CHAPTER XXII.-THE NEGRO IN THE SERVICE OF SUPPLY.. A Vast Army of Colored Stevedores in France-Their Important and Efficient Work-Essential to the Combatant Army in the Trenches-Their Loyalty and Cheerfulness-Important Lessons Learned in the War-The Labor Battalions-Well-Earned Tributes to These Splendid Colored CHAPTER XXIII.-"WITH THOSE WHO WAIT"..... Provision for Technical Training of Draftees-Units that Did Not Get to France-Vocational and Educational Opportunities Opened to Them-The Negro in the Students' Army Training Corps-In the Reserve Officers' CHAPTER XXIV.-GERMAN PROPAGANDA AMONG NEGROES. Insidious Efforts to Create Dissatisfaction Among Colored Americans— Germany's Treacherous Promises-How the Hun Tried to Undermine the Loyalty of Our Negro Citizens-Steps Taken to Combat Enemy Propa- Their Co-operation in All the Liberty Loan Drives-The Negro and the Red Cross-In the United War Work Campaign-How the Negroes Bought War Savings Stamps-Special Contributions and Work of Colored Citi- CHAPTER XXVI.-NEGRO LABOR IN WAR TIME..... Organization for War Work-The Division of Negro Economics-Pioneer Work of Dr. George E. Haynes-Negro Representation in Council-Seeking to Improve Race Relations Good Work by Negroes in the Shipyards— CHAPTER XXVII.-NEGRO WOMEN IN WAR WORK........... Enthusiastic Service of Colored Women in the Wartime Emergency-Over- coming the Problems of Race by Pure Patriotism-Work for the Red Cross-The Young Women's Christian Association-The Colored Hostess Houses and Rest Rooms for Soldiers-War Problems of Living-The Circle for Negro War Relief-Colored Women in the Loan Drives-Important Important Welfare Work of the Young Men's Christian Association and Other Organized Bodies-Negro Secretaries of the Y. M. C. A.-The Prob- lem of Illiteracy in the Camps-The Social Secretaries-Results of Educa- tion-The Y. W. C. A. Hostess Houses-The Knights of Columbus--Caring CHAPTER XXIX.-NEGRO LOYALTY AND MORALE.. Eager Response of Colored Draftees-Notable Tributes to the Patriotism of the Negro Race by the White Press-Also by President Wilson, Secretary Baker, Secretary Daniels and Others-Negro Loyalty Never Doubted- Patriotic Negro Demonstrations and Other Instances of Loyalty. CHAPTER XXX.-DID THE NEGRO SOLDIER GET A SQUARE DEAL?...... 426 Reports of Widespread Discrimination and Harsh Treatment in Camp- Many Manifestations of Prejudice by White Officers-The Question of White or Negro Officers for Negro Regiments-Higher Officers of the Army Usually Fair-Disinclination to Utilize Colored Nurses and Colored Medical Men-Secretary Baker's Efforts to Prevent Race Discrimination-Reports A Keener Sense of His Rights and Privileges as a Citizen of the United States-Racial Attitude of the South-Returning Negro Soldiers and Con- ditions in the North-The Attitude of Organized Labor-Instances of Dis. crimination-The Black Man and His Claims to Equal Treatment. The Negro, in the great World War for Freedom and Democracy, has proved to be a notable and inspiring figure. The record and achievements of this racial group, as brave soldiers and loyal citizens, furnish one of the brightest chapters in American history. The ready response of Negro draftees to the Selective Service callstogether with the numerous patriotic activities of Negroes generally, gave ample evidence of their whole-souled support and their 100 per cent Americanism. It is difficult to indicate which rendered the greater service to their Country-the 400,000 or more of them who entered active military service (many of whom fearlessly and victoriously fought upon the battlefields of France) or the millions of other loyal members of this race whose useful industry in fields, factories, forests, mines, together with many other indispensable civilian activities, so vitally helped the Federal authorities in carrying the war to a successful conclusion. When war against Germany was declared April 6, 1917, Negro Americans quickly recognized the fact that it was not to be a white man's war, nor a black man's war, but a war of all the people living under the "Stars and Stripes" for the preservation of human liberty throughout the world. Despite efforts of pro-German propagandists to dampen their ardor or cool their patriotism by pointing out seeming inconsistencies between their treatment as American citizens and their expected loyalty as American soldiers, more than one million of them (1,078,331), according to the Second Official Report of the Provost Marshal General, promptly responded to, and registered under the three Selective Service calls. More than 400,000 Negro soldiers (367,710 draftees plus voluntary enlistments and those already in the Regular Army) were called to the colors and offered their lives in defense of the American flag during the recent war. Relative to their population, proportionately more Negroes were "drafted" than was true of white men. The Negro was represented in practically every branch of military service during the Great World War,-including Infantry, Cavalry, Engineer Corps, Field