History of the American Negro in the Great World War / His Splendid Record in the Battle Zones of Europe; Including a Resume of His Past Services to his Country in the Wars of the Revolution, of 1812, the War of Rebellion, the Indian Wars on the Frontier, the Spanish-American War, and the Late Imbroglio With Mexico

by William Allison Sweeney

NEGRO TROOPS ARRIVING IN FRANCE. A COMPARISON WITH THE UPPER PICTURE SHOWS THE RAPID TRANSFORMATION FROM CIVILIANS TO FIGHTING MEN.

"MOSS'S BUFFALOES" (367TH INFANTRY), SERENADING FAMOUS MILITARY CHIEFTAINS IN FRANCE. IN WINDOW AT LEFT STANDS GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES; AT RIGHT GENERAL GOURAUD, COMMANDER OF THE FOURTH FRENCH ARMY .

HEROES OF THE BRAWNY ARM WHOSE SERVICE WAS NO LESS EFFECTIVE THAN THAT OF THE COMBATANTS. A DETAIL OF NEGRO RAILWAY BUILDERS ENGAGED ON THE LINE FROM BREST TO TOURS .

NEGRO ENGINEERS BUILDING ROADS IN FRANCE. AN INDISPENSABLE FEATURE OF THE SERVICE OF SUPPLY.

NEGRO TROOPS IN FRANCE ENJOY AN OLD-FASHIONED MEAL.

NEGRO MACHINE GUNNERS ON THE ROAD NEAR MAFFRECOURT, FRANCE. PART OF 369TH INFANTRY.

CAPTAIN HINTON AND OFFICERS OF 1ST BATTALION. 369TH NEGRO INFANTRY ON ROAD NEAR MAFFRECOURT, FRANCE.

AUTO HORN WARNS AMERICANS OF COMING GAS ATTACK. SOLDIERS DON MASKS AND SOUND THE ALARM. INSERT, LEFT CORNER, MACHINE GUNNERS.

No elaborate defense of the Negro will be attempted in the matter of the desertion record. It is not necessary. The words of Provost Marshall General Crowder, the man who knew all about the selective draft and who engineered it through its wonderfully successful course, completely absolved the Negro in this connection. The following quotation in reference to the above figures is taken verbatim from the report of General Crowder to the Secretary of War, dated December 20, 1918.

"These figures of reported desertions, however, lose their significance when the facts behind them are studied. There is in the files of this office, a series of letters from governors and draft executives of southern states, called forth by inquiry for an explanation of the large percentage of Negroes among the reported deserters and delinquents. With striking unanimity the draft authorities replied that this was due to two causes; first, ignorance and illiteracy; especially in the rural regions, to which may be added a certain shiftlessness in ignoring civic obligations; and secondly, the tendency of the Negroes to shift from place to place. The natural inclination to roam from one employment to another has been accentuated by unusual demands for labor incident to the war, resulting in a considerable flow of colored men to the north and to various munition centers. This shifting reached its height in the summer of 1917, shortly after the first registration, and resulted in the failure of many men to keep in touch with their local boards, so that questionnaires and notices to report did not reach them.
"With equal unanimity the draft executives report that the amount of willful delinquency or desertion has been almost nil. Several describe the strenuous efforts of the Negroes to comply with the regulations, when the requirements were explained to them, many registrants travelling long distances to report in person to the adjutant general of the state. 'The conviction resulting from these reports' says General Crowder, 'is that the colored men as a whole responded readily and gladly to their military obligations once their duties were understood."