Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-21


companies by the enlisted men of the
companies whole. l could get no ex-
PLANTATION Of this apparent indifference to
the Indications of hostility that such acts
on the part Of citizens OF BROWNSVILLE dis
closed. except in one instance, where
sergeant of the company to which Private
Newton belonged said: The fact that New
ton had been assaulted made no special
impression upon him. because Newton was
liable to get into row almost any time.
and had been battered up on previous oc-
casions at Fort Niobrara.
The uniform denial on the part Of the
enlisted men concerning the 'barrack talk
in regard to these acts Of hostility upon the
part Of certain citizens Of Brownsville indi-
Gated possible general understanding
among the enlisted men of this battalion as
to the position they would take in the prem
ises. but 1 could find no evidence of such
understanding. The secretive nature OF
the race. where crimes charged to members
of their color are made. is well known.
or self-interest is the only lever by which
the casket of their minds can be pried
open. Acting upon This principle. the his
tory and record of the regiment to which
they belong. the part played by these old
soldiers in this record, were pointed out
and enlarged upon. The odIum and dis
grace to the battalion and to its individual
members by this crime were Ind Gated The
future effect upon the individuals and upon
the battalion as a whole was referred to:
and. finally, the concern of the President
of the United States in the matter his de-
sire and the desire of the War Department
to separate the innocent from the guilty
were explained; all without effect.
The Ultimatum Announced.
'The next day the battalion was pa
raded without arms. every officer and en-
listed man being present except two men
sick in hospital. The battalion was formed
in convenient arrangement. / then ad-
dressed them, stating who I was. namely,
the inspector general Of the army sent
there by order Of the President of the
United States to afford the men OF the 18th
Infantry opportunity to give such in
formation might be within their power
that would lead to the detection Of the few
men guilty of the crime of firing during the
night upon citizens of sleeping town. and
talked to them along the same lines as /
had done to the old soldiers, and. In con-
clusion. read to them the orders Of the
President and of the acting secretary Of
war in the premises.
II informed them that they would be
given until o o'clock the next day to con-
slider the matter. and that I would be &C
cessible during that limit to any soldier
who possessed information and had de-
sire to make 1t known. Only one man pre-
scented himself. and that was not to give
information. but to urge his own case for
exemption rom the penalty imposed by
the President. but still disclaiminS any
knowledge of the affair and stating his In
ability tc make any discovery connected
thercwitn: this was First Sergt Mingo San
ders, Company 3. 25th Infantry-a man
with twenty-six years service.
Il decided upon short period for the
consideration of the ultimatum given be-
cause I thought 1t more probable to bring
results. Two months had elapsed since the
uIumatum known. and 1t appeared to me
that further time for reflection was I'M
necessary, and that the time limit set by
me would be more likely to convince the
%1,.s t. On,
sure to follow: whereas if longer period
had been given it might have impressed
them with the idea that 1t was made more
in the nature of a threat for effect.
Il recommend that ordecs be issued as
soon as practicable. discharging. without
honor, every man in Companies B, and
d Of the 18th Infantry. serving at Fort
Brown. Tex, on the night OIL August b.
1896. and forever debarring them from re-
enlisting in the army or navy of the United
States, we'll as from employment in any
civil capacity under the government. In
making this recommendation 1 recognize
the fact that number of men WHO have
no direct knowledge as to the identity of
the men of the 18th Infantry who actually
fired the shots on the night of the 18th of
August 1906, will incur this extreme PEN
atty.
Troops Stand Together.
1t has been established, by careful inves-
tigation, beyond reasonable doubt that the
firing into the houses of the citizens Of
Brownsville. while the inhabitants thereof
were pursuing their peaceful vocation 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 BrowI
After due opportunity and notice, the eh-s
listed men of the 18th 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 re-
late all the Observation-Disclosures pre-
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 d.
termination to resist the detection of the
guilty: therefore they should stand together
when the penalty falls. forceful lessen
especially 10 the non-commiss;oned 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 thai
their responsibilities Of office accompany
them everywhere and at all times: that it
is their duty to become thoroughly ac-
quainted with the Individual members of
their respective units; to know their char
acteriSticS. to be able at all times to gag,
their temper in order to discover the be-
ginning of discomfort of mutinous inten-
lions. and to anticipate any organized act
of disorder: that they must no ify 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 uniform of the army
are their protectors. ard not midnight az
sassins CT riotous 'disturbers of the peace
OF the community in which they may be
stationed"