The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-11-21
FINDS COMPANIES
Unsatisfactory
Inspector Reports on South
Carolina Militia.
SIX SEEM TO BE HOPELESS.
Changes Needed to Bring Others
to Efficiency Demanded-No
Recommendations.


Washington Special to Columbia
State, Nov. 20.-The war department
yesterday wrote the governor of
South Carolina a letter bearing on
the recent inspection of South Caro-
lima troops and while the department
declined 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 unsatisfactorv
condition of the troops at the present
time. Lieut.. Col. David c.. Shanks
or the army made an inspection of
the troops in compliance with orders
from the secretary of war between
october and October 21, 1913.
me object was TO determine the
condition of the IL companies which
had been inspected and reported as
satisfactory at an inspection made
In March and April, 1912. 81 do not
wish TO make any recommendations
in regard to these companies " the
report says. There may be consid-
erations affecting them or important
reasons for retaining them that are
not fully shown to me.
The following expression or opin-
ION regarding their present condition
ana reasonable prospect of improve
ment is based upon the idea that the
united states desires TO encourage
military instruction in every wav: il
does not want to withdraw opDortu-
nifty for military instruction in anv
case where il seems reasonable to
suppose that the government NAV re-
celVe even fair return for the money
invested or the efforts made.
THE FIRST SIX.
Based upon this idea it is NV be-
lief that the companies located at
Chesterheld, Bamberg, Barnwell.
Bennettsville, Conway and Lancaster
are In such condition as to render II
extremely improbable that the gov
ernment would ever receive from
them any kind of satisfactory service
The company at Waiterboro, be-
lieve, has improved to an extent such
as to warrant its continuance without
change in the commissioned person
neil"
The companies at Elloree, Darling
ton and Company G, Second Infantry,
at Columbia, have an enlisted person
mel that would promise considerable
Improvement with changes i'm the
commanding officers, the report saws.
lima infantry, is referred to as being
not in as good shape as any of the
last three mentioned" and it is init
mated that there should be a change
in its commanding officer also.
Company B, First infantry. at
Liberty Hill, has no armory or prop
er store rooms" the report goes on
Its membership is scattered over the
surrounding country. The showing
OF this company under all it's disad-
vantages was fairly good, and it's en-
listed personnel in physique and ap-
pearance and drill was about as good
as any | saw. AS a drill instructor,
It's captain was quite as good as
any"
ARE NOT SATISFIED.
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
after 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, Darling, and Com
panies and b at Columbia, must
show improvement before their gen
eral condition will be satisfactory to
the secretary of war. 1t is assumed
that uDOn recent Of the lettar 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 appropria-
ton or whether they will continue as
al nrnsenI