The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-01-20
MILITIA DISBANDED
BIEASE MUSTERS OUT TIE EN-
TIRE NATIONAL GUARD.
end OF OFFICIAL MUSS

LINZ UE III EO1Nk NHOVU
Governors action is Climax Of His
Long Continued Disputes With the
United States War DEPARTMENT.
Government Officials Are Appar.
emily Unconcerned Over His Action.
Gov. Blease Monday disbanded the
South Carolina organized militia.
Thirty-one companies, comprising ap-
proximately 1000 officers AID men,
are affected Disagreement between
the governor and militia and war de-
partment officials on the organization
and equipment of the troops was
given as the reason for the action.
Militia officers Monday night began
a movement to prevent complete dis
organization. kilograms were sent
to South Carolina memb bers of con-
gress at Washington requesting that
they use their influence to have the
war department delay asking the re-
turn of 100000 worth Of supplies
loaned the troops.
Gov. Blease will retire January 19
and Gov Manning, hi successor, will
be asked to re-instate the soldiers.
While Mr.. Manning has not yet indi-
Gated what action he will take, it was
considered certain by militia officers
that he would rescind the action OF
Gov. Blease.
Gov. Blease explained in his order
disbanding the troops that the exist
ence Of differences between the Sec
retary of war and the secretary Of the
navy and Adjutant General Moore OF
South Carolina on one side and him
self on the other, prompted him to
take this step. These differences, he
said, resulted in serious breaches OF
discipline in the militia corps.
1.-THE present governor Of the state
Of South Carolina is Of the opinion
that it will be unfair and unjust On
his part to turn over to his successor
in Office the militia of South Carolina
in it's present condition." the order
read.
The controversy between Gov.
Blease and Adjutant General Mooie
was said to have been the result OF
the governors refusal to sign GER
tain orders and official papers pre-
sented to him by the adjutant gen.
eral.
The secretary Of war and the Sec
retary Of navy became parties to this
controversy, according to official
statements for about 100000 worth
of federal property these federal de-
partments claimed had been lost and
destroyed by the militia organiza-
tions was held up. An accounting OF
this property was begun about year
ago and recently was completed and
the finished reports were said to be
ready for the signature Of Gov.
Blease.
The situation became further COM
plicated last summer when the gov
ernor refused to permit the militia
troops to participate in the annual en-
campment ordered by the chief Of the
division of militia affairs. This ac-
ton, according to statements from
the adjutant generals office, resulted
in appropriations by congress aggre-
eating about s55, 1000 for maintenance
and equipment of the South Carolina
militia being held up by the war de-
partment.
Included in the three regiments Of
infantry and auxiliary corps affected
by the order are 900 men whom the
governor had refused to muster out
of service upon orders received about
eight months ago from the chief Of
the division of United States militia
affairs.
The militia was commanded by
Adjutant General Moore of Barnwell,
whose official position is not affected
by the order. Gov. Blease, however,
was ,commander-in-chicf, eff-oficio,
Gen. Willie Jones of Columbia, was
brigadier general of the South Caro-
lima corps. Headquarters Of the First
Infantry Regiment was at Yorkville;
Of the Second regiment at Columbia,
and Of the Third at Charleston. Coast
artillery corps was located at Charles
ton, Sullivan Island, Beaufort and
Georgetown, and each had an approx
mate strength Of 60 men and officers.
War department officials at Wash
ington were not much concerned by
news that Gov. Blease had disband-
ed the South Carolina militia. They
believed the incoming governor speed
lily would order its reorganization to
avoid as far as possible any loss Of
money allotted by the national gov
ernment for the militia's support.
Under the law to obtain any gov
ernment funds for the militia's sup
port, South Carolina must present for
inspection at least 900 armed and
uniformed and drilled state soldiers.
This is on the basis Of at least 100
militiamen for each representative OF
the state in congress, including the
senators. Because of South Carolina's
alleged deficiency in the matter OF
equipment, failure to measure up to
the regular army standards and fail
ure to account satisfactorily for gov
ernment supplies, the war department
nearly a year ago withdrew federal
financial support from the states
troops. After some spicy correspond
ence between the secretary OF war
and the governor a regular army in
spection Office visited South Carolina.
and made arrangements under which
the war department again began sup
plying a limited amount OF funds.
II the governors order disbanding
the militia becomes effective imme-
diately, it was said at the department
that the government appropriation
will be cut of automatically.
ENGLAND IS MOVED.