The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-03-18
ExeRaRGE OF RIFLES
WILL BEGIN 1T ONCE.


Adiutant General Frost returned
Wednesday morning from Washington,
whittier he went last Sunday night on
matters Of great concern TO the militia
OF South Carolina. He expressed him
self yesterday as much gratihed as the
result OF his mission, and at the cor
dial treatment accorded him by the
officials of the war department.
He went on TO see II he could not
arrange with the war department for
an immediate exchange Of old for new
rifles and uniforms for the militia,
saving the freight bills for two ship
ments.
he called to see the secretary of war
in company with Senator Latimer,
and WIS received by Assistant Secre.
tary Of War Sanger An the absence or
Secretary Root. Gen. Frost says he
was warmly received and after going
over the provisions of the new act OF
congress It was determined that South
Carolina could at once proceed to ex-
change the Springfield rifles and cart
ridges for the new krag-Jorgensen,
magazine rifles. The requisltion Will
90 forward shortly.
Ths SECRETARY of war has been SO
busy since tho adjournment OF congress
that he has been unable as yet to
Mace contracts for the furnishing OF
The new regulation olive drab uni
forms. consequently they will not be
issued for some time. The department.,
however. has allowed Gen. Frost to
make reouisition for khaki uniforms
md camnaion hats for the State mill
tia for the summer. This requisitlon
will be sent on at once. The present
blue uniforms will be continued IN the
service until the olive drab suits are
available. ,
) Gen. Frost asked for authority to
loan to certain schools in the State,
not having commandants OF CADETS,
some of the old Springfield rifles. He
was informed that this could not be
done: that the law only allows the war
department to loan rifles to military
academies having regular army officers
stationed at them as colnmandants,
and then only upon the fling Of an
application and bond fom the tustees
OF such Institutions that the State
cannot loan rifles at all. This will
mean that the Citadel's supply Of
Krag-.J Jorgensen rifles will have to be
called in by the adiutant general soon,
and another supply secured IN the re-
gnlar way.
: Under the Dick act also the ex-
change of equipments provided for
applies only to rifles fand cartridges
and not to tents or camp equlpage:
3 Gen. Frost also made inquiries about
the ssationing of an army officer In the
Office of the adjutant general. Upon
secretary Roots return the department.
will determine whether to detail active
army officers to these positions or re-
tired officers.
Gen. Frost talked Interestingly Of
the new uniform regulations of the
army. There will hencefcrth be three
STYLES Of uniforms for officers. The hrst
will be the full dress. with frock coat
and gold braid in abundance, heavily
gold braided cap and chappeau. The
latter will never be worn while the
officer is in the saddle.
The dress uniform will be exactly
like the present blue fatigue uniform,
with the exception that the caps will
have bell crowns. The infantry officers
will no longer wear white stripes on
their trousers, but lighter shade
of blue instead. -,
The new olive drab uniform will
be the same for officers as for privates
save that small strap will be worn
BY officers on each shoulder, and the
leggins will be leather instead of can
vas. No trorser stripes will be worn
by officers with this uniform.
It is the latter Uniform that will be
used exclusively IN the service in
this State. The members of the gov
ernor's staff alone will wear the dress
uniform. AL other officers will wear
the olive drab regulation.-The State.