The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-03-25
lLlITlA's SUMMER EEAAeeAIIAPMEHT EEAeIIIIIlP
General Frost Has Received In
portant Telegram From War
Department.

Gen. John D. Frost received te!e-
gram Yesterday afternoon from the
war department relative to the enllst-
ment of the militia of South Carolina IN
tine to participate in the distribution
of the government appropriation TOR
uniforms and equipments and for the
annual encampment. The government
will send regular army officers here to
look into the formation of the militia,
and as soon as their reports shall have
been fled the supplies will be forward
ed. For that reason Gen. Frost is
very anxious for the companies to
complete their organization before the
first of April, this being the year Tor
re-enlistment.
In the telegram from the war de-
partment yesterday Gen. Frost was
Informed that the department is ready
to issue magazine arms and equip
ments under section 3 of the new MILL
tia law as soon as it can be determined
by personal inspection by army OIL
GERS the number of arms required Tor
the militia of South Carolina. Col:
Parker, the assistant adjutant general
of the United States, asks that the
secretary of war be notified at once
of the earliest date and the place
where inspectors can visit each OF the
militia Organizations OF the State;
Gen. Frost thinks it to the interest OF
the companies to reenlist at once SO
that they may be included in the dis
tribution of new rifles. This State
will get s37, 900 worth of equi pments.
The new law provides also that the
federal government will bear the ex-
penses of the militia on their summer
encampments for military instruction.
Gen. Frost has no definite plans in re-
gard to the best time and place for
holding the encampment, and before
taking any action he will confer with
the heads of the departments OF the
State militia. He does think, however,
that it would be unwise to hold a big
general encampment here fair week, as
the members of the militia companies
would be unable to leave their work,
and the companies would not turn out
their full strength. Furthermore, the
purpose for which the encampment is
held is to teach the militia field move
menus In OaGGallOHS, iOS1n0''oo, WV
and this purpose could not be accom-
plished in Columbia during the excite
ment upon the fair.
Gen. Frost will call into cons1!ta-
tion at the proper time Gen. Willie
Jones, the head of the infantry brig
ade; Col. j. r. Sparkman Of George
town, head of the cavalry; Coils. J. q.
BOYD, D. o. Herbert and Henry
Schachte Of the three infantry regi-
ments; Commander r. 81. Pinckney
of the naval militia and Capt. +. W.
WAGNER of the artillery. The best
times and places of encampment will
be decided in this way. Gen. Frost
seems to think that regimental en-
campments would be satisfactory.
Col. Parker, the assistant adjutant
general, was lieutenant colonel of the
Twelfth New York during the war
with Spain and was encamped& at
Chickamauga when Gen. Frost was
there as adjutant Of the First South
Carolina. On account of their pleas
ant acquaintance at that time Gen.
Frost is trusting that South Carolina
will have ga friend in court" and will
get her equipments at an early date
The State, March %. .-