The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-07-26
GUARDS ENROLL FOR PRIMARY
ENROLMENT BOOK FROM EACH
COUNTY TO BE OPENED AT
REGIMENTAL QUARTERS.
Rihe Practice Begins-COl. Springs
Makes Statement Concerning Filling
of Vacancies in Second-Bob Con
zales Gets Appointment.

marking the opening or rifle practice
for, the two regiments, was the only
break in the calm in which Camp
Moore has been wrapped since last
week, when the two commands en-
camped here gave up hope of getting
to the Mexican border. Camp officials
are still without advices from the de-
partment Of the east as to their move
ment, if any.
In order to save needless CORE
spondence, Col. Holmes B. Springs to-
day issued statement approved by
the officers of the I'd regiment, de-
claring that in making appointments
for vacancies in his regiment he would
give consideration first of all to the
officers of his own Regiment and to
"men who have seen fit to enlist i'm
the regiment at great personal sacri-
flee and undergo the hardship of mill
tary life rather than those who have
walked the streets without offering
their country their services until they
were assured of commission" The
statement follows:
I'm order that the many applications
coming to me for commissions in the
I'd South Carolina infantry might be
brought to an immediate termination,
1 desire to inform those Interested
that any commission at this time, or
any time in the future, as long as
am colonel during this service, will be
filed from men who have seen fit to
enlist in the regiment at great per-
(sonal sacrifice and undergo the hard
ships Of military life. / do not expect
to recommend man for any Office
from men who have walked the streets
without offering their services to their
country until they were assured of
commission. If it becomes possibly
that the vacancies cannot be filled
tfrom the rsgime2t. officers. row held.
ling commissions In the State viii be
asked to serve. The vacancy for lieu
tenant colonel will be filled from the
majors If they desire to advance, but
in the event that they do not so. de-
sire will probably request that a
regular army officer be given the as
tsignment for the extent of this service
only, that we may have the benefit of
his instruction and experience. With
all due respect to those concerned, 1
will state that We are working for ef-
ficiency in the regiment, and the above
statement has been prompted by the
fact that each day 1 can hardly af-
ford the time it would take to consid-
er the applications from persons who
think they should have the commits
sions without showing any good faith
on their part other than the idea that
they possess some political strength.
This statement is approved by the
commissioned officers of the regiment.
Col. Springs. of the I'd regiment, an
nounced today the appointment of
Robert K. Gonzales, of Columbia, as
! historian Of the regiment. Mr.. Con
zales was an editorial writer OH the
Columbia State before his enlistment
in the machine gun company of the
I'd regiment, and his sparkling para
graphs in his special column of that
paper have given him a wide reputa-
tion
The 1st battalion of the 1st regi-
ment went to the rifle range today.
Considering the number of recruits in
the ranks, and the fact that it was
their first day out, they turned In a
very creditable card. They used the
1OO-yard range. Each man was given
six shots at time. He was required
to shoot these at various ines in a
standing position, sitting down and
lying down. The battalion shot by
companies.
The biggest flag pole in camp was
erected yesterday on top of the hill.
which is adorned by the camp hospi-
tai. Today new laundered bright,
clean "Old Glory" floats from the top
OF the pole, and a large white flag
emblaZoned with big red cross waves
beneath.
The cheerful and chesty young
saw bones and apothocaries, which
compose the hospital corps, are among
the few i'm camp whose days are not
darkcned by the intricacies of the
manual of arms, and who suffer no
heart pangs i'm keeping tiny tiecks of
rust off the barrel of one of Uncle
Sans valuable new rifles. The knight
hOspitalerS have no time to waste
about the CannOn'S month their'S is