The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-07-08

NO ORDERS RECEIVED, BUT
TROOPS ARE PREPARED TO
MOVE TO BORDER.
Camp Tension Somewhat Relaxed for
Present--Numbcr Of Companies in
Second Regiment Have Been Mus.
tered into Federal Service-Re.
cruiting Force Sent out.

tered into Federal Service-Re.
cruiting Force Sent out.
Camp Moore. Styx, s. c., July g.
The 1st regiment of infantry, National
Guard of South Carolina, which has
been In camp here for ten days. dur.
Ing which time preparations for SER
vice on the Mexican border have been
rushed. is now practically ready to
move when orders are received from
the war department.
One week ago it was thought that
the 1st regiment would depart in less
than week, as it appeared that
Washington was pushing every Ma
tional Guard command in the country
to be prepared to move at the earliest
possible moment. The situation at
Camp Moore then and for some days
afterwards was one of eager expec-
fancy. some even being of the opin-
ion that definite orders to move would
be received before all preparation
were completed.
Today there is perceptible
change in sentiment in this respect
about the camp. and although there is
nothing official upon which to base
such q statement, the prospect of NOV
ing any time soon appears to be more
remote now than It was q week ago.
However, in military affairs sudden
changes are common, and just what
the war department intends doing
with the South Carolina troops is d
mere matter of conjecture. It is still
possible that the LIST will leave late
this week. but 1t does not appear very
probabls at this time.
Whether or not the Palmetto State
soldiers 60 to the border soon or late,
or even II they should not go at all,
the fact remains that they are ready
and anxious to serve their country in
Mexico or anywhere else they may
be sent. Many Of the men here are
chafing under the inactivity of camp
life. for affairs have about settled into
the usual military routine.
Another company Of the I'd rcgi-
ment was mustered into the service Of
the United States today. Company A
(Sumter Guards) Capt. ]. L. CAN'T.
This command was mustered in at
$50 this morning by Capt. J. L. Gra-
ham, U. s. A., camp mastering offi-
Ger. This makes the fourth company
of the I'd regiment to be mustered In,
Companies X, (Florence.) I, Chm
monsyille,} and b. washington Light
Infantry. Charleston), having taken
the oath yesterday.
Physical examinations in the I'd
regiment will begin tomorrow. It was
expected that they would be started
today. but some final work in con-
nection with the examinations in the
LIST that to be completed and this has
delayed examination Of the men of the
End and Of Troop A, charleston Light
Dragoons.) 1t is likely that the Dra-
goons will be examined first. In fact,
the cavalrymen were marched over to
the surgeons this morning. but they
coon returned to their camp, when 1t
was discovered that the examiners
were not ready for them.
The I'd regiment band left here to-
day on q recruiting campaign in the
Pee Dee section. the principal points
to be visited being Georgetown
Hemingway. Mullins and Dillon. The
band carried about twenty pieces,
with Bandmaster Geggy and Chief
Musician Wilson along. The recruiting
squad Is In command of Capt. Daniel
Miller, Of Charleston. and included are
Sergt. Pinckney. of the Sumter Guards
and Private McInnes, Of the Florence
company. Col. Springs originated this
plan Of obtaining recruits for his reg
iment and 1t is expected that satisfac-
tory results will be obtained. The
squad will be in Georgetown tomor-
row and at the other places in the
order named. returning to camp about
Saturday morning.
The cavalry arm of Uncle Sans
military establishment. as represent
ed at Camp Moore anyway. appears
to be more popular, proportionately.
than any other branch, judging from
the demand for membership in Troop
A (Dragoons) The maximum strength
OF this command is Sc men and three
officers. and there are on the roll at
present 1O5 men, 10 more than can
be retained. 1t is expected that not
more than ten. If that many, will fail
to pass the physical examination; so
this will leave a number of men who
VIII have to be diSnOsed ~ In ,o,u..