The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-07-04
Advice to Join Reserve Militia.


issued by officials OF the Columbis
company. With the proposed exter
sion Of the draft to include men up to
40 years OF age, recruiting in the re.
serve units should receive additional
impetus.
The function Of this organization is
to give preliminary training to men
who are expecting to be called into
service. In addition to this, the re.
serve regiment in a measure fills the
gap caused by the liberalization OF
the old National Guard.
Registered men. the statement con.
tinued, wwill be fitting themselves for
positions Of leadership by taking ad-
vantage Of the training offered. The
enlistment term is for one year, but
If a member should be called before
that time he is granted an honorable
discharge from the reserve organiza-
ton. The statement reads as follows:
AT this time, when the proposition
Is being made In Congress to raise
the draft age to 45 years, the attention
Of all men wwho come within that age
limit Is directed to the advantages
which they would derive when they
are called into service, Of having pre-
v1ously been connected with some To-
cal unit Of the state regiment OF re-
serve militia. This regiment has
como into existence recently largely
as a result Of the untiring efforts and
unbounded enthusiasm Of Col. Henry
T. Thompson, who has 10Y however,
been called into the service
This organization has performed
n Is performing a very useful serv-
Ice to the government in giving a pre-
lm1nary training to a large number
Of men who have already been called
into the service Of their country or
who are expecting soon to be called.
Last summer Colonel Thompson or.
ganized and drilled through the sum-
Nor months the Richland battalion,
and in that battalion a large number
Of men received their initial military
training and are now serving, many
OF them as officers, with our army in
France. The regiment of reserve mill.
tia also fills a very necessary gap
caused by the federalizing Of our old
National Guard.
individuals who are liable to be
drafted II who wish to prepare them.
selves in advance for positions Of
leadership will find it greatly to their
advantage to become members of
their local company Of the state mill
tia. One Of the first questions asked
when o are called into the service is
Have you had any previous military
training?' If the answer is yes one
Is Immediately eligible. as a general
rule, for advancement over those who
have had no previous military expert.
ennce. and is very apt to be made a
corporal and possibly a sergeant. and
If he makes good in these positions
promotion is apt to follow. The term
of enlistment is for ore year, but If a
man should in the meantime be call
ed into the federal army he at onca
receives an honorable discharge
from the local organization"
Marked Decrease IN Farm Loans.
A Washington dispatch, dated June
1S, stated that government farm loans
decreased materially IN May, amount
ing to $9.530. 900 to 4 300 farmers, as
compared with past monthly averages
Of about $12. 900 900. When asked yes
terday to explain tho reason Of tbs
slump. d. A. Houston, president Of the
Columbia farm loan bank, said that
There were several contributing fac.
tors.
Tn the first place. Mr.. Houston said,
May. June and July are dull Eionths
T., II l.,~. 80 ~
time OF the year nearly all farmers
have arranged their fnanciA1 affairs
and are now busily engaged with
their crops. Unless the call was very
urgent, he said, a farmer would not
feel disposed to stop his agricultural
operations in order to help organize
a farm loan association through which
to obtain money. The time required
to secure final action on applications
for loans. too. you'd render the banks
aid in this emergency impossible.
In considering this decrease. it
should be noted. however, that the
Washington report alludes to the en-
tire farm bank system. The Columbia
branch has done more than it's share
Of the past months business. Shortly
after the opening Of the loan banks
throughout the country the Columbia
bank ranked ninth among the IL. The
report for the month OF May assigns
the local branch to third place with a
business volume Of $916, 905.
Schools In Tractor Work.
w. w. Long. director Of the exten.
sion division Of Clemson college. has
arranged to hold two tractor schools