The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-03-27
Gen. Watts Trip North.
What he has to say About the
Result Attained.

Adjutapt General John Gary Watts
yesterday returned from Washington
and other points North. The objects
of his trip have already been given the
public When seen yesterday aud
asked about bis trip and its results,
General Watts said:
1 "Wbeu l got to Washington | found
hat both the United States Senators
and our Congressman had returned
home so that. in the absence of an op-
I~portuuity for an introduction to the Sec
|%ressry Of War aud the Secretary Of the
Navy by one OF them. which - Gus
tomary, l called upon our friend Cap
tain Capers. who. as one OF the United
States attorneys, has business from
time to time with the government OH .
Gals. Captain Capers aud myself
went over to the war, state and navy
departments. and met some of the pow.
ers that be- He then LETT me to full
Eli my mission.
I bad a long aud very satisfactory
talk With Secretary Herbert of the
navy department. and with Lieutenant
Schul,ze, and afterward met the As
sistaut Secretary of War. John B Doe.
These officials treated me with great
courtesy, aud were very much inter
ested in our military organization and
in orr navy reserve.
81 called the navy departments
attention. to the fact that South Caro-
lima had Dot received an appropriation
for the naval reserve since 1892.
found the department under the 'mpres.
sion that We had no intention of keep.
ing up onr oaval reserve, but when
reviewed the disastrous effects al! along
the coast as q result Of the recent terri
BILE storms, | found no trouble in con-
vinciog them that our efforts since that
time, and the purpose Of this visit. 10
dicated in no uncertain way that we
intended 70 60 ahead and keep up our
naval reserve force. In the Office OF
the Auditor of the Navy l succeeded
in securing the promise of an appro-
pristion for 1898. the prospect for
which has very gloomy up to this time.
Of course | did not lose the opportu-
nifty to speak of the Charleston and
Port Royal harbors and Of our mag.
ui6cent coast exposure, so we'll adapted
to the purposes aud practices Of a IA
val reserve force. I called their atten-
ton to the fact that appropriations are
made according to the States repre-.
s~ensation in Congress and not by The
relative numerical strength OF the
States militia.
Secretary Herbert, as you no doub'
know, is a South C%arolioian. aud from
my old home, Laurens; in fact. he
was a school mate Of my fathers. q
matter which be himself brought to my
attention, and We talked of mutuaI
friends in the Piedmont section for
quite awhile.
81 6ually succeeded 10 getting one
three.inch guu aud two small boats aud
the promise of the Yaotic. or a monitor
to be loaned as for practice and use 90
vi coast. AS to just what vessel
will select 1 have not get decided.
..Io the war department va:
equally successful 10 making arrange
mepts which will greatly benefit oul
militia.
Eyes, you are right ; the head off
Gals did seem to think / was quite
a young man for the position CT Ad'
jutaut General and Inspector Genera
Of the State of South Carolina. The
Assistant Secretary Of War pleasantly
referred to it. but I had au equa,''y
pleasant retort on him, who is himsel
quite a young man, and. prior to hold
ing the position he now occupies, wa'
Adiusant General of New Jersey at my
age.
:.From Washington I visited Balti
more. Philadelphia aud New York
where l had personal interviews Will
the leading manufacturers of arms ant
military equipments, and, as a result
of my visi. to those places, | will b.
able to secure them at a much lowe
price than We have yet been able to &c
them for."-Ihe State.