting himself to the
plane of that immortal celebrity.
He wanted to make good in public. He wanted to
demonstrate both efficiency and initiative. He desired that
popular belief conceive him as a man, not a monkey. He
wished the Caucasian world to take into its head that he
might function as a valuable and serviceable element of
twentieth century civilization. He yearned to reveal his
THE NEGRO IN THE WORLD WAR
513
that in the end fair England might assume as a policy
of world administration the award of citizenship rights to
the darker races in the sphere of influence of the league of
civilized nations. It was a part of this problem to enter the
equation with such deliberate caution as to upset no part of
the nicely calculated adjustments of white to darker
peoples. And it was also a part of his problem that he
should not relinquish his grasp upon the factors that led to
honor, recognition and equality.
Germany was indignant as the Negro sought entry to
the war. The South was sensitive. The North was quiz¬
zical. The whole world was hesitant. The too ardent favor
which the Negro found in France gave offence to both
America and England. Indeed, for the Negro to lift him¬
self too rapidly by his own bootstraps would have offended
England, whose law prohibited emigration of foreign Ne¬
groes to South Africa. And it would also offend America,
strangely jealous of any sign of unwanted assertiveness the
Negro might display. The Negro accepted the challenge
to penetrate this maze and labyrinth, with no surety, save
God's good grace, of the fate that lay beyond.
To attain the goal of Recognition, it was necessary for
him to demand of the people of England, France and Italy,
that he be made subject to every test calculated to reveal
his worth or inferiority as an individual, business, political
or social equal of the allied peoples. The goal of Honor, he
had attained in every war waged by America. He was with
Jackson at New Orleans, a pioneer in the Mexican struggle,
200,000 strong in the great civil crisis, the acme of terror
to Geronimo in the later Indian wars, the hero of San Juan
in tho Spanish-American combat, and at Carrizal in the
latest Mexican imbroglio. By 1914, however, he had lost
all rewards of honor which he had previously won. As for
Equality, since the Civil War, he had been guaranteed this
THE NEGRO IN THE WORLD WAR
521
ican soil. The Negro wanted the world war to prove that
he, too, was a coalescent element in the civilization of the
world.
To summarize the burden of the Negro in 1914 we may
include Caucasian arrogance, hatred and prejudice of race,
injustice of attitude and treatment, personal fear for life
and property, improperly requited toil, unrewarded ambi¬
tion, unmerited disfavor and debased self-respect. What
profound pathos in the love which he bore Old Glory J
THE WAR FOR DEMOCRATIZATION.
Germany of 1914 aimed to throw off the yoke which
she claimed England wished to fasten on her world rela¬
tionships. She aimed to dominate the world with German
efficiency. She aimed to demonstrate German superiority
and expose what she called Anglo-Saxon hypocrisy and
cant. Already possessing the world's supply of potash,
she struck directly at the coal and iron region of Belgium
and Northern France. And she took them on the initial ad¬
vance. With potash, coal and iron, this was a Teutonic
coup for industrial and commercial supremacy indeed.
Now well might she dictate who should boycott English
goods. Now well might she point to the political and military
dishonor of the easy defeat of Belgium and France. Now
well might she proceed to the disintegration of these coun¬
tries by the weapons of poverty, disease, hunger and bitter
cold. Little did Germany dream what moral advantage she
gave these overrun lands in the hearts of the millions of
Negroes of the world. Germany felt assured that Negroes
from all Africa would gloat over the assassination of Bel¬
gium. She was positive that American Negroes would re¬
joice. She expected the blacks of the world would rise up
and hail her as the champion of a new day.
In the twinkling of an eye she reduced Belgium to in¬
dustrial serfdom. She made the Belgian merchant a busi-
THE NEGRO IN THE WORLD WAR
533
THE CRISIS OF THE WORLD.
Des Moines Camp was organized in June, 1917, to train
Negroes to the military point where other military men
must recognize them, honor them and receive them on the
plane of equality due their rank. The camp was designed
to develop Negroid snap and vigor to the maximum of mili¬
tary efficiency. For this purpose, as at all other camps,
there was created the background of the mother's urge, and
the sister's urge, and the sweetheart's urge, the Y. M. C. A.
spirit, the college fraternity spirit, and, in addition, the
spirit of the elevation of a Negroid order.
The change which came over the men was indicated by
their music. Their first group singing of a Sunday con¬
sisted of Negro spirituals in spondaic and trochaic verse,
and phrased in many minors. The vigor of blood produced
by methodical training soon permitted of vocalization only
in iambics. "Over There," "The Long, Long Trail,"
"Sons of America," were songs they sung of hope and not
of sorrow. They connoted the Negro's reaction to the cos¬
mic urge.
Over 1200 men took advantage of the experience of the
trip to Fort Des Moines for training. Theirs was the 17th
Provisional R. O. T. C., but the first of national propor¬
tions. Its quota was drawn from every section of the
United States. TEe immediate destiny of the men selected
for commission from this camp would be the training of
colored draftees of African descent.
Mr. Baker, the Secretary of War, in late summer, re¬
ferring to the Des Moines Camp, said:
"The work at Des Moines is progressing remarkably
well, and the reports I have-from it are very good. The
spirit of the men is fine, and apparently this camp is going to
do a great deal of good, both to the country and to the men
involved."
542
THE NiEGBO IN THE WORLD AVAR
THE FIELD OF ACTION.
Regiments of Negro stevedores, earlier in the year, had
been drafted and sent overseas. These men were drawn
from a specific locality, and did not represent the entire
nation. They were in command of white officers. They had
been destined for the Service of Supply, a service which
America performed so marvelously well that it is difficult
to tell, if not here, where her chief glory lies.
Black stevedores from Alabama, and Louisiana, and
Mississippi, Virginia and the Carolinas, numbering far
more than the-entire black forces of the 92nd Division,
packed and unpacked the American Expeditionary Force in
a manner never attempted since Noah loaded the Ark. Rear
Admiral Wilson and General McClure cited several regi¬
ments for exceptionally efficient work. The "Leviathan,"
formerly the German steamship " Vaterland," was unloaded
and coaled, in competition with other white and black steve¬
dore regiments, by Company A, 301st Stevedores, young
American Negroes, in fifty-six hours, a world record.
What a cheer went up from the black stevedores of the
far South when there landed in their midst a mighty band
of black infantry, nearly 100,000 strong who, in a few short
months had learned the use of powder and shot, of sword
and broadsword, of bayonet and bludgeon, of trench knife
and battle-ax. Cold steel or blackjack, smooth bore or
sawed-off, machine gun or automatic, were all the same to
them. It was a great experience for stevedore and infantry¬
man. And the stevedore's heart leaped to his throat as he
saw the black officers of the 92nd Division maneuver and
march away the men under their command.
The black stevedore wondered why America had
brought him so far under white officers to behold such a
sight. He beheld black quartermasters, ranking and out¬
ranking captains, furnishing their men with provision and
A DASTARDLY CRIME WHICH AUTOCRACY CANNOT DENY.
Aerial photograph by a British pilot showing four huts of a British hospital in Prance, in which were helpless men who were
blown to bits. All plainly shown in the foreground.
British Official Photograph. © Western Newspaper Union Photo Service.
A BRITISH TOMMY ON WAY TO TRENCHES.
This photograph shows a soldier crossing through a trench which is camouflaged. The screen prevents his beine seen fmm
enemy lines. LA1°
r
AN ATTACK BT AMERICANS.
