Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-23
mo FURTHER ACTION
War Department Statement as
to CoIered Troops.
AN INQUIRY BY CONGRESS
Secretary Taft Has Not Considered It's
Probability.
DISCHARGE NOT DIsBANDMENr
Battalion Must Be Retained Except by
Special Legislation-Recruit
ment Difficult.

It is said at the War Department that no
further action will be taken in the case of
the discharge Of the 40 members Of the
25th Infantry unless specifically directed by
the President. and 1t is not expected that he
will have anything more to say on the SUBJ
ject until after he reaches this city next
Monday or Tuesday.
In answer to a direct inquiry on the sub
ject. Secretary Taft said he had not seri-
ously considered the probability Of a con-
gressional investigation Of the matter.
But there is one thing I have learned
+ that Congress can do" he said, laushingly
1T can investigate. I know that from ex-
perience, for Congress has investigated
everything I have ever had anything to do
with"
A dispatch has been received at the War
Department from Major Penrose, COM
handing the 25th Infantry at Fort Reno.
saying that the order for the discharge of
the troops under the Presidents original
order had been received and was being exc
cuted. He said the men were being mus
tered out at the rate OF twenty-five a day,
and that the mastering out would be COM
pleted by Monday.
No definite Information can be obtained
at the War Department regarding the re-
blanket discharge order has been made in
the cases Of about ten members of the
three companies concerned, who were ac-
tually absent from Brownsville at the time
of the ARRAY. Some Of these men re1oined
the companies soon after. and may have
heard something in the general barrack
gossip that might have given q possible
clue to the identity of the guilty parties.
Cannot Be Disbanded.
1t Is said at the War Department that
the three companies form part Of the reg
ular establishment of the army and cannot
be disbanded except by special legislation.
An effort will therefor be made to fill the
vacancies caused by discharges by regular
recruitment. but army officers freely ad-
NIT that it will be a long time before the
required complement can be secured.
All recruiting officers agree that 1t is a
hard matter to secure good material for
the army at $1S month, and that 1t will
take. time and trouble to recruit suitable
substitutes for the seasoned veterans who
have been discharged. 1t Is a melancholy
fact that most white Americans are unwili-
ing to undergo discipline Of a soldiers life
in time Of peace and also that the recruit
ment of foreigners is the increase
Heretofore there has been an over supply
of negro applicants, but it is not believed
that that condition will now continue. ex-
cept, possibly, among the undesirable
classes.
The recruitment of the 4st Battalion of
the 25th Infantry will be conducted by the
company officers, as otherwise they would
panies are now composed wholly Of officers,
and upon them will devolve the important
duty of filling the ranks.
Will Appeal to President.
When President Roosevelt reaches Wash
ington. he will be urged by influential poll
ticians, prominent negroes and representa-
tives Of white organizations, to reconsider
the case of the negro soldiers. The War
Department continues to receive protests
from all sections of the country. Friends
Of the soldiers have already taken steps to
have Congress investigate the case.
Preparing to Take Action.
press dispatch from New York says
that lawyers representing the Constitution
al League are now in the west taking tes-
dmony in an endeavor to establish the ex-
act facts regarding the discharge Of the
soldiers. There Is little doubt that the
league will seek legal recourse looking
toward reinstatement of the discharged SOL
diers.
New York dispatch also says that ar
rangements have been completed by citi-
zens of New York, Chicago and Philadel-
phia for bringing east the three companies
as soon as their discharge papers have been
signed. The men will be clothed and cared
for by committees selected for the purpose.
and plans have been SO arranged that any
citizen who Is interested in the case and
who desires to hear the soldiers side of the
story will have access to the men.