History of the American Negro in the Great World War Part 4

Underneath the excitement was the stern, stoic att.i.tude of the French in preparing to meet their old enemy, combined with their calmness in refraining from outbreaks against German residents of Paris. One of the party alluding to the incongruous position in which the peace delegates found themselves, said:

"It might be interesting to observe the unique and almost humorous situation into which these peace delegates were thrown. Starting out a week before with the largest hope and most enthusiastic antic.i.p.ation of effecting a closer tie between nations, and swinging the churches of Christendom into a clearer alignment against international martial att.i.tudes, we were instantly 'disarmed,' bound, and cast into chains of utter helplessness, not even feeling free to express the feeblest sentiment against the high rising tide of military activity. We were lost on a tempestuous sea; the dove of peace had been beaten, broken winged to sh.o.r.e, and the olive branch lost in its general fury."

Describing conditions in Paris on August 12, he says: "We are in a state of tense expectation, so acute that it dulls the senses; Paris is relapsing into the condition of an audience a.s.sisting at a thrilling drama with intolerably long entr'acts, during which it tries to think of its own personal affairs.

"We know that pages of history are being rapidly engraved in steel, written in blood, illuminated in the margin with glory on a background of heroism and suffering, not more than a few score miles away.

"The shrieking camelots (peddlers) gallop through the streets waving their news sheets, but it is almost always news of twenty-four hours ago. The iron hand of the censor reduces the press to a monotonous repet.i.tion of the same formula. Only headlines give scope for originality. Of local news there is none. There is nothing doing in Paris but steady preparation for meeting contingencies by organizing ambulances and relief for the poor."

From the thousands of tales brought back by American tourists caught in Germany at the outbreak of the war, there is more than enough evidence that they were not treated with that courtesy manifested towards them by the French. They were arrested as spies, subjected to all sorts of embarra.s.sments and indignities; their persons searched, their baggage and letters examined, and frequently were detained for long periods without any explanation being offered. When finally taken to the frontier, they were not merely put across-frequently they were in a sense thrown across.

Nor were the subjects of other nations, particularly those with which Germany was at war, treated with that fine restraint which characterized the French. Here is an account by a traveller of the treatment of Russian subjects:

"We left Berlin on the day Germany declared war against Russia. Within seventy-five miles of the frontier, 1,000 Russians in the train by which they were travelling were turned out of the carriage and compelled to spend eighteen hours without food in an open field surrounded by soldiers with fixed bayonets.

"Then they were placed in dirty cattle wagons, about sixty men, women and children to a wagon, and for twenty-eight hours were carried about Prussia without food, drink or privacy. In Stettin they were lodged in pig pens, and next morning were sent off by steamer to Rugen, whence they made their way to Denmark and Sweden without money or luggage. Sweden provided them with food and free pa.s.sage to the Russian frontier. Five of our fellow-pa.s.sengers went mad."

The steams.h.i.+p Philadelphia-note the name, signifying brotherly love, so completely lost sight of in the conflict-was the first pa.s.senger liner to reach America after the beginning of the European war. A more remarkable crowd never arrived in New York City by steams.h.i.+p or train. There were men of millions and persons of modest means who had slept side by side on the journey over; voyagers with balances of tens of thousands of dollars in banks and not a cent in their pocketbooks; men able and eager to pay any price for the best accommodations to be had, yet satisfied and happy sharing bunks in the steerage.

There were women who had lost all baggage and had come alone, their friends and relatives being unable to get accommodations on the vessel. There were children who had come on board with their mothers, with neither money nor reservations, who were happy because they had received the very best treatment from all the steams.h.i.+p's officers and crew and because they had enjoyed the most comfortable quarters to be had, surrendered by men who were content to sleep in most humble surroundings, or, if necessary, as happened in a few cases, to sleep on the decks when the weather permitted.

Wealthy, but without funds, many of the pa.s.sengers gave jewelry to the stewards and other employees of the steams.h.i.+p as the tips which they a.s.sumed were expected even in times of stress. The crew took them apologetically, some said they were content to take only the thanks of the pa.s.sengers. One woman of wealth and social position, without money, and having lost her check book with her baggage, as had many others of the pa.s.sengers, gave a pair of valuable bracelets to her steward with the request that he give them to his wife. She gave a hat-the only one she managed to take with her on her flight from Switzerland-to her stewardess.

