The Washington herald., 1906-11-07
SOLDIERS DISGRACED
President Orders Discharge
Of Negro Companies.
IN BROWNSVILLE RIOT
Col. william Pitcher, Of Twenty
seventh Infantry, Called Upon to
Explain Interview Saying United
states should Not Try TO Make
Soldiers out of CoIored Men.

Orders have been issued by President
Roosevelt for the dishonorable discharge
OF every enlisted man, including the non
commissioned officers, IN Companies 3,
G. and d, Of the Twenty-ffth infantry.
coIored troops, rs result Of the disturb
ance created at Brownsville, Texas, in
which one citizen was killed and another
wounded.
The troops 10 whom this drastic punish
ment is meted out are stationed at Fort
Brown. Tex The President gave his de-
cision after receiving the report Of Gen.
Darlington. who Investigated the case,
and who recommended that all be mus
tered out
While it is known that not ali the mem
bers Of the three companies were party
TO the outbreak, yet the refusal Of the
innocent soldiers to divuige the names Of
the gsllty, or glve any information 10 the
Investigators. made it necessary to pun
fish them al.
Hope for Beneficial Results.
The decision is regarded as being espe-
cially hard on the non commissioned Off
GERS, but at the War Department it is
felt that this will have the effect Of max
/ ing the officers Of that class realize the
duties and responsibilities resting upon
them. and that the Presidents action
will be beneficial TO discipline throughout
/ the array.
Coincident with The announcement Of
the Presidents decision in this matter
came notification that he had also ordered
an investigation into the alleged stale
ments Of Col William L. Pitcher of the
( Twenty-scventh Infantry in which he Is
said o. have declared he could not see
why the United States should try 10 make
soldiers ont Of negroes
The official statements in regard TO
both matters are as follows:
Companies Ordered Discharged.
The report Of an investigation made by
/ Brig. Gen. z. 4 Darlington. Inspector
General OF the Army, relative 70 the riot
Gus disturbance that occurred a
brownsville Tex. on the night Of Aug
ust i3. 1896 and that resulted in the
death Of one and the wounding Of another
citizen Of that city. has been considered
and acted upon by the President Fol-
/ lowing are his Instructions with regard
% the matter:
The White House.
Washington. Nov 5. 800
/ Tie Secretary of War.
have read through Gen Garlington's report dated
October p submitted O. ne by you. dircct that
] tIse rec1mmeudat0ns Of Gen. Darlington BE con-
( piled with aid that az the same time tie con
ciuding portion Of MS report be published with
Our sanction as giving tie reasons for the action
ThEODOKE ROOSEVELT
Following Is the concluding portion Of
| Gen. Garlingt0n's report. which embodies
/ the recommendations that by direction of
I the President. will be carried into effect
/ Immediately by the War Department:
/ recommend that orders be issued as soon as
practicable discharging- without honor every man
in Companies 3. c. and ID. Of the Tventy-fifth In
fautry serving 81 Fcrt Brown. Tex. on the night
ca August I3 1906. and forever debarrius them frun
I Fe-eulI=tng IN tDe army OF navy of the United
States. as wen from employment In any civil
capacity under the government IN making tlls
recommendation. recognize tle fact that a
Der ~ men who have no direct knowledge % the
identity Of the men q the Twenty-dfth Infantry
| who actually 6red the shots on the night of the
18th of August 1895. VIII iner this extreme penalty
II has been established o. careful Investigation
I beyond reasonable doubt that the firing into the
houses ~ the citizens of B-1wusyillc while the in
hsbtants thereof were pursuing theu peaceful yo-
cations or sleeping and hy which ono citizen was
killed ana the chief 0f police 50 seriously wounded
that he lost an arm. was done by enlisted men
OF the Twenty 9Th Infantry belonging 20 the bat
T talon stationed az Fort Brown After due op-
iortunty and notice the enlisted men II TIE Tuen
ty-nftb Infantry have failed % tell ali shat It ls
reasonable % believe they know concerning tire
shooting. II they had done 50. u they had beea
willing % relate al the ercumstsnces-instances pre-
IulinaIy % tne truIbe-t Is extremely probable
that a Clew sufficiently defn.e to lead 10 results
would have been disclosed. They appear to stand
together in determination % resist the detection
ci The guilty therefore, they should stand together
Nheu the penalty fails. foTcefui lesson should be
1 given % the army at large and especially 10 the
uor-c1mmssi0ned officers. that their duty does not
cease mon the drill ground. with the calling Of
the company rolls. making check inspections. and
other duty of formal character; bat that their re-
suonsihiiisies of Office accompany them everywhere
and az ali times. thar II is their duty % become
thoroughly aCIusinted with the individual members
of their respective uaits % know Their character
istics. % De able al all times 10 gauge their TEN
Per- in order 20 discover the beginning Of discon-
tent or of m,uinous intentions and 20 anticipate
any organized act Of disorder; that they must notify
their officers ct once of any such conditions More
over. the people of the United States wherever
they live. must feel assured that the men wear
ing the uniform q the amy are their protectors
and not midnight assassins or riotous di5turbers
Of the peace Of the community ia which they may
be stationed.
Col. Pitcher 20 Explain.
on october = 1905. a squadron OF the
Ninth Cavalry. an organization Of colored
troops, reported at Fort Sheridan. near
Chicago. H.. under orders from the War
Department assigning them 70 duty there
Soon after this assignment there appear
ed in the public press the following ac-
count Of a statement alleged 10 have been
made with regard TO the matter by Col
William l. Pitcher, Twenty-seventh In
fantry:
The negro troops would never have been quar-
tered AZ Fort sheridan without q protest if was
to remain in command hered said Col Pitcher.
never ike them. and the farther away from me
they are kept the better It peases me. For the
liie o. me / cannot see why the United States
should try 70 make soldiers ouc OF them Certainly
there are enough fine white Young men in this big
country to make soldiers Of without recruiting from
such q source.
This alleged statement by Col Pitcher
/ having been brought TO the attention OF
the President, the following comRunica-
tiOn with regard 10 It was sent TO the
War Department by Secretary Loeb:
The President directs that an immediate rerort
be called for from Col Pitcher to know whether OF
not he is correctly quoted in the inolosed clipping;
and If he is correctly quoted the President directs