The Washington herald., 1906-11-20
NEGROES NOT OUSTED
Troops at Brownsville Still
Members of Army.
CASE MAY YET BE REOPENED
Secretary Taft Wires President to
Learn If Action viii Be Considered
AEain-Gen. Oliver Explains Rea-
son for Move by the War Depart
ment-COurt-marti Impossible.

Although many days have passed since
the order was issued. the three companies
of the Twenty-hfth Infantry ordered dis
charged without honor from the army by
the President because of the partieipa-
tion by some of their members in the dis
turbance at Brownsville, Tex, in August,
the soldiers are still in the army and
there is a possibility that the case may
be reOpened. Secretary TAFT has tele-
graphed President Roosevelt TO ask If
the ease could be again considered.
The War Department has prepared and
viii soon make public the full report Of
the investigations OF the Brownsville
troubles. Three officers were sent out TO
look into the matter, and all made re-
ports. There have been printed and will
be published.
Reason for order MisunderstOOd.
Throughout the War Department there
is a feeling that the action OF the War
Department and the President IN order
ing the dismissal Of the men has been
misunderstood throughout the country,
and there is considerable concern mani
tested because Of this belief It is pointed
out that the three companies are being
thrown out OF the army because Of the
firm conviction of those in charge that
as a body. il is dangerous 10 allow them
TO remain.
Acting Secretary Of War Oliver said
| yesterday that the belief had become prev
alent all over the country, that the men
were ordered discharged because they
would not tell the names Of those who
were really guilty, and because they were
black. This, Gen Oliver said is not pre-
cisely so, and the real reason for The
drastic action was that the organizations
/ had shown themselves TO be dangerous
/ 1t has been shown by the investiga-
/ tions made by the War Departmet, that
/ the companies concerned are dangerous
/ to have in the service" said Gen oliver
| III. on account Of the feeling that they
/ had a grievance, as was the case il
/ Brownsville. the same companies, or mer
/ from them, participated in another dis
/ turbance Of the same nature, in a place tC
which they were transferred. what would
the country say? It is impossible. bott
on account Of safety and army discipline
10 allow the men TO remain in the serv
/ ice Some members Of the company or
/ ganizations now ordered dismissed 'shO
/ up the town al Brownsville killing ONT
man, and endaugering the lives OF Othe1
men, and, as the official reports show, O.
/ women and children.
/ with the fact before them that SON,
members Of the companies had gone int,
/ Brownsville and made this disturbance
the Department began an investiga ton
/ Three officers were sent out to get ia,
facts, but could learn nothing
Such Troops a Menace.
''The War Department found the arm,
with three companies Of soldiers in i
containing men who were capable, be
cause Of real or fancied grievances. O
shooting up a town and killing citizens
The army had TO be rid Of the men VIII
were guilty. Every effort 70 find just VIII
these were failed. The Department coul,
not let the case pass over. and disciplin
had 70 be maintained. There was but on
course, and that has been followed I
was not because the soldiers were black
az the same thing would have happene,
under the same circumstances II they hal
been white. If the Department had al
lowed the affair % go unpunished, the re
suit might have been disastrous. and IN
same troops might again do the sam
thing.
"A court-martial Of any Of the men wa
impossible. To try a man il is necessar
to have charges against him. There wa
no one against whom direct charges couI
be filed Under the circumstances in thi
case il was impossible"
Gen. Burt to Discuss Troops.
Brig. Gen. a. 5. Burt viii make an ad
dress this evening at the Metropolita
A NJ +. Church, taking for his subject
The Colored Soldier" Gen. Burt was a
one time colonel Of the Twenty-ffth In
fantry, recently ordered dismissed fror
, the service. He viii talk on the charac
ter Of the men and give his views cor