The statue of Liberty never looked so beautiful to a party of Americans before. The strains of the Star Spangled Banner, as they echoed over the waters of the bay, were never sweeter nor more inspiring. As the Philadelphia approached quarrantine, the notes of the American anthem swelled until, as she slowed down to await the coming of the physicians and customs officials, it rose to a great crescendo which fell upon the ears of all within many hundred yards and brought an answering chorus from the throngs who waited to extend their hands to relatives and friends.

There was prophecy in the minds of men and women aboard that s.h.i.+p. Some of them had been brought into actual contact with the war; others very near it. In the minds of all was the vision that liberty, enlightenment and all the fruits of progress were threatened; that if they were to be saved, somehow, this land typified the spirit of succor; somehow the aid was to proceed from here.

Liberty never had a more cherished meaning to men of this Republic. In the minds of many the conviction had taken root, that if autocracy and absolute monarchy were to be overthrown; that "government of the people, by the people, for the people" should "not perish from the earth," it would eventually require from America that supreme sacrifice in devotion and blood that at periods in the growth and development of nations, is their last resort against the menace of external attack, and, regardless of the reflections of theorists and philosophers, the best and surest guarantee of their longevity; that the principles upon which they were builded were something more than mere words, hollow plat.i.tudes, meaning nothing, worthy of nothing, inspiring nothing. It was the dawning of a day; new and strange in its requirements of America whose isolation and policy, as bequeathed by the fathers, had kept it aloof from the bickerings and quarrels of the nations that composed the "Armed Camp" of Europe, during which, as subsequent events proved, the blood of the Caucasian and the Negro would upon many a hard fought pa.s.s; many a smoking trench in the battle zone of Europe, run together in one rivulet of departing life, for the guarantee of liberty throughout all the earth, and the establishment of justice at its uttermost bounds and ends.

CHAPTER IV.

AWAKENING OF AMERICA.

PRESIDENT CLINGS TO NEUTRALITY-MONROE DOCTRINE AND WAs.h.i.+NGTON'S WARNING-GERMAN CRIMES AND GERMAN VICTORIES-CARDINAL MERCIER'S LETTER-MILITARY OPERATIONS-FIRST SUBMARINE ACTIVITIES-THE LUSITANIA OUTRAGE-EXCHANGE OF NOTES-UNITED STATES AROUSED-ROLE OF Pa.s.sIVE ONLOOKER BECOMES IRKSOME-FIRST MODIFICATION OF PRINCIPLES OF WAs.h.i.+NGTON AND MONROE-OUR DESTINY LOOMS.

August 4, 1914, President Wilson proclaimed the neutrality of the United States. A more consistent attempt to maintain that att.i.tude was never made by a nation. In an appeal addressed to the American people on August 18th, the president implored the citizens to refrain from "taking sides." Part of his utterance on that occasion was:

"We must be impartial in thought as well as in action, must put a curb upon our sentiments as well as upon every transaction that might be construed as a preference of one party to the struggle before another.

"My thought is of America. I am speaking, I feel sure, the earnest wish and purpose of every thoughtful American that this great country of ours, which is, of course, the first in our thoughts and in our hearts, should show herself in this time of peculiar trial a nation fit beyond others to exhibit the fine poise of undisturbed judgment, the dignity of self-control, the efficiency of dispa.s.sionate action; a nation that neither sits in judgment upon others, nor is disturbed in her own counsels, and which keeps herself fit and free to do what is honest and disinterested and truly serviceable for the peace of the world.

American poise had been somewhat disturbed over the treatment of American tourists caught in Germany at the outbreak of the war. American sentiment was openly agitated by the invasion of Belgium and the insolent repudiation by Germany of her treaty obligations. The German chancellor had referred to the treaty with Belgium as "a sc.r.a.p of paper." These things had created a suspicion in American minds, having to do with what seemed Germany's real and ulterior object, but in the main the people of this county accepted the president's appeal in the spirit in which it was intended and tried to live up to it, which att.i.tude was kept to the very limit of human forbearance.

