The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-11-23

department issued the following state
ment today concerning the negro
troops ordered dismissed at Fort Reno:
"In the matter of the order discharg-
ing the enlisted men of three COM
panies of the 25th infantry, issued by
the president, application was pre-
sented to the secretary of war by a
number of persons on which the action
was taken. The secretary telegraphed
the president of the application, and
delayed the proceedings Of the dis
charge until the president could indi-
cate his wishes. The secretary was
meantime called out o. town. No an
swer was received from the president
The secretary on his return did not
feel justified further delaying the exc
cution of the order Of discharge, espe-
cially in view Of the fact that the sec
retary then learned that the president
had fully and eXhaustively considered
the argument against the order of the
persons who now appised for rehear-
ing. Accordingly the secretary direct
ed yesterday, Tuesday, that the pro-
ceedings for discharge be continued
without delay
The investigation Of the c0nduc. Of
negro troops of companies 3. {. and
D. 25th infantry, as reported upon oy
Major BlOcksom, inspector general de-
partment Lieutenant Colonel Lover
ing, fourth infantry, acting inspector
general, and Brigadier General Gar
lingtOn, inspector general Of the army,
was made public at the war, department
today in a volume entitled The affray
at Brownsville, Texas
Major Blocksom declares that the
affair was precCncerted, and both he
and General Darlington exOnerate the
officers from blame. General CARING
ton says it was evident from the first
that the three companies had entered
into a compact to give 70 information
about the affair. Secetary Taft said TO-
day that no steps will be taken 10
make further investigation Of tie
conduct of the officers.
N his summary Of TIE reports made
by the other officers and OF his own CT
forts to discover the guilty soldiers
Brigadier General Darlington declares
that every means of getting evidence
concerning the shooting was exhaust
ed. All the men or the three COM
panies were talked with individually
on different occasions, lie says, and the
lire consequences og their failure tC
give up the guilty soldiers were point
ed out. All the soldiers avoided cues
tions, and even refused to discuss the
events at Brownsville which were
known to have enraged the negroes be-
fore the riot.
THE secretive nature of the race
where crimes are cna;sei to member:
of their color, Is we'll KNOWN" Genera
Darlington said.
Under such circumstances self-pro
lection or self-iItercst is the only lev e
by which the cashet of their minds
can be pried open Acting upon thi.
principle, the historS and record of th,
regiment to which they belong, tn,
part played by these old soldiers il
this record were po;ht:d out and en-
1arged upon. The od:uin and disgrace
to the battalion, and its lndividua
members by this criide were indicated
The future effect upon the individual
and upon the battalion as whole wa
referred to; and finally the concern o
the president of the United States il
the matter, his desire and the desire Q
the war department 20 separate the in
nocent from the guilty were explained
but without effect.
Continuing General Garlingtons re
port says: No absolutely accurate veri
fcation of the rifles and men of tn
battalion was made on the night @
August 13, in time TO account for tn
rifles and men at the beginning of tn
firing or Immediately upon its conclu
sion. The failure is explained as fcl
lows:
The commanding officer and his as
sociates, when the alarm was souudet
and they heard the firing, assume
that it came from the city OF Browns