ferent camps for the separate
housing and training of the Negro troops. This was in line with the
military policy of the Government, as well as in deference to the
judgment of both white and black officers. It undoubtedly was necessary
to separate the two races. Furthermore, as the military policy called
for regiments, battalions and, divisions made up entirely of Negroes, it
was proper to commence the organization at the training camps. Companies
formed in this manner thus became homogeneous, accustomed to one another
individually and to their officers.

The situation was different from the Spanish-American war, where Negro
units, at least in one case, served in white regiments. Racial strife
and rivalry were eliminated. The only rivalry that existed was the
good-natured and healthy one of emulation between members of the same
race. On the field of battle there was rivalry and emulation between the
whites and blacks, but it was the rivalry of organizations and not of
races. The whole was tempered by that splendid admiration and
fellow-feeling which comes to men of all races when engaged as partners
in danger or near death; in the defense and promotion of a great cause;
the eternal verities of Justice and Humanity.

CHAPTER VIII

RECRUDESCENCE OF SOUTH'S INTOLERANCE

CONFRONTED BY RACIAL PEEJUDICE--- SPLENDID ATTITUDE OF NEGRO SHAMED
IT--KEPT OUT OF NAVY--ONLY ONE PER CENT OF NAVY PERSONNEL
NEGROES--MODIFIED MARINES CONTEMPLATED--FEW HAVE PETTY OFFICERS'
GRADES--SEPARATE SHIPS PROPOSED--NEGRO EFFICIENCY IN NAVY--MATERIAL FOR
"BLACK SHIPS"--NAVY OPENS DOOR TO NEGRO MECHANICS.

Old feelings of race prejudice and intolerance, appearing mainly in the
South, confronted the Negro at the beginning of the war. The splendid
attitude of the Negro shamed and overcame this feeling in other sections
of the country, and was beginning to have its effect even in the South.
It is true that men of the race were not accepted for voluntary
enlistment in numbers of consequence in any section, but had the
voluntary system continued in vogue, the willingness and desire of the
race to serve, coupled with the very necessities of the case, would have
altered the condition.

No new Negro volunteer units were authorized, but the demand for men
would soon have made it imperative. It would have been combatted by a
certain element in the South, but the friends of the few volunteer units
which did exist in that section were firm in th