The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-05-18
MYSTERIES OF
MANNING'S LOGIC
His V0luminous Reasons for Depriv-
ing State Of Right to Third Reg
iment Illogical and Evasiye.

ing State of Right to Third Reg
iment Illogical and Evasiye.
! Charleston American.
Columbia, May 15.-Notwithstand-
ing the yoluminous reasons given
! by him, the refusal of Gov. Manning
t. permit the organization OF tnrre
regiment OF infantry for South Car
olina still remains somewhat of a
mystery to those who have studied
the situation.
IN his statement issued yesterday,
i which was published this morning,
the governor urges that "the war de,
! partment believes that troops can De
organized as purely federal forces
more expeditiously and With greater
efficiency in accordance with the plan
proposed by the president and tina:
) The State would be called upon to
bear the expense Of equipment ana
| maintenance until the regiment shouic
; he called into the federal service.
Further, the governor says, mo as
surance is given that they will ever
; be accepted into federal service
1t has been pointed out by those
, Who are in position to know that
! third regiment could be fully equit
ped with rifles from the supply nov
| on hand in the State armory, and
that the light uniforms necessary for
summer service would hardly cost
over $4,000 to $4,000. South Caro-
lima is entitled to an apportionment OF
! federal appropriation each year for
the maintenance of the Nationa'
! Guard, little Of which will be neces-
sary for the existing units if the Sec
ond regiment is soon called into fed
eral service, as is expected. Unti
taken into the federal service, the
members of the regiment would oc-
cupy the same status as the members
of the second regiment at present, so
tar as being at home and about their
business pursuits is concerned, and
Congressman Nichols, member ot
the national house Of representatives,
has stated emphatica!ly that all en-
listments since the dec 'aration Of war
(, would be counted in tie quota of the
State which must be furnished unoer
the army bill.
Not Privilege but Right.
i The governors statement ls a
strong presentation of the advantages
to South Carolina Of third regi-
ment Of infantry at this time. :,
have had under consideration for
scme time,'' he says. "the organiza-
ton of a third regiment of infantry
and three additional troops Of cav
airy. 1t was my desire to organize
them in order to allow those who
volunteer, or who are called into the
service, to- serve in State organiza-
tons under their own officers"
! That is not only privilege, but a
right, of which hundreds OF young
men of military age in; South Caro-
lima will be deprived by this refusal
to permit the organization OF the reg
iment. It is a right because under
the national defense act OF
June 8, 1916, South Carolina Is en-
J titled to 800 National Guardsmen TOR
I each senator and representative. N
congress, or a total of 1900 Deduct
ing $50 for naval militia, units may
be organized to total number OF g.
700 enlisted men, the figures for
South Carolina given in tentative
scheme" for enlargement of the Ma
tional Guard announced in press dis
patches from washington.
i It Is known that this tentative
scheme" embraces tie following Or
}; ganizations for South Carolina, IN the
) order named:
I Coast artillery, FIVE companies with
headquarters.
One infantry brigade headquarters
detachment.
Three regiments Of infantry.
!; One squadron Of cavalry.
One regiment of field artillery.
/ One battalion of engineers.
i One outpost company (signal en-
[ gineers).
One ammunition train.
One field hospital.
One ambulance company.
1t is urged by the governor that
'the third regiment can not be or
ganized now, as under the ruling of
the war department, existing units IN
the National Guard must be brought
t.. maximum war strength and other
important conditions complied with
before any additional units can De
! raised
It is pointed out, however, that
when the army bill is passed, and a
date fixed for the selective draft, that
there would be focking of young
men of military age to South Caro-
Ina units of the National Guard,
these eligible young men preferrlns
to take advantage of an opportunity
to serve their country with their
comrades in South Carolina units,
; under South Carolina officers, rather
IT, ~ Ne drafted into vast army
of no a million men.
Holding out no hope. the governor
| promises, however, 70 keep in close