A few editors and public men, mostly opposed to the president politically, thought we were carrying the principle of neutrality too far; that the violation of Belgium was a crime against humanity in general and that if we did not at least protest against it, we would be guilty of national stultification if not downright cowardice. Against this view was invoked the time-honored principles of the Monroe Doctrine and its great corollary, Was.h.i.+ngton's advice against becoming entangled in European affairs. Our first president, in his farewell address, established a precept of national conduct that up to the time we were drawn into the European war, had become almost a principle of religion with us. He said: "Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government-Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concern. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friends.h.i.+ps or enmities."

The Monroe Doctrine was a statement of principles made by President Monroe in his famous message of December 2, 1823. The occasion of the utterance was the threat by the so-called Holy Alliance to interfere forcibly in South America with a view to reseating Spain in control of her former colonies there. President Monroe, pointing to the fact that it was a principle of American policy not to intermeddle in European affairs, gave warning that any attempt by the monarchies of Europe "to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere" would be considered by the United States "as dangerous to our peace and safety." This warning fell in line with British policy at the time and so proved efficacious.

OFFICIAL RED CROSS PHOTOGRAPHS NEGRO SOLDIERS AND RED CROSS WORKERS IN FRONT OF CANTEEN, HAMLET, N.C.

PHOTO FROM UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD, N.Y. COLORED RED CROSS WORKERS FROM THE CANTEEN AT ATLANTA, GA., FEEDING SOLDIERS AT RAILWAY STATION.

OFFICIAL RED CROSS PHOTOGRAPHS COLORED WOMEN IN HOSPITAL GARMENTS CLa.s.s OF BRANCH NO. 6. NEW ORLEANS CHAPTER, AMERICAN RED CROSS. LOUISE J. ROSS, DIRECTOR.

PHOTO FROM UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD, N.Y. RED CROSS WORKERS. PROMINENT COLORED WOMEN OF ATLANTA, GA., WHO ORGANIZED CANTEEN FOR RELIEF OF NEGRO SOLDIERS GOING TO AND RETURNING FROM WAR.

THE GAME IS ON. A BASEBALL MATCH BETWEEN NEGRO AND WHITE TROOPS IN ONE OF THE TRAINING AREAS IN FRANCE.

OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS, U.S. ARMY COL. WILLIAM HAYWARD OF 369TH INFANTRY PLAYING BASEBALL WITH HIS NEGRO SOLDIERS AT ST. NAZAIRE, FRANCE.

JAZZ AND SOUTHERN MELODIES HASTEN CURE. NEGRO SAILOR ENTERTAINING DISABLED NAVY MEN IN HOSPITAL FOR CONVALESCENTS.

ENJOYING A BIT OF CAKE BAKED AT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS CANTEEN AT IS-SUR-TILLE, FRANCE.

CORPORAL FRED. McINTYRE OF 369TH INFANTRY, WITH PICTURE OF THE KAISER WHICH HE CAPTURED FROM A GERMAN OFFICER.

LIEUT. ROBERT L. CAMPBELL, NEGRO OFFICER OF THE 368TH INFANTRY WHO WON FAME AND THE D.S.C. IN ARGONNE FOREST. HE DEVISED A CLEVER PIECE OF STRATEGY AND DISPLAYED GREAT HEROISM IN THE EXECUTION OF IT.

EMMETT J. SCOTT, APPOINTED BY SECRETARY BAKER, AS SPECIAL a.s.sISTANT DURING THE WORLD WAR. HE WAS FORMERLY CONFIDENTIAL SECRETARY TO THE LATE BOOKER T. WAs.h.i.+NGTON.

(TOP)-GENERAL DIAZ, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ITALIAN ARMIES. MARSHAL FOCH, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ALLIED FORCES.

(CENTER)-GENERAL PERs.h.i.+NG, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AMERICAN ARMIES. ADMIRAL SIMS, IN CHARGE OF AMERICAN NAVAL OPERATIONS OVERSEAS.

(BOTTOM)-KING ALBERT, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF BELGIAN ARMY. FIELD MARSHAL HAIG, HEAD OF BRITISH ARMIES.

In a later section of the same message the proposition was also advanced that the American continent was no longer subject to colonization. This clause of the doctrine was the work of Monroe's secretary of state, John Quincy Adams, and its occasion was furnished by the fear that Russia was planning to set up a colony at San Francisco, then the property of Spain, whose natural heir on the North American continent, Adams held, was the United States. It is this clause of the doc.u.ment that has furnished much of the basis for its subsequent development.