The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-11-07
BUSINESSES COLORED
 TROOPS IN DISGRACE UNPRECEDENTED ACTION IN HISTORY OF ARMY TAKEN
 BY PRESIDENT.

Entire Battalion Fired From the ser- vfce-FaiIed to Disclose Identity of Some of Their Number Who Had Been Guilty of Violence and Murder
 -Evidence of President's Fairness White Officer Who Cast SIurs May he
 COurtmartialed.
 Washington, Nov. Unprecedented in the history of the army of the Unit ed States is the action of the president. just announced in dismissing in disgrace from the army an entire battalion of colored troops, because of their failure to disclose the identity of some of their number who had been guilty of violence and murder. As an evidence, however, of his intention to be fair to the col ored troops, the president has accom- panied this act by an order which may amount to the court-martial of white army officer of high grade, who was charged with having cast slurs upon the colored troops. The story of both actions is told in the following official correspondence made public to-day by the military secretary:
 The report of an investigation made by Brig. Gen. E. A. Darlington, in- spector general of the army, relative to the riotous disturbance that occurred at Brownsville, Texas. on the night of August 15, 1906, 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 pres- ident. Following are his instructions | with regard to the matter:
 White House,
 Washington, Nov. 5, 1906. The Secretary of War
 Il have read through General Gar lington's report dated October p, sub- mitted to me by you. T direct that the recomniendations of General Darlington be compiled with and that at the same time the conclud- ing portion of his report be published without sanction as giving the reasons for the action.
 Theodore Roosevelt"
 Following is the concluding portion of General Garlington's report, which em- bodies the recommendations that by di- rection of the president will be carried into effect immediately by the war de- | pArtment: XII as.
 recommend mat orders x c issued as soon as practicable, dischargfng. without honor, every man in Compa- nies B, c and D of the Twenty-fifth Infantry, serving at Fort Brown, Texas, on the night of August IS, 1906, and for evef debarring them from re-enlisting in the army or navy of the United States, as well as from employment in any civil capacity under the govern ment. In making this recornnne nendation I recognize the fact that a number of men who have no direct knowledge of the identity of the men of the Twenty fifth infantry who actually fired the shots on the night of the 18th of Aug ust, 1906, will incur this extreme pen atty.
 !" Tt has been established by careful investigation beyond reasonable doubt that the firing into the houses of the citizens of Brownsville while the inhab- itants thereof are pursuing their peace ful vacations or sleeping and by which one citizen was killed and the chief-of- police so seriously wounded that he lost an arm, was done by enlisted men of the 18th infantry, belonging to the battalion stationed at Fort Brown. Aft CT due opportunity anc notice, the en- listed men of the 25th infantry have failed to tell all that it is reasonable to believe they know concerning the shoot- | i. T A14n l. y4 been willing to relate all the circum- stances-instances preliminary to the trouble-it is extremely probable that clue sufficiently definite to lead to results would have been disclosed. They appear to stand together in determin- ation to resist the detection of the guilty; therefore they should stand to- gether when the penalty falls A forceful lesson should be given to the army at large, and especially to the non-commissioned officers, that their duty does not cease upon the drill ground, with the calling of the com pany rolls, making check inspections and other duty of formal character; but that their responsibilities of office accompany them everywhere and at all times; that it IS their duty to become thoroughly acquainted with the indi- vidual members of their respective s units-to know their characteristics; to be able at all times to gauge their tenn per, in order to discover the beginning of discomfort or of mutlnous intentions, and to anticipate any organized act of disorder; that they must notify their officers at once of any such conditions. Moreover the people of the United States, wherever they live, must feel assured that the men wearing the uni- form of the army are their protectors and not midnight assassins or riotous disturbers of the peace of the commu- y nifty in which they may be stationed.' 7