The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-12-06
Secretary Taft Defends War De-
 patments Course
.C0NNIVEO AT THE CRIME
He Says No Obligation of comradeship Should Have Prevented the Me- sroes From Telling
 the Truth.

Washington, December 5.--In his annual report Secretary Taft devotes considerable space to a defense and explanation Of the course of the war department in con neetion with the discharge without honor from the military service of the battalion of the Twenty-fifth infantry, which was stationed at Brownsville, Tex, last sum mer.
 The secretary details the events of tho night of August l3 involving the Shoot ing up of the town" of Brownsville by anywhere from nine to twenty members of this battalion. He Is exceedingly se- we're in his condemnation of rvn-comnis- stoned officers of the battalion for fall- ing to discover and report the perpetra- ton of outrage and of the enlisted men of the battalion, who by maintaining silence, when as he says they must nive known the guilty parties, connved at the crime.
 He insists that no obligation of con- radeship should prevent the men from telling the truth. He indicates that such men as are guitless may be re-enlieted. l The extract follows:
 Heinous Breach of Discipline. l am very sorry to record a most seri- ous breach of discipline and the commis- sion of a heinous crime by certain mem bers of a battalion of the Twenty-ffth infantry, Companies B, c and D. on the night of the 18th and the morning oe the 14th of August, at Fort Brown, Brownsville. Tex.
 In June last objections was made to the stationing of this battalion at Fort Brown by resident of Brownsville In letter transmitted through Senator Cul- person, to which the following answer was made:
 War Department, Washington, D. C., June 1, 19Q6 Hon. c. A. Culberson. United States Sem
 ate. Washington. D. c.
 My Dear Senator: I have the honor to acknowledge receipts of your note of | June 1. transmitting letter from Mir. | Sam P. Wreford of Brownsville Tex, stating certain objections to the statoning | of negro troops at Fort Brown, and in 1 reply to say that the matter of possible objections of this character very carefully considered before the order was made, and l regret that l cannot see my way clear to rescind it.
 The fact is that a certain amount of race prejudice between white and black seems to have become almost universal throughout the country, and no matter where colored troops are sent there are always some who make objections to their coming It is a fact. however, as shown by our records. that colored troops are quite as well disciplined and behaved as the average of other troops, and it does not seem logical to anticipate any greater trouble from them than from the rest. Friction occasionally arises with incorporate soldiers wherever they are stationed, but the records of the army also tend to show that white soldiers average a greater degree of intemperanee than colored ones. It has sometimes hap pened that communities which objected to the coming of colored soldiers, have, on account of their good conduct. entirely changed their views and commended their good behavior to the war department.
 change of station was necessary for these colored troops, and one-thlrd of the regiment Ca battalion) had already been sent to Fort Bliss. Tex, more than six months ago. Since that time no com plaint concerning their conduct has reached the war department, so far as l know. 1t was also necessary to send the entire regiment to the same locality and to have sent It anywhere else would nave involved two moves for the battalion now at Fort Bliss within about six months This would have been in- justice to the troops concerned and would in addition, have entailed con siderable extra expense upon the gov- ernment.
 Trusting this explanation may be satis- factory to your constituents, l remain, very truly yours, VIM. H. TAFT,