night as a lookout, far in advance of the sleeping command of thousands
of white and colored American troops. The Hun planned their capture for
the purpose of psycho-analytic research. It was Roberts who detected
their stealthy approach. He called to Johnson. In the twinkling of an
eye, the two were surrounded by German troopers. The Negroes faced
certain death, but they had lost all claim to honor, recognition or
equality, if they did not take with them to eternity at least one German
each. Surrounded they resolved to fight it out with shot and gun. Too,
too slow! Around them the Germans swarmed like bees. Bayonets then! Too,
too close! Aye, butts! Wounded and winded, with knives, skulls, feet,
teeth and nails, prehensile toe and larkheel, Henry Johnson and Needham
Roberts defeated ten times their number of Germans and held the field of
honor. This was a great self-revelation to the Negro of his powers of
more than rudimentary culture, and a mighty incentive from the guard to
the soldiery of the 92nd Division.

It settled forever, in the mind of the Negro, what Pershing would say as
to the advisability of training Negroes to deliver their best service
for their country. That general's report electrified the entire nation.
Said Pershing:

"Reports in hand show a notable instance of bravery and devotion shown
by two soldiers of an American colored regiment operating in a French
sector. Before daylight on May 15, Private Henry Johnson and Private
Roberts, while on sentry duty at some distance from one another, were
attacked by a German raiding party, estimated at twenty men, who
advanced in two groups, attacking at once flank and rear.

"Both men fought bravely hand-to-hand encounters, one resorting to the
use of a bolo knife after his rifle jammed and further fighting with
bayonet and butt became impossible. There is evidence that at least one,
and probably a second, German was severely cut. A third is known to have
been shot.

"Attention is drawn to the fact that the colored sentries were first
attacked and continued fighting after receiving wounds, and despite the
use of grenades by a superior force. They should be given credit for
preventing, by their bravery, the capture of any of our men."

Whether this citation arrived May 19, 1917, by design or by accident, it
served the purpose of dissolving completely all opposition to the idea
of training Negroes to halt the Hun. Immediately thereafter the War
Department