The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-08

DeRosset's view of the matter, but he
said men who had served out their five
years enlistment could get their honora-
BILE discharge, but men who had resigned
from the regular company before serv-
ing out their five years could not get
their honorable. discharge and would be
subject to serve out the five years, il
called on. The fact that many who have
not received their discharge was due
probably to the negligence Of himself or
mis- predecessors and he would not take
advantage of that. II the regular company
Is called out for service, every enlisted
man physically able to go and as many
Of the Reserved Corps as would enlist
again would be taken along. He stated
that at the meeting Of the regular COM
pany Mondya night he would offer a reso-
luton to abolish the initiation fee for the
present, in order to recruit the com
pany. At present the company consists
of A or 46 men, including three commis-
stoned Toficers.
CapsptH w. N. Harriss said he theugh
it was settled thai Captain MacRae had
a legal right to call out the Reserved
| Corps and as for himself, he was ready
to answer the call at any time.
Mr.. Parker renewed lis question about
the number Of guns on hand and the
number of men in the company and the
Reserved Corps.
Captain MacRae having stated the
number OF men in the company, Presi-
dent James said there are about fifty
men in the Reserved Corps.
Mr. George Harriss, Jr~, renewed his
motion the the Reserved Corps consider
.-NJe 4 49, III -1 49, r.
Rae, and it was una nimously adopted.
Captain w. N Hariss suggested that
the Reserved Corps be equipped, as the
act of 1891 provides for it's equipment.
Captain MacRae replied that he would
do all he could to secure equipments and
thanked the members of the corps for
their action, saying he was a member OF
the corps himself.
The Hon. A. M. Waddell was called
for, and he responded in a short talk. He
said if there is a war there will be no
question about equipping the men, as the
United States government would do that.
He said, however, that a war with Spain
would be a naval and artillery fight and
| he did not think there would be much
use for infantry, except to garrison the
| coast. He remarked that it had already
Deen Sdlu dL uuc uOTlH ina SOUTHERN
troops should be used in Cuba, if any
troops are to be sent there, as they are
acclimated, and again that the south
would have to do most of the fighting, as
that part Of our country is most likely
to be invaded. He remarked that he
thought it was very proper that the
south is acting in a dignified way over
the prospect of wa and while the south
will do it's duty, the north must do it's
part of the fighting. He said he had just
returned from Charleston and that while
he was there seven men deserted from
the United States monitor Puritan. He
| laughingly said none Of them were south
ern men. He learned at Florence yes
terday that two of the deserters were
captured 1T Columbia and would be taken
back to the Puritan. Colonel Waddell was
heartily applauded.
MIR. N. F. Parker moved that Captain
MacRae make requisition for equipments
for the Reserved Corps.
MIR. George Harriss seconded the mo-
ton, and after discussion, it was adopted.
On motion, the meeting adjourned.