The Washington herald., 1907-09-13
NEGRO TROOPS VEX
Department Recalls Regi-
ment from Philippines.
ORDERED TO NEW YORK STATE
Soldiers Are Not Due To
Arrive Until Next February, Resi-
dents in Vicinity of Fort Ontario
and Madison Barracks Have Al
ready Made Protest Against Action.

BY an order issued yesterday by the
War Department, the Twenty-fourth In
fantry, now on duty in the Philippines, IS
to be brought home and stationed at
Fort Ontario. Oswego. n. Y. and Madi-
son Barracks. near Watertown, y. y
The Twenty-fourth Infantry is one of the
four colored organizations in the army,
required by law, and In view of the gen
cral objection to coiored troops at almost
every post, the problem Of assigning those
now about 10 return home has been a
serious one with the department
The department desires 10 avoid the
possibility Of a repetition Of the Browns
vile affair in which a part Of the Twen-
ty-ffth Infantry. coloTcd, is alleged 10
have been implicated. and It will proba-
bly, be a long time before any of the
negro regiments are stationed in the
South Aside from this consideration.
however. and the one which department
officials declare largely governed in the
decision to send the colored men 10 New
York posts. Is the fact that these troops
have been in tropical service for two
years and are now entitled. under the
policy Of the department, 10 service in a
cooler climate.
Due I'm February.
The regiment is due TO arrive at these
stations February 10 next The headquar-
ters. band. and two battalions. to be Sc
lected by the regimental commander, will
be assigned to Madison Barracks, and one
battalion TO Fort Ontario. While the de-
partmeut is appEehenSive Of protests from
citizens Of Oswego and Watertown against
the assignment Of colored soldiers TO the
posts in the vicinity Of these two cities,
the fact remains that they must be
stationed somewhere, and Madison Bar
racks and Fort Ontario were the most
available.
In fact. it is said that representations
have already been made against the pro-
posed action of the department, although
Il was stated at the department yesterday
that no formal protests had been made,
due, doubtless, to the fact that 1t was not
definitely known what disposition would De
made Of the regiment.
II IS likely that appeals 10 the depart
ment and protests against the presence
Of the Twenty-fourth Regiment at Mad
ison Barracks and Fort Ontario viii
avail nothing. for the department IS firm
in its determination that the colored men
shall remain there during the regular
tour Of duty.
Movements of Other Regiments.
The Third Cavalry Is also to DE brought
home and Will be assigned 20 Fort sam
Houston and Fort Clark, Tex. It viii be
replaced in the islands by the First Cav
airy. now at Fort Sam Houston and Fort
Clark. The other regiments 10 be ex-
changed are the Twenty-third Infantry,
TO relieve the Second Infantry; the
Fourth Infantry, to relieve the Eighth
Infantry, and the Seventh Infantry, 20
relieve the First Infantry. The Four
teenth Infantry relieves the Twenty
fourth. The Fourteenth is % leave San
Francisco January ., the Twenty-third. (
February E; the Fourth, March .. and
the Seventh, April 3.
The Second Infantry will go 20 Fort
WAYNE. Mich, Fort Brady Mich. and
Fort Thomas. Ky. The Eighth VIII 60 90
the Preside. San Francisco. temporarily. .
and the First viii go to Vancouver Bar