The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-07
NEGRO TROOPS
D|SHONORAbLY
DISCHARGED

Washington, Nov. by order OF Presi-
dent Roosevelt. acting upon report
made TO him by Brig. Gen. L. A. CARING
ton inspector general OF the army, every
man of Companies B, G and ID OF the
Twenty-fifth Infantry, a colored organ
.Zation will be discharged without honor
from the army and forever debarred from
re-enl!stlng In the army or the navy, as
we'll as from employment by the govern
ment in any civil capacity
The president In his order, which is
given through the secretary OF war.
SAYS:
"I have read through Gen. CARING
tons report, dated Oct. %, submitted to
me by you l direct that the recommen-
dattons OF Gen Darlington be complied
with, and that at the same time the con-
cludine portion OF his report be published
with our sanction as giving the reasons
for the action"
The action Is one Of the most drastic
ever taken by the president and is sure
10 cause sensation throughout the ser
vice. The refusal OF members of the bat
TALON 10 give 10 Gen. Darlington or their
immediate superiors, the names OF the
men implicated In the shooting Of citi-
zens at Brownsville, Tex, near Fort
Brown where the troops were stationed
on Aug 1S. led the inspector general to
recommend the discharge of all OF the
men, and the president concurred. 1t is
an example for the enlisted personnel OF
the service which will doubtless have a
on Aug. IS some OF the enlisted men Of
the battalion which is to be summarily
punished engaged in disturbance in
BroWnSvlle FOR no particular reason so
far as the investigation shows The out
break resulted In the killing OF one citi-
zen, and the chief OF police OF the town
was so badly wounded that he lost an
arm. The case dragged along, and finally
Gen. Darlington went TO Texas to make
personal investigation. The men were
given full opportunity to tell all that
u is reasonable TO believe they know con-
cerning the shooting. 1T was impossible
TO fix the guilt.
Gen. Darlington says in his report that
the men appear to stand together TO re-
slst the detection of the guilty and that
Tor this reason they should stand togeth-
er when the penalty falls
. .toHowing Is the concluding portion OF
Gen. Garlington's report. which embodes
the recommendations that. by direction
OF the president, will be carried into ef-
feet Immediately by the war department:
recommend that orders be issued al
sooh as practicable for the discharglng.
without honor. OF every man In Compan-
les 3, G and u OF the Twenty-hfth Infan-
Try SERVING at Fort Brown, Tex, on the
night of Aug. 13, 1906, and forever debar-
ring them from re-enlistng I'm the army
or navy OF the United States, as well as
from employment In any civil capacity
under the government. In making this
recommendation l recognize the fact that
a number or men who have no direct
knowledge as 10 the identity OF the men
~ lut WHY -UIln infantry VINO actual
~ nred the shots on the night OF the 18th
OF August, 1905, will incur this extreme
penalty.
1t has been established by careful in
vestigation beyond reasonable doubt that
the firing into the houses OF the citizens
OF Brownsville while the inha abitants
thereof were pursuing their peaceful vo-
cations or sleeping and ny which one
citizen was killed and the chief OF police
50 seriously wounded that he lost an arm
was done by enlisted men OF the Twenty
htth Infantry. belonging 10 the battalion
stationed az Fort Brown.
AFTER due opportunity and notice the
enlisted men of The Twenty infan-
try have failed 10 tell all that it is rea-
sonable 20 believe they know concerning
they had been willing to relate all the
circumstances, instances preliminary 20
the troube--it Is extremely probable that
a clue sufficiently dehnite 20 lead TO re-
suits would have been disclosed They
appear 20 stand together ! a determine
tion to resist the detection OF the guilty
therefore, they should stand together
when tho penalty falls.
a forccful lesson should be given TO
the army at large and especially 10 the
non commissioned officers, that their duty
does not cease upon the drill ground with
the calling of the company rolls, making
check inspections and other duty OF formal
character but that their responsibilities
of Office accompany them everywhere and
az all times, that Il is their duty 10 be-
come thoroughly acquainted with the in.
dividual members of their respective units
te Know their charecteftucsi 70 DC able
at al times TO gauge their temper, In or