Opening the text

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 MexicoSweeney, William Allison

History

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

Name: 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
Author: Sweeney, William Allison

Sweeney, William Allison

African American soldiers; African Americans -- History -- 1877-1964; World War, 1914-1918 -- Participation, African American

Then too, these evil influences were more than offset by the various
publicity and "promotion of morale" measures carried on through the
office of the special assistant to the Secretary of War, the Hon. Emmet
J. Scott, and his assistants. Correspondence was kept up with
influential Negroes all over the country. Letters, circulars and news
items for the purpose of effecting and encouraging continued loyalty of
Negro citizens, were regularly issued to the various papers comprising
both the white and Negro press. A special committee of 100 colored
speakers was appointed to deliver public patriotic addresses all over
the country, under the auspices of the Committee on Public Information,
stating the war aims of the government and seeking to keep unbroken the
spirit of loyalty of Negro American citizens. A special conference of
Negro editors was summoned to Washington in June, 1918 by the same
committee in order to gather and disseminate the thought and public
opinion of the various leaders of the Negro race. Such was only a part
of the work of the department of the special assistant to the Secretary
of War in marshalling the man power of the nation.

[Illustration: NEGRO TROOPS OF U.S. ARMY RECEIVING HOLY BAPTISM WHILE
IN TRAINING FOR OVERSEAS DUTY AT NORCROSS RIFLE RANGE. CAMP CORDON, GA.]

It is only fair to quote the opinion and appreciation of this
representative of the Negro race of the selective service
administration, especially as it affected the Negro and in reference to
occasional complaints received. The extract is from a memorandum
addressed to the office of the Provost Marshal General on September 12,
1918 and is copied from the report of that official to the Secretary of
War:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.