Company H and Company K of the 336th Infantry, 82nd Division, are advancing on enemy positions in France and driving
them out while the 307th Engineers of the 82nd Division are clearing the way by blowing up wire entanglements.
French Official Photo. From Underwood & © Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. © Clinedinst, Washington, D. C.
Underwood, N. Y. From Underwood & Underwood, N. Y.
GENERAL. BULIAHD. GENERAL, LIGGETT. GENERAL DICKMAN.
American Army Commanders who out-generaled the Germans. They were well supported by the fearless and determined
fighters, the U. ti A. troops.
A RELIGIOUS MEETING ON THE FIELD.
American, British, French, Belgian and Portuguese troops are represented in this gathering of defenders of Liberty listening:
to a sermon on the western front.
THE HOLT LAND AND THE WAR.
Christmas Day at Bethlehem. Latin p-ocession to the Church of Nativity.
FIGHTING IN PALESTINE EAST OP THE JORDAN.
Infantry were in the act of occupying an important hill when they were met
with a strong counter-attack. The timely arrival of machine guns and supports
restored the situation.
SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE BY MID-EUROPEAN NATIONS.
Professor H. A. Miller, Director; Thos. Naroshevitshius (Lithuanians); Christos Vassilkaki (Unredeemed Greeks); Christo
Dako (Albanians) ; Charles Tomazolli (Italian Irredentists) ; Nicholas Ceglinsky (Ukranian) ; Dr. Hinko Hinkovich (Jugoslavs) ;
T. M. Helinski (Poles) ; Dr. T. G. Masaryk (Prime Minister of Cezhoslovakia) ; G. Pasdermadjiaji (Armenians) ; Capt. Vasile Soica
(Roumanians); Gregory Zsatkovich <Uhro-Rusins) ; Ittamar Ban-Avi (Zionists).
Signed Independence Hall, Phila,, Oct. 26, 1918.
GENERAL. AL.L.ENBY,
One of the notable events in the history of the war was the
surrender of Jerusalem to the British Army under the com¬
mand of General Allenby.
GENERAL. TOWNSHEND.
The British officer who was taken prisoner at Kut-el-
Amara, and who afterwards became the peace negotiator for
Great Britain when Turkey signed the Armistice.
Canadian Official Photograph. From Underwood & Underyvood, N. Y.
OFFICE OF A FIELD CASHIER.
This spot was formerly one of the pillbox strongholds of the famous switch in the Hindenburg line. It was afterwards
run by the Canadians.
Copyrighted, Western Newspaper Union.
Negro Band of the 814th Infantry Leaving the Celtic After H>r Arrival.
Sth Keg., FRENCH WAR-fROSS WINNERS?
Top Row: Tst-Lteut. Hurd, T,ieut.-Col. Duncane, Major "White, Capt. Crawford, lst-LIeut. Warfield and Capt. Smith. Cotton.
Row: Capt. Allen, Lieut. Browning, Capt. Warner and lst-Lieut. Tisdale.
Captain .Tohn H. Patton, 370th IT. S. Infantry (formerly 8th Illinois Infantry).
Ree-imentnl \di'utnnt to September 11. 1018. Commanding 2nd Battalion from
September 11 1018. to December 17, 101S. Saint Mihiel Sector from June 21,
iinii tr) Ti,]y 3 1018. Areonne Forest from July 16, 1018, to Ausjust 15, 1018.
Battles for Mont tl <s Sipn^s September 16 to September 30, 1018 Oise-Aisne
offensixt- s. ntnmber III) to November 11, 1018. Awarded the French Croix de Guerre
(Division Citation for meritorious service coverirg the period September 11 to November
Homecoming of 370th (old 8th Regiment), parade passing the reviewing stand, Michigan ave., opposite Art Institute, Chicago, 111.
I.ine of march broken by the great mass of people eager to march with the soldiers, the greatest gathering ever assembled on
Chicago's great boulevard.
Left to right: Col. Franklin Dennison, Col. J. Roberts and Lieut. Col. Otis B. Duncan of ?.70th (old Illinois 8th Regiment).
Officers of the 370th (old Illinois Sth Repriment)
Heading left to right: 2nd-L,ieut. Lawson Price, 2nd-Lieut. L. W. Stearls, 2nd-Lieut. Ed. White, 2nd-Eieut. Eliasa F. E
"Williams, lst-Lieut. Oaso Browning, Capt. Louis B. Johnson, lst-Lieut. Frank Bates and lst.-Lieut. Binga Desmond.
Copyright Underwood & Underwood, N. T.
This is the wreath presented by the Ford-Darney Orchestra in memory of Lieutenant Jimmy Europe, leader of the famous
Jazz band which won its laurels with the 369th Infantry in France. His funeral took place from St. Mark's Church in West 53rd St.
Copyrierht TTnderwood & Underwood, N. T.
The body of Lieutenant Jimmy Europe who died suddenly this week is here seen being carried from St. Mark's Church.
Europe was the leader of the famous Jazz band which won its laurels with the 3C9th Infantry in France.
Copyrighted by Underwood & Underwood. N. Y.
NEGRO NURSES MARCH IN GREAT RED CROSS PARADE ON FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY.
rnoLO under wood <fc Under wood.
THE ARREST OF THE ASSASSIN.
Scene immediately after the murder of the Archduke and Archduchess of Austria in the streets of
Saraj evo, Bosnia. Tlie arrest of Ga vrio Princip, the murderer.
©Underwood & Underwood.
NATIONAL GUARDSMAN WEARING COMPLETE EQUIPMENT, READY FOR WAR.
A soldier's equipment consists of a great number of articles, skillfully packed so that they make a
small bundle, considering the number of articles. The kit includes'a blan ket, rifle, bayonet kit
bag, cartridge belt, canteen, pan, plate, knife, fork, spoon, tent spikes, rubber blanket and other
miscellaneous articles. The photo shows three views—side, front and back, with equipment
attached.
Copyright Underwood & Underwood.
THE PEACE CONFERENCE AT PARIS
This remarkable photograph taken during the Peace Conference at Paris shows President Wilson and President Poincare in the center
background (directly underneath the clock). Seated next to Mr. Wilson is Secretary of State Lansing. Next to President Poincare at
the right are seated Lloyd George, Balfour and Bonar Law. At the long table to the left of the photo we see seated Clemenceau, Pichon.
and Marshal Foch.
©Underwood <fc Underwood, N. Y.
CARRYING OLD GLORY THROUGH LONDON.
United States soldiers, carrying the Stars and Stripes and Regimental Standard,
passed cheering crowds at the head of a National army command that marched
through London on May 11th, 1918,
MARSHAL J. JOFFRE AND PARTY IN WASHINGTON, D. C.
This photograph was taken at the State, War and Navy Build¬
ing, just after they had called on Secretary of War Baker. Joffre
stands on the lower step in the centre of the picture.
©American Perss Association
SIR DOUGLAS HAIG.
This is a late photograph of the commander of the British armies
In France.
HUWJAWAN* ARMENIANS NIGERIANS i ^UT?« A PRJC A N S [SOUTH AFRICANS ; MONTKHtS«IW»
SOT,DIRKS OF THE PIFFRRRNT NA'
This picture shows the portraits and headdress of 45 d
R8 ENGAGED IN THE WORLD WAR.
resentatlve fighters now engaged in the European war.
Photo International Film Service.
CAPTURE OF BAPAUME BY BRITISH.
