The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-08
WAR TALK
Three Hundred Men at Work on the Forth
ficatioDs at Fort Caswell-The Whining
ton Light Infantry Reserve Corps Will
Recruit the Regular Company

Recruit the ncRulAT COMPANY
About 300 hands are now working day
and night on the Notifications at Fort
Caswell. 1t is contemplated that the
emplacement for the fourth disappearing
gun will be ready to mount the gun by
next Tuesday. The big gun is expected
here any day by the Seaboard Air Line.
The clyde Line steamship Croatan,
which left yesterday for Georgetown,
stopped at Fort Casweli and unloaded a
large cargo Of cement which she brought
from New York.
Mr.. w. J.. Kirkham, the electrician and
expert telephone and telegraph construc-
tor, left last night for Fort Caswell to
build the government telegraph line be-
tween the fort and Southport, a distance
of three miles.
II w. L. /. RECRUITS.
A meeting OF the reserved corps of the
Wilmington Light Infantry was held last
might In the assembly hall at the arrnory
of the Wilmington Light Infantry. There
was a large attendance.
Captain ". c. James, president of the
Reserved Corps, presided, and A. p.
Adrian, the secretary OF the organfza-
ton, was at his post. Upon calling the
meeting to order Captain James request
ed Captain Don MacRae, Of the Whining
ton Light Infantry, to state the object
of the meeting.
Captain MacRae stated that the meet
ing had been called at his request. He
stated that he had made the request for
the meeting because considerable interest
had been expressed by the members Of
the Reserved Corps as to the status Of
the corps to the Wilmington Light In
fantry Company in case the company
was called into service in the event of
war. He had been asked in conversation
what his position as captain was about
the matter, and what his authority to
call out the Reserved Corps would be il
the necessity arose.
Captain MacRae said as the wal cloud
grows darker and darker, he had endeav-
ored to inform himself about the ques-
ton Of his authority to call out the Re-
served Corps, and consequently had been
in correspondence with the adjutant gen.
eral of North Carolina on the subject.
He sent to the adjutant general the sec
tions of tine 1~company's constitution re-
ferring to the Reserved Corps and also
called his attention to an act of the gen.
eral assembly of 1891, providing for the
organization of the Reserved Corps. In
DIlel Ille ACT pIONlutu lIdl Oh iieh "IO
have served five years in the company
and complied with the bylaws of the
company, can be enrolled in the Reserved
Corps and that the Reserved Corps is
subject to the call of the captain of the
Wilmington Light Infantry for service.
In his replies the adjutant general in
forms Captain MacRae that neither the
state or general government can cali out
the Reserved Corps, and that only the
captain of the Wilmington Light Infant
ny can call them into service.
After reading and commenting on the
correspondence and reading the act, Cap
tain MacRae said ne was satisfied that
he had authority to call out the Reserved
Corps, but ne would not assert it. He
would simply leave the matter to the Re-
served Corps to decide whether they
would stand by the company or not.
Captain MacRae went on to say that
all enlisted men Of the Wilmington Light
infantry company would be called out,
but il the Reserved Corps goes into SER
vice it must be voluntary. He stated that
if the emergency arises it will be neces-
sary to recruit the company up to 100
men, and as the members of the Re-
served Corps are all well drilled 1t would
be desirable to recruit the company from
that organization. If they agree to stand
10y the company, however, they must re-
enlist for some definite time. 1t was
hoped If the company is ordered into
camp it will be backed by the Reserved
Corps. He thought it would be rather
doubtful if the company could be easily
recruited up to 100 men without the Re-
served Corps. He asked for an express
sion of the views OF the members.
Captain R. H. Berry, a member of the
corps, said if the Reserved Corps went
into service it would leave Wilmington
no protection. He, therefore,, suggested
that if the Wilmington Light Infantry
Company is called away, the Reserved
Corps should remain at home and be
equipped and take charge of the COM
pany's armory.
Captain ID. T. Cronly asked Captain
IMacRae if he could give any idea of the
limit of enlistment that would be ex-
pected of the members of the Reserved
Corps.
Captain MacRae said he had not COM
municated with the adjutant general
about the length Of the time of enlist
ment, but he would communicate with
him on the subject. Captain MacRae
suggested that the term of enlistment
should be six months or a year, not less
than six months.
Captain w. H. Northrop, Jr, asked If
the members of the Reserved Corps are
not really already enlisted men of the
Wilmington Light Infantry Company. |
He held that no further enlistment was
necessary. |
Captain Cronly said he did not raise
any question about enlisting, as if his
services are needed Captain MacRae |
could put him down for his call. Gap |
plause.) |
Mr.. George Harriss, Jr., moved that
the Reserved Corps submit itself as a
body to Captain order. Gap |
plause.)
Mr.. William Ulrich seconded the mo- |