The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-11
WATCH on NEGRO SOLDIERS.
More Troops ordered TO Fort Reno. where
Companies Are 10 BE. Discharged.

More Troops Ordered to Fort Reno, where
Companies Are TO ne. Discharged.
Ell RENO, Okla, Nov. IO.-Ihe second bat
talon Of the Twenty-sixty Infantry, COM
posed of four companies, will arrive at Fort
Reno tomorrow morning from San An
tonic, Tex. Major Charles W. Penrose.
commanding at Fort Reno, a advised
only yesterday afternoon Of the forwarding
OF the four companies from the headquar-
tiers OF the Department Of Texas. There
are already three companies at Fort Reno
besides the three negro companies OF the
Twenty-tifth, which are to be discharged
without honor.
Some OF the disgraced soldiers believe
that the extra troops are being brought here
for the purpose Of further humiliating them
by giving the public the idea that they are
likely to make trouble when they get their
discharge. The dsgraced negroes have
been models in behavior nee their transfer
to Fort Reno and the post officers say that
any trouble arising because Of their dis
charge Is out OF the question.
The negroes say that the Washington
dispatches which tell OF Gen. Garlington's
thorough investigation Of the Brownsville
rioting are untrue In many respects. They
deny that he questioned all the men OF
the three companies privately concerning
the affair. Several said to-day that the
General refused to let them tell their
stories OF the trouble
IF we started to say anything the
negroes say, that tended to show the in
nocence Of ourselves, he would say: AL
right, that's all for YOU Everybody who
heard that shooting knows that there were
dozens Of shots fred that night that did
not come from army guns. We heard and
could detect shots from s~ixshooters, VIM
ohesters Sprinkfields.l'
Many of the negroes who are to be dis
charged busted themselves sorting out and
packing I'd their belongings, which they
the post. The majority Of them say that
they are going directly to their homes.
Some OF the ounger men are waiting for
the day OF their discharge with impatience.
A half dozen said this afternoon that they
bad had enough Of army life:
possible trouble following the dismissal
Of the negro soldiers Of the Twenty-fifth
Infantry as a result OF the riots at Browns
vile, Tex, last August, the War Depart
ment has ordered q battalion Of the Twenty
sixth Infantry 70 Fort Reno, Oklahoma, the
arc to be discharged. Il has been reported
to the War Department that some Of
the negroes who are members Of the
companies upon which the disgrace has
fallen are In a sullen mood. and that there
may be some disturbances. As q ,precau-
LkOLAIy - AaO 1gk8A hAtCbb nus 0O-
clded 10 send a battalion OF white soldiers
to the fort. They are nov On route 70 Fort
Reno from Fort Sam Houston.
The formal order OF the dismissal Of
the members Of Companies b, C and D
Of the Twenty-nfth Regiment, certain un-
known members Of which participated
in the riots, was Issued by tho Var Depart
ment by direction OF the President. Il dis
charges h men without honor and forever
debars them from reenlisting In the army
or navy, as well as from employment Ia
any civil capacity under the Government.
The only consideration shown them Is the
allo OF travel pay, which will enable
them TO leave Fort Reno and may thus
tend 70 avert trouble.
Il In said that this Is the FIRST instance
where the President has exercised his legal
authority 70 discharge without honor en-
listed men from the army without trial.
II Ii said, however, that there In some seri-
Gus discussion as TO his ability to d~isaualifv
them perpetually from holding any civil
position under the GovernrVspt. 10 10 -
that there IL no statute sexhs an s~-a
20 ver, n he cannot hInn tne B~---- sad
preroptyes Of bis SUCCESSORS N onos,