The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-29
MAJOR PENROSE MUSTEXPLAN
ANOTHER OFFICER IN TROUBLE
OVER NEGRO SOLDIERS.
He Is Quoted as saying That No Court In the
World wouId Consider the charges
Against the Negro soldiers Dismissed
at Fort Rene by the Presidents order.

at Fort Rene by the Presidents order.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2s.-Major Charles w.
Penrose of the Twenty-hfth infantry has
been called upon by the War Department
to make ar explanation Of remarks at
tributed TO him at Fort Reno, 0kA.. yester-
day, when the last of the three companies
Of the T~wenty-ifth Infantry we're dismissed
| from the army without honor because OF
the participation Of some Of the members
Of the organization in the riot at Browns
vile, Tex, in August. Major Penrose was
quoted in newspaper dispatches as follows;
Here goes the last Of the best disciplined,
best behaved and best regulated battalion
in the United States Army
is the statement for publication Major
Penrose, according to the report, was
asked.
vouch for it anywhere, backed by my army
record. will add that there was but little
evidence to convict these brave men. NO
court in the world would consider the
charges seriously
This direct reflection upon his superiOrs.
not only those who investigated re-
ported to the President On the Brownsville
affair, but on the President az well. attracted
immediate attention at the White House
and the War Department, and it was decided
that Major Penrose should be directed TO
report upon the accuracy of the interview.
If he acknowledges having said that the
charges would not have been upheld by
any court in the world and that there was
little evidenc against the men dismissed
there will be further action by the war
Department. He can be court-martiailed
for violating one OF the articles OF war IN
the army regulations prohibiting criticism
OF s%uperiors.
Major Penroae is the second officer OF the
army TO become involved with the Depart
ment on the question Of the dismissal oil the
negro soldiers. Col. William l.. Pitcher OF
the Twenty-seventh Infantry was quoted
in a newspaper as saying that a squadOn
OF the Ninth Cavalry would never have been
sent without protest 10 Fort Sheridan, H.,
where the Twenty-seventh was stationed
until odered TO Cuba in October, II he were
10 remain in command there. He was re-
ported to nav added that he did not see
why the army had such soldiers when fine
white young men could be recruited, ana
that the further away the blacks were from
him the better he liked il. The President
directed the War Department TO order
Col. Pitcher to report upon the accuracy of
the interview, and 1.-The was correctly quoted
TO proceed against him. Col. Pitcher,
however, has denied that he ever made the
statements attributed to him, and the case
has apparently been dropped.
The published report of Major Penrose's
remarks, il accurate, puts the officer in a
very embarrassing position, and If the case
is proved against him it may result seriously.
The Presidents position in the Brownsville
matter il made still harder by what Major
Penrose is reported 10 have said. Most Of
the officers of the army in Washington
support the Presidents order dismissing
the three companies of the Twenty-ffth,
and the step has been recognized as one
which necessity demanded. A deluge of
protests have come TO the White House,
but have had no effect.
The President Is remaining firm in the
matter, and will not alter the effect Of his
order unless some tangible new evidence
cence or lack of knowledge on the part OF
those among the dismissed men in whose
behalf il is offered.