The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1906-12-19

WASHINGTON. Dec. is.-Presi- I
dent Roosevelt today iu special /
message. IN reply 10 the srnate'a res /
uIutlan asking for an explanation ~ 1
hts action in dtsmisning an entire I
caiafsd rsRimeut for the recent out I
RACES st nravnsville. Texas relates 4
the incident tu detail as follows;
In response 60 the sauhte rcHolu- I
ton Of Dee s. herewith send the /
report Of the secretary u war and /
Gen Nettleton. together with docu- l
ments. other reports and memoranda I
as 10 presidents for the summary !
discharge ~ mastering out - rcEi- I
ments or companies some or an % 4
which are guilty Of misconduct / I
ordered the discharge Of tho come /
pauien after full consideration. find |
tng Il my constitutional duty as
COMMUNICATIVE chief OF the army. |
LsNlsss. Murdsrous Spirit
I append the reports Of Maj /
HiackHan. Lieut. : Col Lowering and I
Gen. Darlington. There appears 10 /
be considerable feeling between the |
eItissHs IF Brownsville aud the gar |
rison Ia their differences. Both sides I
ara to hiamr. bat this Is wholly un- |
important as nothing occurred I
which offered in any way or shape /
an excuse or justification for the /
atroalnua conduct OF the troops |
when. In iawless and murderous !
spirit. under cover OF night they I
made en- attack upon the citizens.
Fired on Women and Children.
Nine 10 twenty colored soldiers /
took part IN the attack. lcaped over |
the wallis and hurried through the /
town. fItluR at whomsoevcr They /
saw. and shooting into houses where /
they saw lights The would-bo muir I
dcrers must have known that lu the /
houses were many women and chill |
drrn. Ten shots were fired into one |
house where two women aud five /
children we're. aud that they cs- /
capped Is remarkable.
a lieutenant 81 police rode TO- /
ward the firing and saw flftccn COLI |
orcd soldiers They killed his horse /
and shot away the right arm " the |
officer. which later had to be Hm-
putated They shot into saloon !
and killed a bartender. No iudivid- |
uul raiders were recognized. al- |
agree that they were negro soldiers |
Negroes Started Trouble.
shattered bullets. shells and clips |
from government rifles were found |
on the ground. the only corrobora- !
tive evidence being the house rid |
died. Not bullet hole appeared iu |
any structure Of the fort thus dis
proving the negro contention that |
the citizens started the firing
The citizens were taken wholly /
unawurca. and no private soldier /
could have secured rifle unless |
non eommlssIaned officer unlocked I,
the gun rack for him. and all the /
evidence proves that others than the 1
participants IN the raid and perhaps /
all Of the command know OF the con-
spiaey and the identity OF the raid
ors.
Silent Comrades Guilty.
THE comrades OF the murderors
by their own actions rendered 70
necessary either % leave an tho
men, including the murdercrs. On On,
army OF Co turn them an out uui
under such circumstances there was
no other alternative. FOR the uscful- |
ness of the army would be 10 nn end.
and II permitted such outraEcs couif
be committed With IMMUNITY
To Terrsrife Community
In short. the evidence po,,r,lr
olusiVely that Is number of s1lr,
nraged in a deliberate and cln