The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-11-14
DISCHARGED FROM ARMY.
ENTIRE BATTALION OF NEGRO
TROOPS DISHONORABLY
DISCHARGED.
Drastic Action Taken By the Presi-
dent On Recommendation Of Gen.
Darlington Who Investigated the
Brownsville Riot.


ted in the history Of the army Of the
United States is the action Of the
president, just announced, in dis
missing in disgrace from that 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 colored
troops, the president has accompanied
this action by an order which may
amount to the courtmartial Of a
white army officer Of high grade, who
wes charged with having cast slurs
upon the colorcd troops. The story
Of both actions is told in the follow
ing official correspondence made pub
lie today by the military secretary:
''The report Of an investigation
made by Brg. Gen. E. A. Darlington
Inspector general of the army, rel
ative to the riotous disturbance that
occurred at Brownsville, Texas, en-
the night of August 13, 1906, and that
resulted in the death Of one and the
wounding Of another citizen Of that
city. has been considered and acted
uron by the president. Following are
his instructions with regard to the
matter:
The White House, Washington. Nov.
5, 1906.
The secretary of war: I have read
through Cen Garlington's report, dat
ed Oct. %, submitted to me by you.
I direct that the recommendations of
Gen. Darlington be complied with,
and that at the same time the con-
cluding portion Of his report be pub
lishcd with our sanction as giving the
reasons for this action.
Theodore Roosevelt.
Following is the concluding portion
OF Gen. Garlington's report, which
embodies 1.-The recommendation that,
by direction of the president, will be
carried into effect Immediately by
the war department:
tT recommend that orders be is
sued as soon as practicable, discharg1
gin, without honor, every man in
Companies B, C and D of the Twenty
fifth infantry, serving at Fort Brown,
Texas, on the night Of August 13,
and forever debarring them from re-
enlisting in the army or navy of the
United States. as we'll as from en-
ployment in any civil capacity under
the government. In making this
recommendation, I recognize the fact
that number of men who have no
direct knowledge as to the identity Of
the men of the Twenty-ffth infantry,
who actually fred the shots On the
night of the 18th of August, 1906,
will incur this extreme penalty.
.'It has been established by careful
investigation beyond reasonable doubt
that the firing into the house Of the
citizens of Brownsville while the in
habitants thereof were pursuing their
peaceful vocations or sleeping, and
by which one citizen was killed and
the chief of police so seriously woun-
ded that he lost an arm, was done by
enlisted men of the Twenty-ffth in
fantry, belonging to the battalion sta
toned at Fort Brown. Afer due op-
portunity and notice, the enlisted men
Of the Twenty-fifth infantry have
failed to tell all that it is reasonable
to believe they know concerning the
shooting. If they had done SO; if they
had been willing to relate all the cir
Observation-Disclosures preliminary 70
the trouble-it IS eXteremly probable
that clue sufficiently definite to lead
20 results would have been disclosed.
They appear to stand together in q
determination to resist the detection
Of the guilty; therefose they should
stand together 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
company rolls, making check in-
spections. and other duties Of formal
character; but their responsibilities
o office accompany them everywhere
and ar all times: that it is their duty
to become thoroughly acquainted
With the individual members of their
respective units, to know their char
acteristic; to be able at all times to
gasue their temper, in order to dis
cover the beginning Of discomfort or
of mutinous intentions and to anticl-
,ata onv orraoize1 oo+ of disorder.