Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-12
SOUTH CAROLINA MILITIA
IS D|SBANDED BY BLEAsE
Thirty-One Companies, Comprising
About 1000 Men and Officers,
Affected by Order.
TAKES EFFECT IMMEDIATELY
Governor-EIect Manning, Who Takes
Office January 10, Will Be Asked
to Reinstate Soldiers - Trouble
Grows Out of Long Controversy.

COLUMBIA. s. c., January 11.-Gov-
ernor Blease to-day disbanded the
South Carolina organized militia
Thirty-one companies, comprising ap-
proximately 1000 officers and men, are
affected. Disagreement between the
Governor and militia and War Depart
ment officials on the organization and
equipment of the troops was given as
the reason for the action.
Militia officers tonight began n
movement TO prevent completc disor-
sanization kilograms were sent to
South Carolina members of Congress
at Washington, requesting that they
use their influence to have the War
Department delay asking the return of
100000 worth of supplies loaned the
troops.
Governor Blease Will retire on Jan
uary 10, and Governor Manning, his
successor, Will be asked TO rcinstate
the soldiers. While Mr.. Manning has
not yet indicated what action he will
take. 1T was considered certain by
militia officers that he would rescind
the action OF Governor Blease
Adjutant-General Moore expects to
leave for Washington tomorrow to
confer with War Department officials
on the situation.
Governor Blease explained in his or
der disbanding the troops that the ex
istence OF differences between the
Secretary of War and the Secretary OF
the Navy and Adjutant- General Moore.
of South Carolina, on one side. and
himself. on the other, prompted him to
take this step. These differences, he
said. resulted in serious breaches Of
discipline in the militia corps
UNFAIR TO SUCCESSOR
TO TURN OVER MILITIA
The present Governor Of tho State
of South Carolina is OF the opinion that
II would be unfair and unjust on his
part to turn over to his successor i'm
Office the militia OF South Carolina in
its present condition" the order read
The controversy between Governor
Bleasc and Adjutant- General Moore
was said to have been the result OF the
ders and official papers presented TO
him by the adjutant-gencral
The Secretary of War and the Secre-
tary of the Navy became parties to
this controversy. according So official
statements. when the ma, z of nc-
counting for about Si00,OOt8 worth OF
/ Federal property these Federal depart
mcnts claimed had been lost and de-
stroyed by the militia organizations
was held up. An accounting of this
property was begun about a year ago
and recently was completed, and the
finished reports were said to-day to he
ready for the signature Of Governor
! Rlease.
The situation became further compli-
Gated last summer. when the Governor
refused to permit the militia troops to
participate In the annual encampment
ordered by the chief OF the division Of
militia affairs This action. according
to statements from the adjutant-gcn-
erals office. resulted In appropriations
by Congress aggreGating about s55,-
100000 Sor maintenance and equipment
of the South Carolina militia being
held up by the War Department.
REFUSED TO MUSTER
MIIN OUT OF SERVICE
Included In the three regiments OF
Continued on Second Page.)