Scene on the day British troops entered Bapaume, a French city evacuated by the Germans in
their retreat to the Hindenburg line. Cheerful British soldiers are seen in a street.
Photo Underwood & Underwood.
FRENCH PASSING THROUGH RECAPTURED NOYON.
They are on the heels of the Germans. The photograph shows how the town was wrecked bv the
©Underwood & Underwood.
HORSE AND MAN ALIKE PROTECTED FROM GAS ATTACK.
French army horses wearing gas masks, which look at first
right like oat bags. They are used when the animals have to cross
& gas zona in drawing the shell wagons to the batteries.
©International Film Service.
ONE OF THE METHODS OF TRANSPORTING WOUNDED. ""
This man is being taken over mountainous regions, and thel
method of transportation has been devised in order to minimize
the shock.
© Underwood & Underwood.
" V-I-C—T-O-R-Y."
Sailors spelling the word'«VICTORY" with flags.
©N. G. Moser.
From Underwood <fc Underwood.
Sighting through the 40 power telescope on the U. S. S. Pennsylvania. Objects at great distances
are clearly distinguished through this telescope.
©American Press Association.
BRITISH SAILORS IN NEW YORK.
They are from the H. M. S. Roxburgh, and took part in welcoming the arrival of Gen. Joffre
in New York City
1HE GREAT AMERICAN HABIT Ph0t°' Amencan Press Associatioa
French Jackies, for the first time m^a^Li^L^Jtates^Ieara^all the delights of the great American
1
BENJAMIN BAYLOR.
Wardroom Steward, U. S. N.
Lost when U. S. A. C. T. TICONDEROGA was torpedoed and
sunk September 30, 1918.
WILLIAM GARFIELD MARSHALL.
Wardroom Officers Steward, U. S. N.
Lost when U. S. A. C. T. TICONDEROGA was torpedoed and
sunk September 30, 1918.
SURVIAN AUSTIN WILLIAMS.
Mess Attendant U. S. N.
Lost on U. S. S. CYCLOPS, June 14, 1918.
. T. A. LOUNDEO.
Water Tender, U. S. N.
909 N. 5th St., Richmond, Va.
WM. M. T. BECKLEY.
Mess Attendant, lc, U. S. N.
Fell overboard and drowned, U. S. S. OZARK, July 25, 1918.
GEORGE FOWLER.
Cabin Steward U. S. N.
Lost when Liberty Boat capsized, U. S. S. LANSDALE.
December 6, 1918.
552
THE NEGRO IN THE WORLD WAR
been indeed marvelous. No America Negro who went to
fight for humanity will return to America as the same
physical being. No American will dare stand before the
returned Negro trooper and say: "Behold a sub-species of
mankind, wooly of hair, long of head, with dilated nostrils,
thick lips, thicker cranium, flat foot, prehensile great toe
and larkheel. Yea, behold him, dark of skin, whose men¬
tality is like unto a, child, and closely related to the anthro¬
poid ape; whose weight of brain is only comparable to that
of the gorilla." Where is the American who will dare
stand before any Negro trooper returned from France and
thus mock and deride him? Military agency has com¬
pletely destroyed the physical concept which the white
world had of the Negro in 1914, by placing him in the focus
of Caucasian binocular vision, wherein his better attributes
become visible in their synthetic relation.
In addition, military life has sharpened the mental
powers of the Negro in command to meet the highest ex¬
actions of modern warfare. Colonel Charles Denton Young,
Negro graduate of West Point, if we may trust the record,
is capable of the same high character of mental processes as
John J. Pershing. Military test has proven before the
world that the Negro is no mental alien, but heir to all the
ages of Anglo-Saxon, Roman, Greek and Egyptian culture.
In France the American Negro has produced no
notorious offenders against civil or military usage. He has
arisen to the moral concept of high responsibility for the
future of his race in the estimation of all mankind. There
is no story of moral degeneracy which has yet come from
abroad concerning him. Pitfall, temptation and oppor¬
tunity for vice and crime have all been shunned in light of
preparation for the higher service. The Negro has proven
his power of moral restraint while guided by leadership of
his own color. As a social being he has sacrificed his life
•Frrr the highest form of social existence, democracy. Who,
554
THE NEGRO IN THE WORLD WAR
with symmetry and poise to the tasks of the world, and bow¬
ing in humble respect before the higher laws whose harmo¬
nies order and rectify all creation.
What will the black Rip "Van Winkle behold as he
walks through the corridors of the American Department
of State twenty years hence ? Will he behold a great black
mass still at the veriest bottom of our governmental organ¬
ization, or will he be caused to marvel at the synthetic
gradations of black American from lowest to superior $ As
he views progress in all departments of the government,
will he see this real American organized synthetically in all
branches of the service, or will he behold him still employed
as the boy or the mere high private ? Time and the great
heart of America will tell.
The center of gravity of world interest of 1914 has
shifted and come to rest at a spot most significant for
darker peoples. Victory to all participants in its glorious
achievement must be less disastrous than defeat. In order
to satisfy the liberal opinion of the world, some form of
autonomy must be devised for the newly organized man in
America. Durable peace requires that American prejudice
be utterly and forever stamped out; first by the recon¬
structed organization of the American Expeditionary
Force, which beheld its organizations of every race and
creed under fire and in action; second, by the American
people of every locality, who have forced upon them by
world war the new concept of a branch of the species once
considered inferior; and, third, by the powers of the world,
who must prevent the upgrowths in America from offering
malignant germs of unrest to their own systems of national
government.
After the Negro has proved his value and worth in all
of these trying ways, when after this he asks for a full
measure of equal rights, what American will have the heart
or the hardihood to say him nay?
THE NEGBO IN THE NAVY.
Achievements of the Negro in the American Navy—Guarding the Trans¬
atlantic Route to France—Battling the Submarine Peril—The Best
Sailors in Any Navy in the World—Making a Navy in Three Months
from Negro Stevedores and Laborers—Wonderful Accomplishments of
Oub Negro Yeomen and Yeowomen.
STRANGER than fiction, the story of the organization,
development and expansion of the United States navy
from a mere atom, as it were, to the present time, when
her electrically propelled men-of-war, equipped with the
most luxurious compartments and modern mechanism for
despatch and communication as well as her great merchant
marine, floating the emblem of freedom and democracy
in every civilized port of the world, is one of the most
fascinating pages in the history of human achievement.
And, as it were, the very culmination of wonder and
admiration, the chain of events reciting the deeds of valor
and unselfish devotion to duty upon the part of her black
sons, constitutes an illustrious record easily marking its
participants as conspicuous representatives of a people,
who have won their tardily conceded recognition in every
phase of American public life.
The services of the Negro in the American navy very
properly begin with the stirring and thrilling events of
the American Revolution, which terminated in the inde¬
pendence of the colonies and the establishment of the
.United States.
THE NEGRO IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
The Negro in the navy was then and has been ever
since no less devoted to duty and as fearless of death as
Crispus Attucks, when he fell on Boston Commons, the
first martyr of American independence.
555
556
THE NEGRO IN THE NAVY.
In speaking of colored seamen, who showed great hero¬
ism, Nathaniel Shaler, commander of the private armed
schooner General Thompson, said of an engagement be¬
tween his vessel and a British frigate: "The name of one
of my poor fellows, who was killed, ought to be regis¬
tered in the book of fame, and remembered with rever¬
ence as long as bravery is considered a virtue. He was
a black man by the name of John Johnson. A twenty-
four pound shot struck him in his hip, and took away all
the lower part of his body. In this state, the poor brave
fellow lay on the deck, and several times exclaimed to his
shipmates, 'Fire away, my boy! No haul color down!'
