The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-02
TO DISCUSS AN ENCAMPMENT.
THE MILITARY ADVISORY BOARD
TO MEET TODAY IN ATLANTA.

II VIII Decide whether There VIII
BE Any Encampment This Year.
Col. Reilly Gives Reasons Why
There should BE an Eneampment.
He i Opposed to Distributing the
APPROXIMATION Among the COInpa-
MES.
Lieut.. Col Peter Reilly OF the First regi-
ment and Lieut.. Col. William Garrard Of
the First battalion left for Atlanta last
night where they viii attend the annual
meeting Of the military advisory board
to-day.
The meeting is for the purpose Of dis
cussing the question OF an encampment
for the state troops. The military appro-
priation is only $4,000 To have an en-
campment on this appropriation would re-
quire very close economy.
The idea has been advanced that it
would be much better to divide the appro-
priation among the companies of the
state than to have an encampment this
year. The idea is favored by some Of the
Savannah military men. At meeting
Of the officers Of the First regiment last
week it is understood that some Of the
officers favored the division of the appro-
priatiOn among the companies. Coils.
Reilly and Garrard, however, will urge
that an encampment he held. Col. Reilly
said before his departure: I'VE can
manage to hold an encampment this year
with SIS. 900, / think. We could not hold
ten days encampment as was done last
year. but we could hold weeks encamp-
msnt. The state has everything neces-
sary to holding an encampment and it
Will require very little expense to put
the grounds in proper condition. 1 am
opposed to the idea of dividing the ap-
preparation out among the companies.
The majority of the companies are in the
cities and II the appropriation is divided
out among the companies most of it win
go to the cities. We should then hear
cry raised against appropriaung the
states money to the city boys to wear
fine uniforms and enjoy themselves, and
next year there would be no appropria-
ton"
It is much better for the military to
have the money spent on an encampment
and let everybody know that the soldier
boys are there hard at work." Col. Reilly
added.
Everybody who has ever visited the
encampments knows that there is a great
deal more work than play for the soldiers.
Of it Of course, but the majority of those
who put in a whole summers day in drill
and guard duty, find that they need all
the sleep they can get, and that it does
not pay to stay out late at night. The
First regiment did not go to camp last
year, II being our year off, but / spent
several days at Griffin during the time
that the Guards were in camp. 1 made 1t
my business to see how the men behaved
In town and 1 was very much pleased to
find that misbehavior of any kind was
rare. At night after taps l would take
a turn around the city to see how many
men were out of camp after that hour.
At no time did l see any crowd in town
after taps, and neither did l see any mis-
behavior on the part of those who were
in the city at night. When the first en-
campment we're held the men regarded
them mere as holiday excursions than
anything else, and there was undoubtedly
more carousing than should have oc-
CURED on such occasions. The men have
learned row, however, that a military ell
campment is place where they go to
the duties of a soldier If the
members of the legislature would
spend a part of their time in camp with
the military we would hear no more from
them to the effect that the encampments
are only picnics. L have no doubt but
that we shall have an encampment this
year.
That the annual encampments have
greatly benefited the military of Savan-
nah and increased the efficiency of the
commands as well as their interest in mill
itary matters is very apparent to all who
keep posted in military affairs. Last
night was drill night with most of the
companies. There were five companies
drilling on Bull street, Capt. Gordon had
the Hussars out near the De Soto, while
the four companies of the Guards were
drilling further up the street.
All the companies made large turnouts,
Company A of the Guards having s.
men at drill. Further out in the park
extension several companies of the First
regiment were at work. The Guards will
have one battalion drill a month here
after. Col. Garrard has arranged with
the Brush Electric Light Company to
put two new arc lights in the northwestern
corner of the parade ground, which will
be lighted whenever the battalion or any
of it's companies desire to drill there at
night. This is for the purpose of facii-
itating work in the extended order drill,
which cannot be satisfactorily given on
the Streets especially at nights.