The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-09
MAY BRING THE ENcAMPMENT.
MILITARY WEEK FEATURES WILL
BE NUMEROUS.

Talk of the State Encampment BE-
ing Here in May Instead of at 1rif-
fin in Observation-Disclosures, ID. C..
Companies Think They Are Barred
Because the Rules Say state
TrOOps-The Board of Directors
VIII, No Doubt, See That the Inn
preston is COrrected-Washing
ton Riiemen Getting Ready for the
shoot.
There are more features on the tapis
for the military festival of the Military
Interstate Association than the commit
tees know just how to deal with at the
present juncture, and though the entire
matter is in the hands of energetic and
pushing men, there has got to be some
tall hustling if they get things in ship
shape and right on time.
But they will do it. Every committee
has its work well in hand, and Core
spending Secretary A. c. Harmon is get
ting out enough information through the
mails to let the whole United States
know what is going to take place.
The latest suggestion is that the state
encampment of troops take place in Sa-
vannah during that week instead of be-
ing held at Griffin in June. This sug-
gestion is meeting with favorable con-
sideration everywhere, and there is no
reason why it could not just as well be
carried out. Savannah is a military CEN
ter, and with such added features as will
be presented at that time every induce
ment would be placed before the military
commands of the state to come here.
This may be one of the matters to be
discussed at the meeting of the board
of directors of the association to be held
this afternoon at O'Clock at the Com
mercial Club rooms.
According to the Washington Post of
Saturday, the military commands of the
District of Columbia are not as well
pleased with the outlook as they might
be. The Post now states that the COM
panies there, or some of them, take the
position that under the rules of the con-
tests they are barred from participating.
After publishing a revised list Of the
prizes and contests, both in drilling and
shooting, the Post says:
THE most noteworthy feature of the
announcement, which is quoted from the
official statement of the prizes, is that all
of the contests are limited to companies
now actually enrolled in the state militia.
No other construction of the words open
to all infantry companies, state troops,
is reasona BILE, so the National Fencibles
are probably barred from competition.
The increase of the second prize in the
infantry contest has already been referred
to, ana the other prizes require no eX-
mo mention has been made of any cup
for competition among the infantry COM
panies, and it seems likely now that none
will be offered. This fact, and the almost
insignificant increase in the prizes, leaves
the local companies in about the same
quandary as before the official announce
ment was made. Just what they will do
none of the militiamen would say, but
while drill may begin at once in some in
stances, the possibility of another inter-
state contest may prevent decisive action
among the local guardsmen until the
will hold a meeting, and will discuss the
matter then, preparation having been al
ready made for drill six nights each week
after March %. Company B, Second bat
talon, will hold their next regular month
ly meeting April 2, but will probably hold
an extra meeting before that time for
the consideration of this very matter. At
any rate no action concerning 1t was TAX
en- Thursday last In the Light infantry
everything depends on the temper of the
neWly-enlisted men OF Company Z, and
the Corcorans will possibly dispose of the
proposition at their next meeting, Monday
next.
commands interested, excepting alone the
Morton Cadets, who seem half determined
to enter under any circumstances, there is
much disposition to await the develop
ment of the Chicago project, and that
course will, it is thought, be agreed upon
by all Washington companies. Capt.
Domers command is responsible for the
announcement of a drill in that city in
the latter part of August in connection
with a display of the resources of the
southern states but nothing definite about
such a drill has as yet been decided,
and it seems somewhat unlikely that one
would be held at that time in city so
large and so unbearably hot as chicago
There is no doubt the Washington mill
tary men have put the wrong construction
on the rules and regulations. Ihls IS evil
dent from the fact that the matter of haV-
ing troops from the District of Column bia
here has been talked of at the meetings
of the board of directors, and the interest
the Washington companies have taken in
the matter has been source of much en-
enlargement. In fact it has been set down
almost as a certainty that three or four
companies from the District of Columbia
would participate. The corresponding
secretary will, no doubt, be instructed to
inform those commands that there is no
bar in the rules to the entrance of any of
the Washington companies.
The Washington rifiemen are evidently
putting in some good work in anticipation
of the contest The Post says that the
prospect of the rifle contest in Savannah
has given new life to the work in the gal
lery and in consequence of the increase of
interest Lieut.. King has opened the gal
lery for practice at 10 O'Clock in the morn
ing until the hour for closing, every day
except Sunday. 1t is stated that the ann
munition will be improved by the use
of bullets perfectly round made in the
armorer's room under his personal SUI
perVision, and that every precaution will
be taken to insure uninterrupted practice
for the Savannah competitions. Then fol-
lows a list of scores made at a recent
practice shoot, which shows what good
work the Washington shots are doing.
Similar reports come from other quar-
tiers with regard to preparations being
made for the contests, and the outlook is
becoming more encouraging every day.
When the arrangements for the condi-
tons of the contests are thoroughly un-
derstood it is believed there will be a still
wider interest manifested. Lieut.. w C
Cam will probably so on the road to make
personal visits to the military commands
an the way from Washington to Texas
within the next few days. In the mean
time, information is being sent out by
mail and the railroads have begun TO put
out their advertising matter in all sec