Another black by the name of John Davis was wounded
in much the same way. He fell near me, and several times
requested to be thrown overboard, saying he was only in
the way of others. When American can boats of such
tars she has little fear from the tyrants of the ocean.''
British gold and promises of personal freedom served
as futile incentives among the Negroes of the American
navy; for them, the proud consciousness of duty well done
served as a constant monitor and nerved their strong black
arms when thundering shot and shell menaced the future
of the country; and, although African slavery was still a
recognized legal institution and constituted the basic fabric
of the great food productive industry of the nation, it was
the Negro's trusted devotion to duty which ever guided
him in the nation's darkest hours of peril and menace.
NEGROES IN THE WAR OF 1812.
In the second period, the War of 1812, a second fight
with Great Britain, again made it necessary to call upon
the Negro for his assistance. Whether with Perry on
Lake Erie, Commodore MacDonough, Lawrence or
Chauncey, the black man played his heroic and sacrificing
558
THE NEGRO IN THE NAVY.
or the cut and trimmings of the coat, can affect a man's
qualifications and usefulness.
"I have nearly fifty blacks on board this ship, and
many of them are among my best men, and I presume
that you will find them as good and useful as any on board
your vessel; at least if you can judge by comparison; for
those which we have on board this ship are attentive and
obedient, and, as far as I can judge, are excellent seamen.
At any rate, the men sent to Lake Erie have been selected
with the view of sending a proportion of petty officers
and seamen and I presume upon examination, it will be
found that they are equal to those upon this lake."
THE COLORED MAN IN THE MEXICAN WAR.
In the Mexican War (1845-1848) we find him, in his
humble positions of service and usefulness, a positive fac¬
tor in the final success and triumph of American ideals.
No insidious treacheries, no dark plots of poison, arson
and unfaithfulness characterized his conduct, and, in the
final and complete blockade of the Mexican ports, his con¬
tribution of faithful and loyal service made effective the
terms by which Generals Scott and Taylor taught the ever-
observed lesson of American dominence upon the "Western
Hemisphere and thereby preserved the Monroe Doctrine.
IN THE DAYS OF THE CIVIL WAR.
In the Civil War—when the violence of domestic strife
menaced the continuance of the National Union; when the
preservation of slavery constituted the subject of angry
and stormy debate in every section of the country, it was
in the navy, no less than in the army, that the Negro
evinced that dauntless fidelity to duty which aided in sta¬
bilizing the discipline of the field forces, thereby effectively
contributing to the success not alone of forcing the Miss-
THE NEGRO IN THE NAVY.
550
issippi, and intersecting the Confederacy, but also in her¬
metically sealing all Southern ports and reducing to
imperceptible insignificance the possibility of foreign
trade with the South,—a factor which made it doubly sure
that Northern arms would ultimately triumph and the
Union be saved. It was a colored man, Robert Small, who
single handed, stole the Union cruiser Panther 'from
Charleston harbor, foiled the Confederate fleet, and navi¬
gated her safely to a Union port. In all the annals of
courage and dazzling gallantry, this incident has been re¬
cited; and it constitutes a commendable example, with
many others, however, of devotion to duty and undying
love for freedom. Mr. Small became a successful busi¬
ness man, and was one of the few Negroes who served in
the Congress of the United States.
THE NEGRO IN THE SPANISH WAR.
The Spanish-American War (1898-1900) also has its
roll of honorable dead and surviving heroes—it was a
Negro who fired the first shot at Manila Bay, from the
cruiser Olympia, flag ship of the late Admiral Dewey,
commanding the American forces on the Asiatic station.
He was John Christopher Jordan, chief gunner's mate
(retired) U. S. N. His career is a fair example of the
Negro's ability. He was first enlisted in the United States
navy on June 17, 1877, as an apprentice of the third class,
the very lowest rating in which he could have entered. He
advanced, despite opposition, through the different grades
in direct competition with his white shipmates to the grade
of chief gunner's mate, the highest rating that could be
reached in the enlisted status.
It was not because of his lack' of desire for further
advancement that he did not go higher, nor was it due to
his not being qualified, for it was conceded by all officers
562
TIIE NEGRO IN THE NAVY.
THE NEGRO SEAMAN IN THE WORLD WAR.
The extent of the Negro's work in the army and the
record of its brilliant achievements may in some degree
obscure the service rendered our country and its Allies
by the Negro in the navy, but the Negro was represented
in this branch of the military service almost in the same pro¬
portion, and, just as with Perry on Lake Erie, Farragut on
the Mississippi, Dewey at Manila Bay, Hobson at Santi¬
ago, and Peary at the North Pole, he rendered efficient
heroic and honorable service during the World War. It
must be remembered that our ships were a part of the great
war forces which kept open the highways of the deep and
made possible the final triumph of the Allied armies, for,
had the command of the ocean slipped from our hands
those armies would have languished and been beaten back
for lack of support in men and material. Had the sceptre
of the seas passed to our foes, our own black boys would
never have inscribed on their banner the imperishable
name of Chateau-Thierry, The Argonne, and Hill 304.
The one essential and indisputable element of victory was
the supremacy of the Allied fleet.
NEGROES IN THE GRAND FLEET.
The Negro's part in the organization of the Grand
Fleet is far from being inconsiderable, his services were
utilized in the complement of every vessel and shore sta¬
tion and at this time as in the past, black blood was among
the very first to be gloriously shed in the American navy,
that free government should live imperishably among the
sons of men.
On November 4, 1917, the 77. S. S. Alcedo proceeded to
sea from Quiberon Bay on escort duty to take convoy
through the war zone; she had as members of her crew
THE NEGRO IN THE NAYY.
567
proved utterly futile, as not a vestige of wreckage has
been discovered. No responsible explanation of the strange
and mysterious disappearance of this vessel has ever been
given by the officials of the Navy Department. It was
known that one of her two engines was damaged, and that
she was proceeding at reduced speed; but, even if the other
engine had become disabled, it would not have had any
effect on her ability to communicate by radio.
Many theories have been advanced, but none seems to
account satisfactorily for the ship's complete vanishment.
After months of search and waiting, the Cyclops was fin¬
ally given up as lost and her crew officially declared dead.
This vessel was under the command of a German-born
officer, who, prior to his connection with the Navy Depart¬
ment, was an officer of the merchant marine. Many accu¬
sations were made reflecting upon his loyalty. Some even
going as far as suggesting that he had intimidated the
crew and delivered the vessel into the hands of the enemy;
but, it is strange to note that none of these insinuations
was directed to the loyal and ever true Negroes who formed
a part of its crew and presumably went to their watery
graves in order that German militarism might be crushed.
What a strange episode if, indeed, these are the facts
in this most unfortunate incident. In intelligent circles,
it should and will mark the beginning of a period of racial
justice and equity. When one's deeds and character will
invariably constitute the exponent of one's appreciation.
THE NEGRO TRUE AND LOYAL.
Oaucasion treachery in some of our national perils
•presented no charms for the Negro whose proven fidelity
everywhere and on every occasion marks him the great
American advocate in fact as well as in profession.
If these accusations should in the end prove true,
COLORED YEOWOMEN.
Employees of Navy Department, Washington, D. C.
