The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-11-22
SIX COMPANIES HOPELESS.
INSPECTOR REPORTS ON SOUTH
CAROLINA MILITIA.
Changes Needed to Bring Others TO
Efficiency Demandcd-No Recon-
mendatiOns.

South Carolina a letter bearing on the
recent inspection of South Carolina
troops and while the department de-
clined to make public here the con-
tents Of this letter before it has been
received by the governor it is under
stood that in plain terms it calls at
tention to the very unsatisfactory con-
dition of the troops at the present
time. Lieut.. Col. David c. Shanks of
the army made an inspection Of the
troops i'm compliance with orders from
the secretary of war between October
and October 21, 1913.
The object was to determine the
condition of the ~ companies which
had been inspected and reported as
unsatisfactory at an inspection made
i'm March and April, 1913. II do not
wish to make any recommendation
i'm regard to these companies" the re-
port says. There may be consdera-
tions affecting them or important rea-
sons for retaining them that are not
fully known to me.
1.-The following expression or opin-
ion regarding their present condition
and reasonable prospect OF improve
ment Is based upon the idea that the
United States desires to encourage
military instruction in every way; 1t
does not want to withdraw opportuni-
ty for military instruction In any case
where IL seems reasonable to suppose
that the government may receive
even fair return for the money in
vested or the efforts made.
BASED upon this idea it is my be-
lief that the companies located at
Chesterfield. Bamberg. Barnwell.
Bennettsville, Conway and Lancaster
are I'm such condition as to render 1t
extremely improbable that the gov
eminent would ever receive from
them any kind Of satisfactory service.
The company at Walterboro. be-
lieve. has improved to an extent such
as to warrant it's continuance without
change in the commissioned person
mel"
The companies at EllOree, Darling
ton and Company c, Second infantry,
at Columbia, have an enlisted person
mel that would promise considerable
improvement with changes in the
commanding officers. the report says.
Company b, Second South Caro-
lima infantry, Is referred to as being
not in as good shape as any Of the
last three mentioned" and it is inti-
mated that there should be o. change
in it's commanding officer also.
Company b. First infantry. at Lib
erty Hill, has no armory or proper
store rooms" the report goes on. Its
membership is scattered over the sur
rounding country. The showing Of
this company under all it's disadvan-
tages was fairly good. and it's enlisted
personnel in physique and appearance
and drill was about as good as any |
saw. AS a drill instructor, it's captain
was quite as good as any,
An analysis of this in the absence
of specific and more direct informa-
tion which is contained in the letter
from the war department to the gov
ernor OF South Carolina. leaves little
room to doubt that, taken as a whole
and with special reference to the COM
panies at Chesterfield, Bamberg.
Barnwell. Bennettsville. Conway and
Lancaster. the federal authorities are
not satisfied with their showing. This
Is the state of their condition even af-
ter the warning order which several
OF the South Carolina companies re-
ceived from the war department last
summer.
1t will be noted also that the COM
panies at Elloree. Darlington, and
Companies G and Il at Columbia. must
show Improvement before their gen.
eral condition will be satisfactory to
the secretary Of war. IL is assumed
that upon receipt Of the letter from
the secretary of war to the governor
Of South Carolina by the latter, the
matter will assume definite shape. 1t
will then be known also whether or
not any of the South Carolina troops
are To lose their federal appropriation
or whether they will continue as at
present.