The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-03-24

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'"e reception and supper to the men.
lie hrst called on Mayor l.. D. len.
, nings.
Mayor l." d. Jennings referred to
me 1act that he had addressed the
company about nine months ago inst
| pefore their departure, when thev
were awkward boys, but now he saw
them on their return as we'll eouip-
PED, trained men. He asserted that
America had always maintained it's
rights and honor and had it not been
Tor the fact that the chief executive
of the nation was "second Job Z"
america would already be engaged in
war. The president had sought to
avert war in every honorable wav
oht the time had come when patience
had been outdone and the war cloud.
were looming darker ahead. He was
J giad all of the men had returned, but
ne could not say for how long. When
the call came he believed that all of
them would respond with a,acrity
and not only them, but all other citi
zens OF America capable OF BEARING
arms. so that America would have
ZO,oOO,OOO men in the field under
arms, ready to meet any vicissitudes
which might arise.
Maj. j. w. Bradford was called on
FOR a response. He stated that the
soldiers were glad to receive such a
warm welcome and he thanked them
Tor it. 1t was much better than that
| received elsewhere and he wanted the
people of Sumter to know that tho
men appreciated it and all of the
courtesies extended to them.
=. DR.. s. II. Edmunds, responding , tc
the toast Preparedness" stated that
at times he became discouraged in. his
work, but when he looked into the
faces of such men as those before him
he took heart. He believed in prepar-
edness, but he believed supremely in
peace. 1t was only by supreme
strength secured through prepared
ness that America could be magnani-
nous towards those who would be
her enemies. He hoped that none Of
those present would be called ou
for war, but he felt they would re-
spond to the call, if it came He urg-
ed upon soldiers the preparedness O.:
peace which was as great a necessity
as the preparedness Of war.
That Capt. Brown is popular with
his men cannot be doubted by any
of those who saw the splendid recep.
ton he was given by them when he.
was called on last night. They an
plauded him with a will and his
words were listened to with the keen
est attention by every man in the
company, and frequently they broke
into applause to show that they hear
tlly approved Of his remarks.
In beginning his talk, he stated
that he reiterated what he had said
on Tuesday afternoon. I'VE are gla6
to be back home" He could now
add appreciation of the reception
rendered them on their arrival, which
he had not been capable Of doing
then. The men. he said, had risen
on Sunday afternoon to the supreme
heignt OF soldiers, when they received
the orders. that they were not going
nome. They had not unpacked then
stuff. but were jubilantly awaiting
the time to come when they would
be mustered out. Then the messa ee
came that they were to remain ir
camp, and Woro not to go home. The
boys received tho news with q cheer.
one outside Of tho Immediate ranks
would not have known that it was a
sad blow that they had received in
stead of good news. They at once
got to work, unpacking their boxes
and stuff and were busy for some
time, when the second order came.
This time they were Informed that
they were not only going to be mus
tered out, but would be sent home at
once. Immediately they set to work
TO repack the stuff they had just un-
packed and nearly all the night they
remained at this work Tban tbo,
left camp and come home, after hard
work and little sleep and it was in
this condition they had arrived. hard
ly able to appreciate what had been
done to welcome them and the warm
greeting they received. I'VE appre-
ciate what the people of Sumter have
done for us. and we thank YOU" he
said. He would Saiy again what he