Artillery, Coast Artillery, Signal Corps (radio or wireless telegraphers), Medical Corps, Hospital and Ambulance Corps, Aviation Corps (ground section), Veterinary Corps, and in Stevedore Regiments, Service or Labor Battalions, Depot Brigades, and so forth. Nor was this the first instance in the Nation's history that this ever-loyal racial group rightly and cheerfully responded to the tocsin of war and made a military record of which any race might well be proud. In the Revolutionary War, in the War of 1812, in the Mexican War, in the Civil War, and in the War with Spain,the American Negro soldier has always distinguished himself by bravery, fortitude, and loyalty. His military record has always compared favorably with that of other soldiers. It is because of the immensely valuable contribution made by Negro soldiers, sailors, and civilians toward the winning of the great World War that this volume has been prepared,--in order that there may be an authentic record, not only of the military exploits of this particular racial group of Americans, but of the diversified and valuable contributions made by them as patriotic civilians. A notable group of colored Americans, men and women, has joined me in this effort adequately to present a reliable record of the many services and sacrifices that the Negro race has willingly laid upon the altar of Patriotism. It is a matter of profound satisfaction to have had the earnest coöperation of: Dr. CARTER G. WOODSON, A. M., Ph. D., Director of Research, The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, whose monographs on Negro Life and History appear regularly in the "Journal of Negro History," the one publication of its kind in America. Woodson is a graduate of Harvard University, from which he received the degree of Ph. D., and is an authority on Negro History. His coöperation is, therefore, rightly to be prized as bringing to this work an appreciation of historical values. RALPH W. TYLER, accredited Negro War Correspondent, who served overseas, representing the Committee on Public Information. Mr. Tyler had full opportunity at the front to know how colored soldiers acquitted themselves in camps and upon the battlefields of France. His letters and official reports sent to America and published through the Committee on Public Information in various white and colored newspapers of the country contained first-hand information concerning Negro troops overseas, and served to keep up the morale of colored Americans at a time when there was much anxiety and complaint among them due to the fact that adequate news regarding the treatment and activities of Negro soldiers abroad was not finding its way into the press of the country. WILLIAM ANTHONY AERY, Publication Secretary of the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, and MONROE N. WORK, in charge of the Division of Records and Research at Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, both of whom, being connected with the largest industrial schools among colored people in the United States, had full opportunity to observe the conduct and training of Negro soldiers in the various Vocational Detachments, Students' Army Training Corps, and Reserve Officers' Training Corps units; their counsel and data furnished have been of material assistance in the preparation of this volume. MRS. ALICE DUNBAR-NELSON (formerly the wife of Paul Laurence Dunbar, the "Poet Laureate" of the Negro race), who wrote Chapter XXVII, entitled: "Negro Women in War Work." Mrs. Nelson, prominent in educational and literary circles, was actively engaged during the war in helping to mobilize the colored women of the country for effective war work, representing the Women's Division of the Council of National Defense; she traveled extensively in various parts of the country in the effort to promote patriotic activities among the colored women of America, and with eloquent tongue, trenchant pen, and untiring personal service helped them to make a record that will stand forever as a monument to the practical value and absolute dependability of Negro womanhood in a national crisis. MISS EVA D. BOWLES, Executive Secretary in charge of the Colored Young Women's Christian Association, who did a notable piece of work in connection with the War Work Council, not only in the matter of selecting well-trained women to take charge of Hostess Houses that were provided at various camps and cantonments, but in keeping alive the fires of patriotism among the colored women of the country as she went from place to place lecturing and otherwise working for the betterment of social conditions in Army camps and especially in communities adjacent thereto. A full report of the work done by the organization, which this consecrated young woman so worthily represents, is contained in Chapter XXVII, entitled : "Negro Women in War Work." LIEUTENANT T. T. THOMPSON, Personnel Officer and Historian of the 92nd Division, to whom I am especially indebted for a large amount of official data concerning the various activities of this im |