The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-20
TO HAVE A BATTALION SOON.
ANOTHER COMPANY or NAVAL MI
LITIA BEING ORGANIZED.

Naval Reserve Battalion VIII
Then BE Formed, including the
brunswick COmpany-Lieut. Cold
fng's RequIsition on the War De-
pRrtment HonOred-Fuu Equip
ment for His Company and sixty
Remington Rifles shipped Him
From WashingtOn-A Monitor to
BE Sent Out Next Month, on Which
the Georgia boys VIII Take a
sea Duty.
The naval militia IS on a boom in Sa-
vannah. A new company Of the naval
militia. or naval reserve artillery, as II is
now officially designated. viii be organized
in a short while.
The work of forming the company has
been quietly in progress for some time
now, and the formal application to the
military advisory board for permission to
organize the new company will be made
this week
The second company is the Outgrowth
of the first company, which is itself quite
young Under the excellent administra-
ton Of Lieut.. H. S. Colding. however,
the company has entirely outgrown itself
and the necessity Of organizing a new
company became apparent. The present
company now has with members enrolled
and applications which have been favora-
bly, considered, a total of 80 men. The regu-
lations limit a company to 90 men. There
were twelve applications at the last meet
ing, and there were sixty men out for
drill Monday night. The splendid appear
ance made by the company on parade
last Thursday gave it quite a boom, and
If 1fna fnF1g
now coming in.
When the battalion is organized there is
little doubt that Lieut. Colding viii be
made major. Lieut.. Aiken of the Bruins
wick naval reserve is the senior commits
stoned officer Of the service just now, but
1t is not likely that the Savannah men
VIII let the majority go to Brunswick,
when they have two companies here. The
officers for the new company have not
been settled upon as yet, but it is said
that prominent Bay street business man
is the favorite for company commander.
Lieut. COldtng received communication
yesterday from Lieut.. Oscar j. Brown, as
sisIant adJutant general, informing him
that his requisition for supplies had been
honored 10y the war department and that
articles costing S40790 had been shipped,
and in addition SO Remington rifles, 30 cal
iber, with bayonets, scabbards and belts,
would also be shipped shortly. The whale
boat promised Lieut.. Colding by Assistant
Secretary McAdoo will also be shipped
soon.
Lieut. Brown inclosed a copy of a letter
received 10y him from the assistant secre-
tary Of the navy, which is of interest to
the militia. The communication is fol-
lows:
The department has directed the com
mander-in-Chief of the North Atlantic
station to detail a monitor for weeks
tour of duty with the naval militia of
Georgia during the period from June Is
to June 80. You win be informed very
shortly whether the tour will be in the
first half or second half of this period.
The commanding officer has been direct
ed to communicate with you, with view
TO arranging the programme for the tour
of duty
The ship which visits the waters of
Georgia win also spend one week in North
Carolina. 1t is intended that the ship shall
visit both Brunswick and Savannah.
A board Of officers on the ship will re-
port to the department upon the charac-
ter and scope Of the drill and instruc-
ton given, percentage of attendance, form
of organization, professional knowledge,
discipline, uniform, efficiency in various
ratings, probable field of usefulness and
availability in time of war, class of men
composing the organization and number
who have served in the United States
navy. Directions have been given that
all instruction will be first given, as far
as practicable to the commissioned Off
GERS of the naval militia, and that they
be allowed to instruct and drill their own
men, especially at battery and small arm
drills"