created a training camp for educated Negroes at Fort Des
Moines, Iowa.

THE CRISIS OF THE WORLD.

Des Moines Camp was organized in June, 1917, to train Negroes to the
military point where other military men must recognize them, honor them
and receive them on the plane of equality due their rank. The camp was
designed to develop Negroid snap and vigor to the maximum of military
efficiency. For this purpose, as at all other camps, there was created
the background of the mother's urge, and the sister's urge, and the
sweetheart's urge, the Y.M.C.A. spirit, the college fraternity spirit,
and, in addition, the spirit of the elevation of a Negroid order.

The change which came over the men was indicated by their music. Their
first group singing of a Sunday consisted of Negro spirituals in
spondaic and trochaic verse, and phrased in many minors. The vigor of
blood produced by methodical training soon permitted of vocalization
only in iambics. "Over There," "The Long, Long Trail," "Sons of
America," were songs they sung of hope and not of sorrow. They connoted
the Negro's reaction to the cosmic urge.

Over 1200 men took advantage of the experience of the trip to Fort Des
Moines for training. Theirs was the 17th Provisional R.O.T.C., but the
first of national proportions. Its quota was drawn from every section of
the United States. The immediate destiny of the men selected for
commission from this camp would be the training of colored draftees of
African descent.

Mr. Baker, the Secretary of War, in late summer, referring to the Des
Moines Camp, said:

"The work at Des Moines is progressing remarkably well, and the
reports I have from it are very good. The spirit of the men is
fine, and apparently this camp is going to do a great deal of good,
both to the country and to the men involved."

Colonel C.C. Ballou, of the War College, in charge of the work at Des
Moines, said on August 19, in a Sunday interview:

"The colored race constitutes more than ten per cent. of our
population, and has, since the Civil War, furnished more than its
quota of fighting men of the regular army. At home or on foreign
soil the ranks of colored regiments are always full, while the
white regiments have with difficulty been maintained at peace
strength. To question the valor of the colored soldier is to betray
ignorance of history. This is the first opportunity in his history
to pro