The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1920-01-14
THE MANNING TIMES, Manning, s. G.


they should not object TO being taxed
sufficiently to properly maintain those
who so faithfully and efficiently per-
form these duties for them.
"Since my last annual report all of
the guard from this State has return
ed and was mustered out of the feds
eral service, which automatically re-
lieyed them from further carrying out
their contracts with the State, and
consequently the reorganization Of
the guard was necessary and was be-
gun. in May Of thsi year under the
most trying and disappointing condi-
tions that I think have ever faced
the military situation in this State,
at least during the past fifty years,
yet the work of the reorganization,
while slow has compared very favor
ably with most Of our sister States,
and considerably ahead of our
neighbor acros sthe Savannah, and
her adjoining State just south of
her. Still with all these handicaps
and disappointments we are moving
along undisturbed by those setbacks,
determined to succeed even against
great odds, 'and with the Legislature
and all good law-abiding citizens be-
hind the movement, it cannot fail
There never was in the history of
this State since I can recollect great
er need for an efficient military force,
and l am sure that many share my
opinion and should assist in every
way possible to aid in the reorganiza-
ton work now being carried on.
"This State was allotted originally
two battalions of infantry and later
one regiment Of infantry, two COM
panies of coast artillery one company
of engineers and one field hospital.
eve have now mustered in seven
companies of infantry thus far.
considerably over the minimum
strength required, the enlisted
strength being sixty-fve per company
for two battalions. This leaves five in
fantry companies to be completed, as
we'll as the two companies of coast
artillery, the field hospital and the
company Of engineers.
'This State ahould easily support
full brigade, and can do so if the
proper interest is manifested by those
who are available for military duty.
Small Arms Practice.
"Again 1 wish to stress the fact
that small larms practice is the most
important instruction that a soldier
can be schooled in, for the reason that
in order to win, he must be able to
overcome the fire of the enemy, both
as defensive as we'll as offensive
action hence it cannot be successfully
denied that in order to shoot effective
ly he must be trained to shoot eff
GENTLY, and in order to possess this
training funds must be provided with
which to make it available. 1, there
fore, recommend an appropriation of
not less than $4,000 for this impor-
tant feature of instruction of the
guard during this year.
Through the navy authorities
was enabled to procure the transfer
to the National Guard of this State
the splendid range which they de-
veloped at Mount Pleasant at con-
siderable expenditure, including all
improvements, which consist of bar
rack buildings sufficient to quarter
eight hundred to one thousand men,
with water, sewerage and electric
lights and a range with thousand
yards fitted with one hundred and
one Aiken targets, all without any
cost to the State, except the yearly
rental, which is paid out of the fed
eral funds allotted the State for the
support Of it's National Guard.
The lease on this property provides