ROBERT McCRAY. LEWIS H. HARDWICK.
Seaman. Mess Attendant, 3c, U. S. N.
Lost on the U. S. S. ALCEDO, November S, 1917. Lost on U. S. S. CYCLOPS, June 14, 1918.
ERCELL WILLIAM MARTIN.
Mess Attendant, 3c, U. S. N.
Killed when shell exploded on board U. S. Von STEUBEN,
March S, 1918.
PRINCE A. JOHNSON.
Mess Attendant, 2c, U. S. N. R. F.
Died from exposure after Lake Moor was sunk, April 11, 1918.
HUBERT ALFRED JOHNSON.
Mess Attendant, 2c, U. S. N.
Lost when U. S. A. C. T. TICONDEROGA was torpedoed and
sunk, September 30, 1918.
LYNN COCHRANE.
Ship's Cook, lc, U. S. N. R. F.
Lost when U. S. A. C. T. TICONDEROGA was torpedoed and
sunk September 30, 1918.
E. HARRISON.
Mess Attendant.
Lost on the U. S. S. ALCEDO, November 5, 1917.
HERMAN STALLINGS.
Ship's Cook, 2c, U. S. N. R". F.
Accidentally drowned while in swimming, May 19, 1918.
WILSON C. SAMPSON.
Fireman 1st Class, U. S. N.
Commended for seamanlike conduct and services rendered when
boiler was disabled. S. S. MacDONOUGH, Oct. 27, 1916.
ANDREW THEODORE ASK1N.
Mess Attendant 3c, U. S. N.
Lost on U. S. S. CYCLOPS, June 14, 1918.
HENRY McCORKLE.
Mess Attendant, 3c, U. S. N.
Killed on U. S. S. Von STEUBEN, April 10, 1918.
EARLE B. WHITESELL.
Fireman, 3c, U. S. N.
Lost on U. S. S. CYCLOPS, June 14, 1918.
WALLACE SIMPSON.
Employee U. S. Navy.
HE WAS PATRIOTIC, TOO.
574
THE NEGRO IN THE NAVY.
dropping depth bombs. A barrage of depth charges was
dropped, exploding at regular intervals far below the sur¬
face of the water. This work was beautifully done. The
explosions must have shaken the enemy up, at any rate
he never came to the surface again to get a look at us.
"The other factor in the problem was to make as much
speed as possible, not only in order to escape an imme¬
diate attack, but also to prevent the submarine from track¬
ing us and attacking us after nightfall.
"The men in the fire rooms knew that the safety of
the ship and our lives depended on their bravery and stead¬
fastness to duty. It is difficult to conceive a more trying
ordeal to one's courage than was presented to every man
in the fire room that escaped destruction. The profound
shock of the explosion, followed by instant darkness, fall¬
ing soot and particles, the knowledge that they were far
below the water level, practically enclosed in a trap, the
imminent danger of the ship sinking, the added threat of
exploding boilers—all these dangers and more must have
been apparent to every man below, and yet not one man
wavered in standing by his post of duty.
WONDERFUL DEVOTION TO DUTY.
"No better example can possibly be given of the won¬
derful fact that with a brave and disciplined body of
American men, white or black, all things are possible.
However strong may be their momentary impulses for self-
preservation in extreme danger, their controlling impulses
are to stand by their stations and duty at all hazards.
"In at least two instances in this crisis below, men
^vho were actually in the face of death did actually forget
or ignored their impulse of self-preservation and endeav¬
ored to do what appeared to them to be their duty. One
man was in one of the flooded fire rooms. He was thrown
TIIE NEGRO IN THE NAVY.
585
every vessel carrying the starry emblem of freedom oil
the high seas and in every shore station. The operations
of the navy of the United States during the World War
has covered the widest scope in its history without a doubt.
It carried the Negro in European waters from the Medi¬
terranean to the White Sea. At Corfu, Gibralter, along
the French Bay of Biscay, in the English Channel, on the
Irish coast, in the North Sea, at Murmansk and Arch¬
angel, he was ever present to experience whatever of hard¬
ships were necessary and to make whatever sacrifices de¬
manded, that the proud and glorious record of the navy
of the United States should remain untarnished.
WORK OF COLORED SEAMEN.
He formed a part of the crew of nearly two thousand
vessels that plied the briny deep, on submarines that feared
not the under sea peril, and wherever a naval engagement
was undertaken or the performance of a duty by a naval
vessel, the Negro, as a part of the crew of that vessel,
necessarily contributed to the successful prosecution of that
duty; and, whatever credit or glory is achieved for Ameri¬
can valor, it was made possible by the faithful execution
of his duty, regardless of his character. For, on a battle¬
ship where the strictest system of co-ordination and co¬
operation among all who compose the crew is absolutely
necessary, each man is assigned a particular and a special
duty independent of the other men, and should he fail in
its faithful discharge the loss of the vessel and its enter¬
prise might possibly result.
TRAINING FOR SERVICE.
Far be it from the intention of this article to condone
the existing policy of the navy of the United States as
regards the Negro, where unwritten law prescribes and
THE NEGRO IN THE NAVY.
589
THE PROPAGANDA FAILS.
Such a piece of infamous treachery scarcely deserves
comment; for, if the Negro had been the least inclined to
be a traitor, he could not forget the atrocious treatment
accorded the black man in the African colonies controlled
by Germany. For the Negro well remembers the treach¬
ery of von Trotha, who invited the Herero chiefs to come
in and make peace and promptly shot them in cold blood.
And the words of his cruel and inhuman "Extermination
Order" directing that every Herero man, woman, child
or babe was to be killed and no prisoners taken. All of
which had the sanction of Berlin.
But, aside from his intimate knowledge of German
treachery and duplicity, a still higher principle inspired
the Negro; for to forget the loyalty to his own native
country in this hour of trial and darkness would be scan¬
dalous and shameful and would blacken the Negro in the
eyes of the whole world. Of this class of treachery, the
Negro is absolutely incapable. They have endured some
of the greatest sacrifices and humilations that could be
demanded of a people, but, they always have kept before
them ideals, founded on loyalty and devotion to duty, and
never, in their darkest days, have they sought to gain their
ends by treasonable means. For the path of treason is
still an unknown path to the Negro. Their duty and their
conscience alike bade them be faithful and true to their
government and their flag in this hour of darkness and
trouble.
NUMBER OF NEGROES ENGAGED.
During the World War, there were approximately ten
thousand Negroes who voluntarily enlisted in the navy of
the United States. They were distributed throughout the
various ratings of the enlisted status. Many of them were
chief petty officers who had rendered years of faithful
592
THE NEGRO IN TIIE NAVY.
but felt himself especially favored in being assigned that
duty.
CEASELESS VIGILANCE.
Since this country entered the war practically all the
enemy's naval forces, except the submarines, have been
blockaded in his ports by the naval forces of the Allies,
and there has been no opportunity for naval engagements
of a major character. The enemy's submarines, however,
formed a continual menace to the safety of all our trans¬
ports and shipping, necessitating the use of every effective
means and the utmost vigilance for the protection of our
vessels. Concentrated attacks were made by enemy U-boats
on the ships that carried the very first contingent to Europe,
and all that have gone since have faced this liability to
attack. Our destroyers and patrol vessels, upon all of
which Negroes served in addition to convoy duty, have
waged an unceasing offensive warfare against the subma¬
rine. In spite of all this, our naval losses have been grati-
fyingly small. Not one American troop ship, as previously
stated, has been torpedoed on the way to France, and but
three, the Antilles, President Lincoln, and the Covington,
were sunk on the return voyage.
