Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-22
EXCEPTIONS ARE MADE
Order Diminishing CoIored In
fantrymen Modified.
THE ABSENT NOT PUNISHED
Believed That Taft's Action Will Be
Approved.
DIRECTIONS TO DARLINGTON
Original Recommendation for Whole
sale Discharge Made by Mai. Block
som and Adopted by President
THE ABSENT NOT PUNISHED
DIRECTIONS TO DARLINGTON

In directing that the proceedings for the
discharge of the enlisted men of the LIST
| Battalion of the 25th Infantry, he con-
| tinued, Secretary Taft has made an ex-
| ception in the cases Of 1.-THE members who
were on furlough at the time of the
! BROWNSVILLE AFFAIR. and three members who
are to be tried by court-martial," who, it
is stated. will not be mustered out"
According to the official reports, there
| were nine members of the battalion absent
at the time OF the riot five of Company B.,
| three of Company c and one of Company
| ID, but of that list two only were absent
| "on .furlough." The other seven were at
| other posts or in the hospital. Although
not so stated, it is naturally inferred that
the Secretary's order of exemption from
| discharge includes all the members who
| were physically absent from the army post
on the night of the trouble, whether they
| were actually ION furlough" or not.
On His Own Responsibility.
In taking this action Secretary Taft is be-
lieved to have acted on his own responsible
| ity and without specific instructions from
| the President. The recommendation of Gen.
Darlington, approved by the President,
called for "the discharge without honor of
every enlisted man in Companies B, c and
d CT the 18th Infantry serving at Fort
Brown, Texas, on the night of August ID,
1906" etc. No exceptions were made, and
arrangements were made for the discharge
of the entire three companies.
The President will undoubtedly approve
Secretary Taft's action, as it is not con-
ceivable that there ever was any intention
| to punish any of the members of the bat
talon who were not at Brownsville at the
| time of the outbreak.
| Inspector General Darlington, who Is a
! native Of South Carolina, has been gener-
| ally held responsible for the drastic pun
| ishment meted out to the dismissed bat
to1i So H. - o.,
| sert that he has been unjustly criticised
| in that connection, and point out that in
| recommending the discharge of the entire
battalion, the innocent as well as the
| guilty, he but followed the specific instruc-
| tons Of the President through the War
| Department.
| Order to Gen. Darlington.
| To sustain their contention they refer to
the original order issued by Gen. Oliver,
acting secretary of war, directing Gen. Gar
| lington to investigate the conduct of the
battalion of the 25th Infantry, 'believed
| to have participated in the riotous disturb
ance at Brownsville, Texas, on the night OF
| the 18th of August, 1906, resulting in the
death of one and the wounding of another
citizen of that CITY," That order is dated
| October 4. 1906 and contained the follow
| ing specific instructions to Gen. Darlington:
| The President authorizes you to make
| known to those concerned the orders given
\ by him In this case, namely: If the guilty
parties cannot be discovered the President
| approves the recommendation that the
| whole three companies implicated in this
| atrocious outrage should be dismissed and
| the men forever debarred from re-enlisting
| in the army or navy of the United States
| And in this connection the President
| further authorizes you to make known to
those concerned that unless such enlisted
| men of the 18th Infantry as may have
knowledge of the facts relating to the
| shooting, killing and riotous conduct on the
part OF the men with the organizations serv-
ing at Fort Brown, Tex. on the night of
| the 18th Of August, 1906 report to you
such facts and all other circumstances
| within their knowledge which will assist
in apprehending the guilty parties, orders
| Will be Immediately issued from the War
| Department discharging every man in Com
panles b, and D of the 25th Infantry
| without honor, and forever debarring them
from re-enlisting in the army or navy OF
the United States, as well as from employ
| ment In any civil capacity under the gov
| eminent.
Maj. Blocksom's Recommendation.
The recommendation referred to above
was made by Maj. A. P. Blocksom of the
| inspector generals department, who made
| the original investigation at Brownsville
except that there is difference in the Ian.
guage employed. Maj. Blocksom's recon-.
mendation In his report of August % was
| as follows:
IF satisfactory evidence concerning iden
tity of the criminals does not come from
| members of the battalion before a certain
date. to be fixed by the War Department.
! recommend that all enlisted men of the
| three companies present the night OF
August IL be discharged the service and de-
| barred from re-enlistment In the army
navy or Marine Corps"