Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-11-10
TROOPS in DISGRACE
President Orders Dismissal of
Entire Negro Battalion.
HAD DISHONORED UNIFORM IN RIOT
Colonel W. l.. Pitcher Censured by
Roosevelt and May he brought TO
Court Martial For Abuse of
Colored Soldiers.


WASHINGTON, Nov. T.--Unprece-
dented in the history of the army OF
the United States is the action Of the
president, just announced, in dismiss
ing in disgrace from that army an en-
tire battalion Of colored troops because
of their failure to disclose the identity
of some of their number who had been
guilty Of violence and murder.
AS an evidence, however of his in
tentlon to be fair to the colored troops
the president has accompanied this act
by an order which may amount to the
court martial of white army officer
of high grade who was charged with
having cast slurs upon the colored
troops.
The story of both actions Is told In
the following official correspondence
made public by the military secretary:
The report of an investigation made
by Brigadier General r. A. Darlington.
inspector general of the army, rela-
tive to the riotous disturbance that oc-
Cured at Brownsville, Tex, on the
night of Aug. 13. 1906, and that re-
suited in the death Of one and the
wounding of another citizen of that
city has been considered and acted
upon by the president.
1.-THE following is the concluding por-
ton of General Garlington's report,
which embodles the recommendations
that by direction of the president will
be carried into effect Immediately by
the war department:
IL recommend that orders be issued
as soon as practicable discharglng
without honor every man in Compa-
MES r, G and ID of the Twenty fifth
infantry, serving at Fort Brown. Tex,
on the night of Aug. 10, 1906, and for
ever debarrlng them from re-enlsting
in the army or navy Of the United
States as well as from employment In
any civil capacity under the govern
ment. In making this recommends
ton / recognize the fact that num-
Der of men who have no direct knowl-
edge as to the identity of the men Of
the Twenty-fifth infantry who actually
fired the shots on the night Of the 18th
of August, 1906, will incur this ex-
IRENE penalty
at has been established by careful
investigation beyond reasonable doubt
that the firing into the houses OF the
citizens of Brownsville while the in
habitants thereof were pursuing their
peaceful vacations 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 en-
listed men of the Twenty-fifth infan-
try, belonging to the battalion station
ed at Fort Brown. After due oppor-
tunity and notice the enlisted men OF
the Twenty-ffth infantry have failed
to tell all that il is reasonable TO be
lieve they know concerning the shoot
ing
There has appeared In the public
press the following account OF a state
ment alleged to have been made with
regard to the matter by Colonel VII.
liam J.. Pitcher, Twenty in
fantry:
The negro troops would never have
been quartered at Fort Sheridan with
out Il protest IL | was to remain In
command here said Colonel Pitcher.
i never liked them, and the farther
away from me they are kept the better
1t pleases me. For the life of me
cannot see why the United States
should try to make soldiers out of
them. Certainly there are enough fine
white young men In this big country
to make soldiers of without recruiting
from such source
This alleged statement by Colonel
Pitcher having been brought to the
attention Of the president the follow
ing communication with regard 10 II
was sent TO the war department by
Secretary Loeb:
The president directs that an i'm
mediate report be called for from Colo
mel Pitcher to know whether or not he
Is correctly quoted in the Enclosed clip.
ping, and If he Is correctly quoted the
president directs that proceedings be
taken against him for such punish
ment as can be inflicted The president
thinks that such conduct is but little
better than that Of the offending negro
troops themselves