 During World War I, Merlaud-Ponty was responsible for recruiting volunteers for African battlefields.At a 1923 monument dedicated "to the creators of French West Africa and the glory of the Black army" features Paul Ducuing's statues of the "tirailleur" Demba and the "zouave" Dupont.The same monument honours the French conqueror of Senegal, Louis Faidherbe, as well as four Governors-General, Noël Ballay, Joost van Vollenhoven, François Clozel and Ponty himself.