The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-08-02
HAD ORDERS TO SHOOT.
TIE REGULARS DURING THE LATE
STRIKE WERE NOT HAMPERED
By Not Having Sufficient Orders to Use
Their weapons-Text Of General Or
der No. 20, Meant to Apply Special
ly to the Late Trouble.

WASHINGTON, July 31.-The lead
era of the riotous mobs who confronted
the United States regular troops dur
ing the progress of the great strike
probably did not realize how perilous
they nearly stood to violent death, for
not only were the troops fully autho-
rized to shoot into the mobs, but the
commanding officers we're instructed
to detail sharp shooters to shoot down
individual rioters who were particu-
larly active.
All this is made evident by general
order No. %, which was made public
at the war department today. Not
for meny years had the United States
troops beenso generally active as dur
ing the strike, and consequently many
commanding officers were somewhat
in doubt as to their powers and duties
under the complex laws and regula-
tions touching the use of troops. 10
meet this demand for exact informa-
ton General Schofeld issued general
order No. %. 1t was dated July 8,
and officers were instructed to regard
it as confidential, because it was
feared that it's publication at the time
would further inflame the excited and
lawless mobs. The full text of the
order is as follows: "a mob forci-
bly, resisting or obstructing the
execution of the laws of the United
States or attempting to destroy prop
erty belonging to or under the pro.
tecIion of the Unite d States is pub
lie enemy. Troops called in action
against such mob are gov erned by
the general regulations of the army
and military tactics in respect to the
manner in which they shall act to &C"
complish the DEF ired end. 1t Is pnrely
q tactical question in what manner
they shall use the weapons with
which they are armed-whether by
the fire of musketry and artillery or
by the use of the bayonet and sabre
or by both, and at what stage of OPP
eralions each or either mode of attack
shall be employed. This tactical
question must necessarily be decided
by the immediate commander OF the
troops according to his best Judgment
of the situation and the authorized
drill regulations.
"In the first stages of an insurrec'
ton IaWless mobs are frequently COM
with great crowds of com"
paratively innocent people, drawn
there by curiosity and excitement and
ignorant of the great danger to when
they are exposed. Under SUCH cir
the commanding officer
should withhold the fire of his troops
if possible until timely warning has
been given to the innocent to separate
from the guilty.
"Unde1 no circumstances are the
troops to fire into crowd without the
order of the commanding officer, ex-
cept that single sharp shooters select
ed by the commanding officer may
shoot down individual rioters who
have fred on or thrown missiles at
troops.
"As general rule the bayonet alone
should be used against mixed crowds
in the first stages of 3 revolt.
"But as soon as sufficient warning
has been given to enable the innocent
to separate themselves from the
guilty, the action of the troops should
be governed solely by tactical con-
involved in the duty they
are ordered to perform. They are not
called upon to consider how great
nav be the losses inflicted upon the
public enemy except to make their
blows go effective as to promptly sup
press all resistance to lawful authority
and to stop the destruction Of life the
moment lawiess resistance has ceased.
"Punishment belongs not to the
troops but to the courts of justice.
"By command of
MAJOR GENERAL SCHoFIELD.
GEO. D. RUGGLEs, A dit. Genl.