Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-11-21
Tcday's Telegraphic News
Discharge OF COiored Troops.

that he had ordered the Immediate ex-
ecution Of the presidential order dismiss.
ing The negro troops. This action was
taken, ne said, as soon as he returned TO
Washington and learned tbst President
Roosevelt declared he would not recon
slider the ease aud the discharge is going
on today.
Secretary Tan this morning made the
following announcement explaining his
determination to carry ont the order dis
missing the colored soldiers Of the 25th
infantry:
"In the matter OF the order discharg-
ing the enlisted men of three companies
of The 18th Infantry issued by the Presi-
dent, application was presented to the
Secretary of War by member of stand
ing asking for re.hearing by the Presi-
dent of the grounds on which the action
was taken. The Secretary telegraphed
the President Of the application and de-
syed the proceedings Of the discharge
until the President could indicate his
wishes The Secretary was in the
meantime called out of town. No an
swer was received from the President.
The Secretary on his return did not feel
justified in further delaying the eXecu-
ton of the order of discharge especially
| in view of the fact that the Secretary
then learned that the President had fully
and extensively considered the argu-
ments against the order of the persons
who now apply for re-hearing. Ac-
cordingly the Secretary directed yester-
day, Tuesday, that the proceedings for
discharge be continued without delay.
A telegram WAS received from the
President at II O'Clock today, after the
previous statement WAS given ont at the
War Department, in which he declines
to suspend the discharge unless there are
new facts of such Importance as to war
rant cabling him. He states that the
action was taken after due deliberatiOn
and that the only matter to which be
can pay heed to is the presentation OF
facts showing the official report to be 10
whole or 10 part untrue, or clearly ex-
culpative of some individual. If any such
facts later appear he can set as he deems
advisable, but thus far nothing has been
introduced to warrant the suspension OF
the order, and he directs that 1t be exc
cuted
There has not been any controversy
or misunderstanding between the Presi-
dent and Secretary TAFT at any time
about this matter. There WAS delay in
the arrival of the paymaster at Fort
Reno to pay oil the men before their dit p
charge aud in the meantime a great many
protests were addressed to the War De
partment against the general discharge
of the men. Secretary TAFT and the
President were both ont OF the city but
az soon IS the Secretary returned he en-
deayored to lay the protests and ohjsc-
tons before the President for the pur-
pose of giving him the opportunity, ii
he 30 desired, to reconsider the case in
the light of the complaints.
Several of the members Of the three
disgraced companies we're away on fur
Tough at the Time of the Brownsville
affair while fOHr or five others we're in
prison awaiting trial by court'msrtial.
As it was obvious that these men could
have had no knowledge of the facts con-
nected with the shooting they are not
| included in the order Of dismissal.
Secretary TAFT said this morning that II
any members Of the three companies can
hereafter bring forward proof to the Ell
feet that they were not involved in the
Brownsville shooting and rad no know
ledge of tho facts connected with it they
can he reenlisted upon application 10 the
| President.
The reports of Major BlOcksOm, Lieut.
Col Lowering, and Brig. Gen Darlington,
who made Investigations of the riots al
Brownsville on Aug. % we're made public
at the War Department today.
The report states that the causes fol
the riots we're that the soldiers of the
25lh Infantry had heard chat the Texa:
militia had threatened to use ball car
tridges against them in the army man
euyers; tina. the people of Brownsville
did not desire the colOred troops; that
the soldiers of the 25th Infantry were
not allowed to drink with white people
at the principal bars in town, and be
csnse of numerous insults offered to white
ladies on the streets of brownsville which
we're resented in drastic manner by
the white men of that city. Prior to
August 18th racial feeling in Browns
Vile had been aroused to the highest
pitch. Mai. Blocksom said that from
the evidence obtainable the first shots
we're fired by The soldiers of Company
B for the purpose of creating an alarm.
| The soldiers, nine 10 fifteen, possibly
more, then Jumped The wall OF the bar
racks and started through the town. he
declares there is absolutely no evidence
to support the claim that the first shots
came from the town and no bullet marks
we're found on the barracks.
The raiders fret struck the house of a
Mr.. Cowan. There were two women and
five children in it, &" 1t is miracle that
some of them were not shot" Major
Blockcon says. 1.-THE raiders could not
help knowing they had not yet gone to
bed. About ten shots were fired, nearly all
going through the house One shot put
out the lamp sitting on the table"
Mi. Blocksom continues his report
by telling OF how the negro soldiers con
tinued their raid through the town, hr-
ing into the houses of the citizens, kill
ing the Lieutenant OF police, who was
shot through the body several times, and
firing into the Miller Hotel at the guests.
None of the individual raiders were rec