GRATIFYING RESULTS OF NAVAL ACTIVITY.
Only three fighting ships were lost as a result of enemy
action—the patrol ship Alcedo, a converted yacht sunk off
the coast of France, November 5, 1917; the torpedo boat
destroyer Jacob Jones, sunk off the British coast, December
'6, 1917, and the cruiser San Diego, sunk off Fire Island,
off the New York coast, July 18,1918, striking a mine sup¬
posedly set adrift by a German submarine. The transport
Finland and the destroyer Cassin, which were torpedoed,
reached port and were soon repaired and placed back in
service. The transport Mount Vernon struck by a torpedo
THE NEGRO IN THE NAVY.
593
on September 5th, proceeded to port under its own steam
and was repaired.
The most serious loss of life due to enemy activity was
the loss of the coast guard cutter Tampa, with all on board,
in Bristol Channel, England, on the night of September
26, 1918. The Tampa, which was doing escort duty, had
gone ahead of the convoy. Vessels following heard the
explosion, but when they reached the vicinity there were
only bits of floating wreckage to show where the ship had
gone down. Not one of the one hundred and eleven officers
and enlisted men of her crew were rescued; and though it
is believed she was sunk by a torpedo from an enemy
submarine, the exact manner in which the vessel met its
fate may never be known. Among the number of men lost
on this vessel were at least a score of black men. Taking
into consideration all the dangers and difficulties attend¬
ing this service of the transport force, the comparatively
light casualty list is eloquent testimony of an efficient per¬
sonnel organized and trained under a wise administrative
command.
THE NEGRO IN THE MERCHANT MARINE.
Now let us briefly consider the contribution of the
Negro to the construction and development of the merchant
marine, a force vitally essential to the succesful prosecu¬
tion of the war. When America entered the war, it is a
well-known fact that her merchant marine was insignifi¬
cant; and, to respond to the urgent appeal of France and
her allies to hurry men, provisions and munitions, a gigan¬
tic task of constructing the necessary ships stared her in
the face. For the Germans at this time were making a des¬
perate effort to starve England, France and the other Allies
by destroying their commerce with America and the world,
bv a resort, as was brazenly announced to the world, to a
CHAPTER XXXIII
THE OLD ILLINOIS 8th REGIMENT
The Training Camp—The Black Devils—They Died
That Our Republic May Live—The Last Soldiers To
Cease Fighting — Taking The Bit Between Their
Teeth—The Hindenburg Line Could Not Stop Them
—They Cross the Ailette Canal—Desperate De^ds op
Daring—One Man Routs a Machine Gun Crew—The
Band Played On—Summary of Deeds of The Illinois
Eighth
At the beautiful city of Rockford, Illinois, was located Camp
Grant where thousands of Negro recruits gathered from cities
and factories, farms and plantations of our country, were given
the needed intensive training to fit them to sustain the glorious
traditions of the American soldiers. We take pride in all our
soldiers—never once did they retreat but carried Old Glory ever
onward until the armistice of November 11, 1918.
"THE BLACK DEVILS"
The old Illinois 8th Regiment was one of these colored units
which henceforth will be referred to whenever the heroic deeds
of this war are mentioned. The Prussian guards gave them
a name which tells us of the respect and fear they inspired.
They were "The Black Devils." The guards were seasoned
veterans who had participated in the fiercest fighting of the
war, yet these Negro heroes of the West did not falter before
them. They were brigaded with the choicest troops of France
and fought by their side through the final stages of the war.
By them they were given a name indicative of the respect and
confidence, their soldierly bearing and actions inspired. To
the French they were the "Partridges," the proudest game bird
705
THE TREATY OF PEACE
Official Summary of the Covenant of the League of Nations and Terms
Imposed Upon Germany as Decided by the Peace Conference
The official summary of the treaty of peace, given to the public on
May 7, 1919, at the time the text of the treaty was handed to the Ger¬
man peace delegates, was as follows:
The preamble names as parties of the one part the United States, the British
empire, Prance, Italy, and Japan, described as the five allied and associated
powers, and Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Greece, Guatemala,
Haiti, the Hedjaz, Honduras, Liberia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal,
Roumania, Serbia, Siam, Czecho-Slovakia, and Uruguay, who with the five above
are described as the allied and associated powers, and on the other part Germany.
It states that: Bearing in mind that on the request of the then imperial
German government an armistice was granted on November 11, 1918, by the five
allied and associated powers in order that a treaty of peace might be concluded
with her, and whereas the allied and associated powers being equally desirous
that the war in which they were successfully involved, directly or indirectly,
and which originated in the declaration of war by Austria-Hungary on July 28,
1914, against Serbia, the declaration of war by Germany against Russia on
August 1, 1914, and against France on August 3, 1914, and in the invasion of
Belgium, should be replaced by a firm, just, and durable peace, the plenipoten¬
tiaries having communicated their full powers found in good and due form have
agreed as follows:
From the coming into force of the present treaty, the state of war will
terminate. From the moment and subject to the provisions of this treaty official
relations with Germany, and with each of the German states, will be resumed by
the allied and associated powers.
The League of Nations
SECTION I
The covenant of the league of nations constitutes section 1 of the peace
treaty, which places upon the league many specific duties in addition to its
general duties.
It may question Germany at any time for a violation of the neutralized
zone east of the Rhine as a threat against the world's peace.
It will appoint three of the five members of the Saar commission, oversee
its regime, and carry out the plebiscite.
It will appoint the high commissioner of Danzig, guarantee the independence
of the free city, and arrange for treaties between Danzig and Germany and
Poland.
It will work out the mandatory system to be applied to the former German
colonies, and act as a final court in part of the plebiscites of the Belgian-German
frontier and in disputes as to the Kiel canal, and decide certain of the economic
and financial problems.
The international conference on labor is to be held in October under its
direction, and another on the international control of ports, waterways, and
railways is foreshadowed.
The members of the league will be the signatories of the covenant and other
states invited to accede, who must lodge a declaration of accession without reser¬
vation within two months. _
A new state dominion, or colony may be admitted provided its admission is
agreed to by two-thirds of the assembly.
A state may withdraw upon giving two years' notice, if it has fulfilled all
its international obligations.
Military and Naval Forces
SECTION VI
In order to render possible the initiation of a general limitation of the arma-
KELLY MILLER'S AUTHENTIC HISTORY
OF
The Negro in the World War
AN INTENSELY HUMAN AND IHU LWi 1AT '1 UK ALLl'I!SFOUGHT
I"*. IMPORTANT PART TAKEN
BTt«RS™ tSShagic vTcToSrFor5THr
OF AUTOCRACY, AND COMPLETE VICTORY TOR THE CAUSE OP
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND FREEDOM.
The Book also includes the following subjects.
The Negro Seaman In The World War.
Negroes In The Grand Fleet.
Negroes In The Sinking Ship.
Struggle In The Water.
The Slowly Sinking Ship.
The Negro True and Loyal.
Strange Effect Of The Explosions.
The Number of Negroes Engaged.
Wonderful Achievements.
The Old 8th Illinois Regiment.
The Horrors and Wonders of Modern Warfare.
