Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-08-10
American Legion Names
Committee To
Investigate
AMERICUS WANTS
MILITARY UNIT
Plenty of Old Members
Will Volunteer To
Instruct Recruits

John D. Mathis Post" of the
American Legion held its first regu-
lar meeting in the auditorium Of Car
negie Library, with a large attend
ance present. John G. Hoist, who was
chosen temporary chairman at the
organization meeting, held several
weeks ago, called the meeting to Or
der and presided until after The
election of officers, when Commander
James A. Fort assumed charge.
Among the visitors present at the
meeting were Judge 2. A. Littlejohn,
Prof. j. E Mathis and G. ester
Williams the later having had
some sixteen years service in the
Americus Light Infantry, in which
he rose from the rank of private to
that of captain.
The matter of re-organizing the
A. L. l. was brought up and Judge
Littlejohn being called upon for
few remarks thereon, requested Prof.
Mathis to address the meeting, be-
cause of his familiarity with the sub
ject.
Prof. Mathis then explained his
views on the subject of the local mill
tary organization, mentioning the old
pleasant relations that have always
existed between the organization and
Americas people; the pride felt by
all in its reputation and recorl in the
Great War, and the resultant disap-
pointment of Americas people should
this only apparent means of local pro-
lection and efficient backing of the
city and county officials be lost perm
anently. He announced his belief
that the people of the city and coun-
ty would cooperate heartily with
members of the post, and felt sure
that the proper fi1anc,al backin.,
would be speedily forthcoming. He
referred to the ever-incre l,ing men
ace to tais section of :he country e.
sulting from conditions brought on
by the war and the consequent nned
of efficient protection should tie time
ever arise. 1t was called to tl,c 1t-
tention of those present that the 81
Krag Jorgenson rifles of the High
School cadets were available until
the proper equipment could be regui-
sitioned through the regular caan-
nels.
L. G. Williams spoke at some
length on the subject, along the same
lines as Mr.. Mathis, commented on
his unusual length of service with the
organization and the resulting inter
est that he felt in the REORGANIZATION
of the military company. He stated
that only recently a prominent wo-
man here had inquired of him as to
the possibility of getting the military
company re-organized, declaring that
the ladies of the city and county
would be thoroughly interested in
the project, and that she expected at
the first opportunity to speak to the
members of the post relative to the
matter. In concluding his remarks,
Williams suggested that a machine
gun squad be added to supplement tie
proposed company of infantry.
James A. Fort, who was command
ing officer of the company at the
date the A. l. was called into fed
eral service in June 1916, and VINO
returned from France recently With
majors commission, then took the
floor. He stated that while he hadn't
talked the matter over with old
members of the company, SUI! the
idea of establishing the comoanv
had been uppermost in his mind since
his return, and now that the matter
had been broached, he considered it
an opportune time to commence at
once .'teps leading towards The re-or-
ganizati ~ Of the company lie said
further that he had recenti1 recri; ed
letter from the adutant gcaecal oc
Georgia stating that act1ority weG.3
be granted to re-organize the old
company. He said also that in prev
ious years the old company had not
received the entire cooperation of
the people, and invited attention to
the fact that while there are suffic-
( lent of the old men available to or
ganize and instruct the company that
new, young blood would be required
! to make it successful, and that tn,