RED MAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 7 February 1944, Page 4

RED MAN

America s 400,000 Indians, supposed to have been "vanishing” for decades, have turned up in this second year of war as one of the most potent minority groups assisting In the nation’s march to victory. As one man practically, Navajos, Hopis. Menominees, Creeks, Mission Indians, Crows, Iroquois, and a hundred other tribes have ranged themselves on our side in the great fight Since 7th December, 1941, 18,000 warrior descendants of Geronimo and Crazy Horse. Tecumseh and Sitting Bull have joined the Army, the Marines, the Navy and the Air Corps. A majority were volunteers. Some Indian jurisdictions report that 30 per cent, of the able-bodied men between 18 and 38 have gone to war; in other tribes the figures run as high as 60 per cent, or 70 per cent. These men to-day are on the actual fighting lines, in addition many thousands of overage men and women have left their reservation homes to work in war plants.

Nobody knows how many millions of dollars' worth of war bonds Indians have bought. In the last 12 months more than two million dollars’ worth have been purchased through the Indian Office alone Indian women walk for miles to purchase a 25-cent stamp. Wealthy Indian families casually buy sheafs of 100-dollar bonds.—“ Washington Post.”)