y to enact a mighty role was upon them, and
they played it well.

Not only were the black infantry and machine gun units up at the front;
in the thickest of it, but the artillery--the 167th Brigade--was on the
line behaving like veterans. They laid down a barrage for the infantry
that was wonderfully effective. They established a reputation which has
been made by but few, among French, British or Americans, of laying down
a barrage that did not entrap; and fatally so, their own comrades.

It was a glorious day for the division. The casualty roll was heavy for
the sector was strongly fortified and the enemy made a most determined
resistance. Metz is considered by experts to be the strongest fortified
inland city in the world.

Indeed it is almost as strong, if not quite so, as Gibraltar or the
Dardanelles. But from the way the Americans hammered at it, military
authorities say that only the signing of the armistice prevented the
taking of it by assault. As it was, the close of fighting saw Negro
troops on German soil.

The fortitude and valor of the Negroes, especially in the action against
Metz, won them high praise from their commanding officers. Entire units
were decorated by the French with the Croix de Guerre. Fourteen Negro
officers and forty-three enlisted men were cited for bravery in action
and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Pershing. This is
a splendid showing considering that up to November 10th, 1918, the
greater portion of the division had to content itself with making daily
and nightly raids on the German front line trenches to harass the foe
and capture prisoners. This, however, required daring and courage and,
in some ways, was more trying and dangerous than being in a big
engagement. A total of 57 citations by the American military
authorities, besides honors bestowed by the French, is a splendid
showing for a division which won most of its honors during its first
great baptism of fire.

The casualties of the 92nd Division amounted to an aggregate of 1,511 of
all kinds. Six officers were killed in action and one died from wounds.
Among the non-commissioned officers and privates 103 were killed in
action, 50 died from wounds, 47 were missing in action and five were
taken prisoner. Forty enlisted men died from disease. Sixteen officers
and 543 enlisted men were wounded; thirty-nine officers and 661 enlisted
men were gassed. The number of gassed was unusually large, a reason
being,