as
torpedoed and sunk September 30, 1918.]

[Illustration: SURVIAN AUSTIN WILLIAMS.

Mess Attendant U.S.N. Lost on U.S.S. CYCLOPS, June 14, 1918.]

[Illustration: T.A. LOUNDEO.

Water Tender, U.S.N. 909 N. 5th St., Richmond, Va.]

[Illustration: WM. M.T. BECKLEY.

Mess Attendant, 1c, U.S.N. Fell overboard and drowned, U.S.S. OZARK,
July 25, 1918.]

[Illustration: GEORGE FOWLER.

Cabin Steward U.S.N. Lost when Liberty Boat capsized, U.S.S. LANSDALE.
December 6, 1918.]

In doing so, he accepted the challenge of no mere enigma. Of his own
volition, he entered upon the path that led through untrod and dangerous
ground. It was his problem to cut the Gordian knot of Anglo-Saxon icy
reserve 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 quizzical. 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 himself too
rapidly by his own bootstraps would have offended England, whose law
prohibited emigration of foreign Negroes 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 the Spanish-American combat,
and at Carrizal in the latest Me