The Barbarity and Merciless Methods employed to sati^fv „ w
the Kaiser and his Imperial Government. y the ambltl0ns of
The Ruthless Submarine Warfare
«.r;elfrtyoo8Uee,HardsWps ana Horrors wh,ch«» "•>■«■» - >•».,* „„
The Terrible Loss of Human Life and the Desolation of Countries
The Weird and Wonderful Methods of Warfare
The New and Strange Devices that have come'into being.
The Great Tanks,*' the "BlimDs flip +■ ■» ^
and the Marvels of Science. Things about which you may ll"°,
a,r coTiSniar Sh00t » "e
The Nations involved and what they are.
American Forces Become Factor.
Americans Turn War's Tide.
The Treaty of Peace.
Empires.eSPeC3ally ^ ^ loCations of the sma11 Nations within the
A BOOK OF GREAT HISTORICAL VALUE
SSlo? vfnhv»Ulh k" every houst.hol<3- " contains information upon all subjects
Tf +vi have their bearing upon the world conflict, as well as an authentic account
of the war. As we fought for the rights of mankind and for the future neice of
the world, the people want to be correctly and fully informed. peace oi
THE AUTHOR, KELLY MILLER
Is Well known as a popular and reliable writer. Professor Miller is a WelMr„„™
writer and lecturer, as well as a leading educator His booklet, The Dis&Jz„own
Democracy," has had a sale of 100,000 copies. All Negroes are awaiting fiS
valuable War History, the only one History of the Kind. «g this
A B/k- Book, reliable and Intensely |nJ
about -00 photographic pictures, every illustration from a most recent pboto
—and the ciwnera tells the truth. w
LIBRARY EDITION Bich red Morocco &™in, wit six een full pag.p Cojqf
POPULAr' EJDITIOl/ Vejlum, de ori™. ???!?" *hre* Color's'93'50
mdZT^ToTcf:t" SSi — *<—
HOW TO GET READY FOR WORK
(The lines in parenthesis are the Publishers' advice to Agents)
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SALESMEN
First—Study your prospectus until you are thoroughly familiar with
it and can show its many attractive features in an entertaining manner.
Second-»-Make the best canvass you have the power to make to each
customer you call upon. Never give a poor canvass thinking you will
make the sale anyhow, but always give your best. That does not mean
your longest nor all of your canvass every time, but whatever part of it
you do give, see that it is the best you are capable of giving. Remember
you will never get more enthusiasm in your prospective buyer than you
have within yourself.
Third—One thing you may take for granted: YOU WILL SELDOM
FIND A PERSON WHO WANTS YOUR BOOK until you have
created the desire and aroused his curiosity by your description. Hence,
give your description clearly and intelligibly, so that your customer can
understand and appreciate what you say. Let your manner be easy,
polite and confident. Bring your customer into sympathy with yourself.
Magnetize him, as it were, by your own enthusiasm. You' must feel
all you say. As you describe any part, turn to it and point it out.
NEVER ALLOW THE WORK TO PASS FROM YOUR OWN
HANDS until after you are through describing it, for you will then lose
the power to show it, and instead of controlling your customer, he will
control you.
If the person you are soliciting manifests impatience, or a desire
to'get possession of the book, say: "Allow me, please, I am so familiar
with the valuable and attractive features of the work, I can point them,
out to you very readily, and will not delay you a moment longer than is
absolutely necessary to show you its CHIEF attractions." NEVER
MENTION THE PRICE UNTIL YOU ARE THROUGH WITH THE
DECRIPTION. If asked the price, say, "I will explain the terms in a
moment," and move rapidly on with the description.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE AND MANNER.
Much will depend on your personal appearance, hence, be particular
about your dress. Be very careful about keeping your Canvassing Book
neat and clean.
DON'T BE IN A HURRY. GO SLOWLY, and again we say,
VERY THOROUGHLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY, over the ground.
ENOUGH PERSONS WILL SUBSCRIBE FOR THIS WORK IN
EVERY TOWN, VILLAGE AND NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE
UNITED STATES TO MAKE IT PROFITABLE TO CANVASS.
IN ORDER TO GET THOSE WHO WILL SUBSCRIBE, YOU
MUST VISIT ALL.
Be not too greatly elated by success, or discouraged by an occasional
failure. Determine to succeed, and you will COMMAND success.
Every evening think over those you have failed to sell to during the
day, and do not sleep till you have thought of a remedy for such cases.
This is the way to get benefit out of your failures. More orders are
lost by the Agents not hanging on long enough than by any other cause.
HOW TO BEGIN.
Always select as favorable a place and opportunity as possible for
showing the book to people, when alone at their residence or place of
business. Do not try to get subscribers in a crowd of half a dozen or
jnore. when it can possibly be avoided.
' fore calling on a man, find out as much as poS";^1"
so as to speak it fluently when you meet him. If he is not too dignified
and distant in his manner, be sure to shake hands with him as you speak
his name and announce your own. To the ladies lift your hat and act
with genteel politeness. You will often succeed in interesting a man's
wife quicker than himself, and get a subscription when otherwise you
would fail. The ladies are the best buyers of books, as a rule, but some¬
times the men carry the purse, and in such cases should be won also.
After introducing yourself proceed with your business of canvassing
or describing your prospectus in a straightforward, earnest manner,
allowing nothing to interrupt you, but> at the same time avoiding all
appearance of hurry or impatience. *
HOW TO CANVASS YOUR TERRITORY.
First—In beginning the canvass in any town or country community,
begin your work among influential people, and if you sell them, their
influence will be of great advantage to you in your further work in that
community. See the ministers, Sunday School superintendents and
teachers and secure their orders. When you have a list of names of
this character you will be greatly helped in your canvass from house to
house.
Second—In working your territory do not jump fron#place to place,
and do not follow roads clear across the country, but work up one school
district or neighborhood at a time without regard to roads. Don't skip a
single house, workshop or store, and always call next on that family
which lives nearest to the last name on your list, and do not leave that
neighborhood until you have visited every family in it. Then work an¬
other one in the same way, and so on until your whole territory is
worked.
Third—Don't try to see how many calls you can make in a day, but
stick like a burr to each one and try to see how near you can come to
getting a subscriber at every call. Do not neglect poor people or those
who cannot read. Many of them buy books and are entitled to your con¬
sideration.
Fourth—Work is the key to all success, and one should so arrange
his work that he can get in not less than nine hours' time every day,
and make it a general rule to see not less than twelve prospective cus¬
tomers a day. The writer has never known a failure where this rule was
adhered to.
HOW TO CARRY YOUR OUTFIT.
Never carry your canvassing book uncovered in your hand. You
don't want to advertise your business until you have a fair opportunity to
do it right. Always have your prospectus in a large inside coat pocket.
If you cannot conveniently have this pocket sewed on your coat, have a ■
little satchel made of oil cloth with a tape line to go over your shoulder,
and let it hang under your coat on your left side.
WHAT YOU MUST NOT DO.
1. Never start your list with inferior names.
2. Never make your business known to a customer until you show
him your work.
3. Never show your work to a person in a conspicuous place when
there are passersby. ^
4. Never inform any one of the price of your work until they have
examined it THOROUGHLY; for if you do they will be thinking of its
cost instead of its merits.
5. Never talk about your book when not canvassing.
6. Don't mistake laziness for weariness.
7. Never let insult throw you off your balance. Remember that most
"^"'ilties arise from MISUNDERSTANDINGS, and if you meet men
1_ insult you, don't get angry, for then you place vo>
AGENTS' HELPS
In Selling "Kelly Miller's History of the World
War for Human Rights."
