The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-02-12
He IeStifies at Hearing on
Brownsville
ONE OF THE TWENTY FIFTH
So Far His Evidence Is the Most Inn
portant-H He Heard the Order to
Break Racks Given by the
Lieutenant.

Washingtou, Feb IL AIingo Sand
ers, who Vas discharged from the army
without honor, after twenty six years
honorable service, was the star witness
before the Senate Committee on Mill
tary Affairs today, Sanders was the
first sergeant of b Company, Twenty
fifth Infantry, and WAS one Of several
Of tae discharged soldiers whose re.en-
listment WAS recommended BY the In
speetof general OF the army, Brigadier
General Darlington, who believed them
to be without any knowledge OF the
affair. The application Of Sanders y
now before TIC Department. lie will
probably BE sre-enlisted. Senator Lodge
was acting chairman when Sanders was
under examination, but was later
obliged to attend a meeting Of the con
ferTees on the immigration bill. Most
Hof the morning session was takel m
"a tlie detailed description Of the
method of issuing ammunition 10 the
men ana how target practice Is conduct
ed. Sanders viii be cross examined this
afternoon.
Sanders testified that when he was
discharged last November without hon
or, he had served twenty six years six
months and twenty three days in the
army, more than three years Of which
had been spent 10 Cuba and the Philip
pines. He had never been court mar
tailed, or even rebuked, and had never
had any trouble during his whole ser.
vice. He was asleep the night Of Aug
y IA IA a. ss~h
yards or more defiant from the quarters
house, These were the quarters where
the married non commissioned officers
live, with their families. Sanders was
awakened BY his wife, who had first,
been aroused BY the family Of another
1Hon.com At first Sanders thought
that there was a fire, but when he heard
the call to arms, he said. "that isn't
fire." hMrriedly dressed and rushed out
in the direction Of b Company quarters.
Ills testimony MT this point deeply in
terested the committee. lie continued:
while l was going 10 my quarters the
bullets were whizzing over my head
from the direction OF the town. As
passed BY TIE quarters Of one com
pany, ! heard an officer, whose voice
say; Where are your gnnsG The men
said they were locked up in the racks.
Break open the racl1s, said this officer"
Abort this time Sanders testimony was
cut short, the hour Of noon having
arrived
Sanders told Of finding lis own com
paug ia confusion and Of his efforts to
stTaighten 1t ont. He said he found
sasne 81 them down on their knees and
that others were yelling to put out the
Lantern 50 that IL would not furnish 3
target for persons to shoot at q told
the men to stand mp and be soldiers, and
ii was bettar 70 be shot In the ranks
than ont said Sanders when the
men did net stand up | told them some
other things | don't want to repeat
here" On cross examination Sanders
said that it was linked firing" He
thought II came from six-shootefs,
Winchestefs and Mausers Tho cross.
discrimination had not been concluded at
the moon recess,
Sanders win appear again this after
noon and continue his testimony.
! Sanders Is tf.e first witness who has
been specific in telling Of hearing an
officer give the order 70 break open the
racks If this be verified, 1t win be
the most important fact yet brought ont
By the inquiry, as the broken gun racks
OF G Company have always been re-
garded "a damaging evidence against
the soldiers The committee viii ques.
tion the officers very closely on this
point. when taey are examined, At
present tho officers Of the b, c and D
companies are al Brownsville IN al
tendance upon the court martial Of
Major penrose.
II is expected the examinations Of
tho former members Of g Company win
began tomorrow. The various appro-
priation bills and other important
measures pressing for attention il
Senate and committees, prevent the
majority Of The Military Committee
from giving much attention to Browns.
I VilIn