The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-14
FOR THE SOLDIERS.

Business Men Disincliued to Allow
Their Employees to go Into Camp.
The companies of the regiment have al
secured more than their full complement OF
men for Chicksmauga, and will go up in
good shape.
The Guards are making efforts TO get the
required complement of twenty-nine rifles
each for their three companies, in order to
be ready to leave for camp next week, Mon
| day. June %. Each company is required
to carry twenty-nine men besides officers,
and unless it goes into camp with tho re-
Ouired number it is subject to disarmament
by the governor.
The officers of the Guards are very anx-
ious that the battalion shall make a credit
able showing, but they are finding very
hard work in securing the requisite number
OF men. In fact, not one half the number
has been secured 80 far. The Guards are
almost entirely young men in the employ
of business houses.
The trouble is so many business meu have
refused, or are disinclined TO allow their
employees to go into camp. They have
made it so plain in number of instances
that their employees are unwilling to APP
proach them on the subject.
A committee Of the officers of the battal-
ion. consisting of Col. Garrard, Capt. John
Reilly and Capt. T. F. Screven, called at a
number OF the business houses yesterday to
impress upon the firms the necessity of
allowing their employees to go into camp.
They met with some success, but
not what they desired. They were
well satisfied, however, with their
interviews with Supt. Fleming,
of the Savannah, Florida and Western rail-
way, and General Manager Gabbett of the
Central railroad both Of whom promised
that if furnished with list of the members
of the battalion in the employ of their roads
they would release every man for the time
who could possibly be spared from his work.
They both expressed the opinion of the
necessity Of sustaining the military.
The Guards have gone to an expense of
several thousand dollars In equipping them
selves for camp duty. They have purchased
overcoats. blankets, leggins, drill suits Of
flannel shirts and pantaloons, cap covers,
blanket bags, mess and tent
equipments, and everything, in fact,
needed for camp, and could be
called upon to perform camp duty
at any time. They have discarded their
dress uniforms altogether, and have come
down to hard pan, the idea being to do
away with show and give every attention
TO the practical. The men are eager to go,
and can be found at the armory every
night, drilling and preparing for camp.
The battalion has over 200 active mem
bers and could easily carry double the re-
CURED number il all the men were at
liberty. 1t depends entirely on their en-
ploYers whether the Guards shall go into
camp with their full compliment or subject
themselves to the penalty of being dis
banded. The business men of Savannah
have always supported the military
literally, and there is hardly one of
them, the officers say, that would not go
into his pocket to prevent the disbandment
OF any Of the commands, if they were con-
fronted with the direct alternative. The
inconvenience of few days absence of one
or two employees, however. deters them from
giving proper and necessary encouragement
to the military spirit. Arrangements have
been made for the Guards to leave Savan-
nah Monday night at 1880 O'clock In
special train over the Central
railroad, which will put them
in Chattanooga in fifteen hours. They will
leave the camp on the afternoon of Tues
day, June 30, arriving home Wednesday
morning in time for work. They will have
their own sleepers and will not have to lose
any sleep by travel.
The governor has issued an order that
those Of the troops whose business
makes it necessary for them to leave camp
in time to be at home on the following Mon
day after entering will be allowed to do 30.