The words in parenthesis are instructions to the agent.
(This prospectus is your sample, to be used in taking orders. It has been
made thin and light in weight, so as to be more convenient in carrying than a
full copy of the book. It contains specimens of full pages, many of the chap¬
ter headings showing the subjects treated and an assortment of pictures, all
of which are exactly as they will appear in the full book. When soliciting you
should state that these are only a few specimens of the pages that will appear
111 the book, and that the full copy will contain over 775 pages and be several
times as thick as this sample. The following will assist you greatly in de¬
scribing your work:)
(Turn to the title page and read it and call attention to the fact that
Kelly Miller, the popular and reliable author, is well fitted to writ? a 1>ook of
this character. The name of Professor Miller, the well-knowo thinker and
writer, stands as the very highest authority on any subject which he write*,
about, especially so upon the subject of the WORLD WAR, giving the Negro'*
part in the war.)
"Professor Kelly Miller has long been a foremost educator. His letter t<»
the President, 'Disgrace of Democracy,* stamped him at once as the leader t >!
American Negroes.**
(Turn leaf and read.)
A COLORED ACE BRINGING DOWN A GERMAN AEROPLANE.
This is a reproduction of a remarkable photogsaph.
Austin Jenkins Company, of Washington, D. C., have secured the exclu¬
sive right to the use of this and other most remarkable pictures of the war
■operations.
A COLORED HERO DIED TO SAVE HIS COMRADES.
As noted on page S69, we are able to read a full description of the attack
. .f this German submarine. Here on the right, Mrs. , we have
ithe full proof of the wonderful part our negro boys played on the battlefields
of France. This picture belongs exclusively to our publishers. Y.ou sef,
Mrs. — , that, as previously stated, our Washington Company
is the leading publisher.
ONE LESS SLINKING; COWARDLY SUBMARINE.
I tell you, Mrs. — , that our colored naval heroes played
a big part in the recent war, all of which is explained in the chapter on the
NEGRO IN THE NAVY.
THE NEGRO'S PART IN THE WAR.
(It would be well to read the first nine lines here, to your customers.)
KELLY MILLER, A. M., LL.D.
Here is a very good likeness of our very learned author, a man of whom
the race is justly proud. (As you turn the next few pages, call attention to
the fact that the book contains 16 of these beautiful colored plates.)
WOUNDED AMERICAN SOLDIERS ENTERTAINING THEMSELVES
"Uncle Sam takes excellent care of his soldiers.. These boys of the 36(Jth
were counted as some of the very best of the United States Army."
FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, CHEERS NEGRO VETERANS.
"How proud this Colored Army must have been to have the privilege o£
landing in New York and parading Fifth Avenue. Much more proud were the
Americans, who welcomed them home with open hearts and outstretched:
hands."
ONE OF THE WOUNDED AND HIS MOTHER.
"Evidently she is carrying his little one. Sadly we rjote the loss of his
right limb. Thus he bears the battle scars, of freedom."
CHEERFULLY DOING THE WORK REQUIRED.
"Thousands of faithful colored women throughout the country took the
place of their huslwinds and supported the family. It is interesting to note
this good woman's cheerfulness."
NEGRO SOLDIERS LOOKING FOR THE ENEMY.
"It is, a great satisfaction to get a photograph of our colored boys takem
where they were actually engaged on the battle front."* (Agents should think
quickly, turn the leaves, calling attention to such pictures as they think most
impressive, not forgetting Privates, Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts^ the
beautiful pictures in red and blue and the map of Africa and the World
Democracy and say) : "This book is a storehouse of knowledge. It contains
more farts on the war pertaining to the colored man than all the other war
books published." (Turn the leaves, reading the headings of the chapters,
especiallj stressing chapters 6 and 7, calling especial attention to the Generals,
the pictures of the drafting of the armistice and where the armistice was
signed. Then to the clerks in the Navy Department at Washington and say) :
"Members of this group assisted in the writing of this book. These clerks
had access to all documents. No one on the outside knew more about the
activities of the Navy than members of this group." (Call attention to the
First Battalion and the District of Columbia National Guard, and say) :
"This is the very beginning of the American entry into the war. It
shows Pennsylvania Avenue, which leads from the Capitol to the White House.
From the very commencement of the war Professor Kelly Miller took notes
of the progress and operation of the Negro in the War. Living as he does
in the National Capital, he got in on the ground floor. He is, of course, the
logical Race Man with authority to write a Race War History. Do you not
think so?
SERGEANT HENRY JOHNSON.
"Here is an excellent likeness of one of our best men who has good reason
to feel proud of his record and glad to once more stand on American soil."
A GROUP OF THE 369TH COLORED INFANTRY WITH THEIR
WAR CROSSES.
"These were nicknamed "HELL-FIGHTERS." Col. Heywood said:
"MY MEN NEVER RETIRE. THEY GO FORWARD OR DIE." This
is the proper attitude of a soldier. I tell you, Mr. (or Mrs.) ,
110 soldier in the recent war made a better record than our colored boys."
(Turn the leaves, calling attention to such pictures as you think best. Read
the headlines of the chapters and turn quickly through, referring to the pic¬
tures.)
NEGRO CHILDREN WEAVING CLOTH
And
AFRICAN NEGROES IN KAMERUN, SHOWING NATIVE HEAD¬
DRESS.
(You might say) : "Let me mention the fact that here we have much
information regarding the Negro races of the world This chapter alone is
worth the price of the book.
8TH REGIMENT: FRENCH WAR CROSS WINNERS
And
CAPTAIN JOHN PATTON OF THE 8TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY
And of the
HOMECOMING OF THE 8TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
These are a few of the men that all America is justly proud of. Truly,
it may be said, "They helped to win the war." Their war crosses proved they
"brought home the bacon." (Referring to war equipment say) : "This shows
the aeroplanes, the tanks, the big guns and full- explains what they accom¬
plished. As you see, this is indeed a History of the War—a history worth
mentioning. There are other so-called War Histories on the market today.
All of them have some value, but here we have a book which contains informa¬
tion which is not to be found in any other history. The very same people
who bought other histories are also purchasing this one, because it contains
the peace terms and so many other things that the ones they bought do not
mention. They want a history that tells what the negro soldier, the negro
gunman, the negro aviator, etc., did. They want to know how the war began
and how it ended and what part in it the negro played, and so they buy this
book, because it is a book written by the colored people expressly for colored
people, and sooner or later it will be in every colored home in the United
States. I am sure you will agree with me in this. Do you not?
THE SALE OF THIS BOOK IS SWEEPING THE COUNTRY.
The price of the book, containing the colored plates, bound in beautiful
red morocco, is only $3.50. It contains 776 pages.
I have a number of orders for this book, and will be making deliveries on
(mention the date) . May I bring you one with the others ?
(Try to sell the best binding. It is a beauty, well worth $3.50. You
make a nice profit on this binding. In case you cannot get an order for that
binding, you can offer the cloth-bound book like the prospectus, which contains
all that is in the morocco book, the 16 red and blue plates and the price of this
is only $2.75. You should be able to sell that style anyway. However, some
customer, being hard up, may prefer the $2.50 style, which contains the same
amount of reading matter as the higher priced book—contains everything
except the fiery red pictures.—Publisher.)
Private Jjjaifiiitf ||cir&
Authorized by Act of Congress, May 19, 1898
THIS SIDE FOR THE ADDRESS ONLY
One
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Manujacturers and Publishers of Popular
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