Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1920-04-07
Tank Company to be Organic
ed.

company of tanks which, combined
with companies from several other
Southern States, will compose a ba-
tallion of tanks. Edgefeld county
wants the tank company and steps
will be taken Immediately to organize
such a company.
In order that the county may be
afforded good military protection it
is proposed to place the headquar-
ters and one platoon of the tank COM
pany in the town of Edgefeld, one
platoon at Johnston and the third
platoon in another section of the
county, possibly the Collier-Sweet-
water section or the Pleasant Lane
Meeting Street section-just wher-
ever the men take the most interest
in the project and perfect the organi-
cation which is composed of two Of
ficers and thirty men.
The question of organizing this
tank company was first broached last
Monday evening when the American
Legion held smoker in the Court
House. The plan met with instant ap-
proval and practically every man
present agreed to join the company
and large committee was appointed
to secure the names of other men
who will join. 1t was decided to hold
a big mass meeting in the Court
House next Monday evening, April
18th, at s p. M, at which time steps
will be taken to complete the organl-
zation of the headquarters and one
platoon of the company. When these
units are organized and equipped, the
organization of the remaining two
piatoons will be undertaken; this
plan is in accordance with instruc-
tions issued. by the War Department,
At the Legion smoker Monday
evening enthusiastic talks were made
by a number of men and it was evil
dent that the project met with the
approval of the young men present.
Several of the speakers stressed the
point that during the late war with
Germany, Edgefield men were forced
to serve in units composed of men
from every section of the country,
whereas, if Edgefeld had had mill
tary company the men from this sec
ton could have been together and
could have rendered more efficient
service. The war with Germany was
the only war fought by our country
since the Mexican war in 1S46, that
Edgefeld county was not represented
by a company.
1t was clearly pointed out at the
meeting that it is useless to refrain
from joining a military organization
so as to escape military service for it
was generally conceded by all pres
ent that in the event that our coun-
try is embroiled in another war the
army will be raised by selective draft
the fairest system of raising an
army-and all young men will have
to go anyway, SO why not in a COM
pany of their own, all along with
their friends and neighbors?
1t is believed that the young men
of Edgefeld county will take more
interest in tank organization than
in an infantry company. Tanks are
large, seemingly cumbersome affairs,
propelled by gasoline engines of
great power and it is surprising with
what agility they climb steep hills,
cross bitches or go through houses,
if necessary. They were developed by
the English from farm tractors and
have proved to be the best support
for infantry. 1t is believed that the
presence of twenty-five of these
tanks in the county would be an ex-
cellent influence upon any VINO might
wish to take the law in their hands.
The Adjutant General of the State,
w. w. Moore of Columbia, expected
to attend the American Legion smok-
er Monday night for the purpose of
stimulating interest in the organiza-
tion of the tank company, but he was
suddenly called to Washington, D. c.
and the Assistant Adjutant General,
who planned to attend the meeting in
his stead, could not come at the last
moment. However, it is assured that
the Adjutant General or represent
ative from his office will attend the
meeting next Monday night and will
give some interesting details about