The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-16
MILITARY MEN bND MAY WEEK.
THE COMING CONTESTS BEING
WELL ADVERTISED.


Seeking Information About the
PrOgramme-AmpIe Arrangements
Being Made. and Every Possible
Feature Being Given Attention.
Some of the Washington. ID. C..
Companies Want the Prizes In
creased-They Are Nevertheless
Very Much Interested in this
Events.
There is a strictly business air about the
office of Corresponding Secretary Harmon
Of the Military Interstate Association in
the board of trade building, and it will
be evident TO anyone who enters there
that work is being done and substantial
work, too.
Mr.. Harmon is busy at present with his
correspondence. and there is an immense
amount of it. He is practically in COM
munication with the military companies
Of every state in the union, and all of
them are being supplied abundantly with
the literature giving the lists of contests
and prizes on the programme for May
week.
The Georgia companies. especially in
the southern section Of the state. are taxi
ing a decided interest, and scarcely day
a letter from the officers Of some Of them
with regard 10 the drills. All of them
signify a desire 10 come if they can pos
sibly make arrangements and get a suffi-
cient quota of men to enter the contests
Mr.. Harmon has just received letters from
WaynesbOro and Augusta and other
points in that direction stating that the
military companies there want TO consider
fully all the propositions made by the as
ISOLATION, and 10 that end all specifica-
tons have been sent them.
While the military and rife contests pro-
grammes have been prepared, nothing
definite has been done yet with regard to
the fireworks. There is a committee
which has that matter in hand, and
which is now engaged in securing esti-
mates on such displays as may be wanted
from Pain & Sons.
been made 10 establish camping ground
at Thomas park, and on other ground
in that vicinity, and the adjutant general
has agreed to allow the military the use
OF the state tents for camping the visiting
troops. The president, Col. William Gar
rard, is now in correspondence with the
proper authorities, looking to the secur-
ing Of a detail of three United States
army officers who will act as judges of
the contests.
The Washington troops and national
guardsmen are still taking deep inter-
est in the situation here, as is evidenced
by the attention which the papers of the
national capital are giving the matter
The Post of Saturday says:
The Savannah drill still occupies the
attention of local guardsmen, and forces
nearly all other matters into the back
ground Continuing the announcements
of the separate events made by the COM
mittee from time to time, the papers of
Savannah have published the list OF
encampment."
rules which have been made to govern the
contests. The rules have been printed by
the association in pamphlet which
have been distributed among all comDa-
MES. Although the provisions are that
entry is confined to troops now actually
in the militia service, the executive COM
mittee have sent an invitation to the Ma
tional Fencibles of Washington. with an
explanation to the effect that such clause
was inserted only to bar companies of
the regular service. The conmunfcat ton
states positively that no effort has been
made 10 prevent the entry of the Fenci-
bles
All Savannah companies are barred from
competition in any class and company
teams limited to forty men. Drill for the
first prize in the interstate competition
will include first, the school of the COM
pany; then, after an interval sufficient for
a change of uniform, if the competing
company so desires, platoon movements
advances by rushes, rapid firing and
charges. Blanks will be provided by the
contesting companies. In the maiden
class, limited to such companies as have
never won a prize in an interstate drill
school of the company alone.
All military companies must enter camp
and submit themselves to the rule and
discipline of the camp officers. Tents will
be furnished and meals provided at 'rea-
sonable rates" within the camp limits
The last clause provides that entry must
be made before May l.
The Washington companies seem to
want some increase made in the prizes. On
this point the Post says:
with reference to local companies the
unchanged q
the Fencibles seem determined to obtain
an increase in the prizes for the interstate
contest, if such a thing is possible. The
arrival of the advance agent for the drill
association is expected during the COM
ing week, and the members of the COM
pany hope then TO enlist his sympathy to
that end. il is their opinion that an in
crease of the first prize to $3.50 would
warrant a challenge to the Thurston
Rifles. now holding the Galveston semi
centennial cup, and compel the members
of that company TO meet the Washington
companies there, or TO place the cup in
competition without entering to defend
it, Il is possible that the adjutant gem
eral of Texas, who is custodian of the cup,
might be induced to enter it at Savannah.
they think, if the prize offered were suf-
ficient to defray the expenses of the COM
pany now holding it.
IF a proportionate increase should be
made in the second prize, and the first
prize changed as indicated, all hesitancy
in local militia circles would probably be
at an end and the Washington companies
MOQlu at once DtSlh preparation IOf the
contests at Savannah. 1t is to be hoped
that some such action will be taken"
The Morton Cadets of Washington are
receiving every encOura cement in the pre-
parations they are making toward coming
to Savannah. Maj. F. 7. Wilson of their
battalion has strongly recommended to
the commanding general that the Morton
Cadets be allowed to make the trip and
enter the contests and they are making
all arrangements to do so. The Wash
ington riflemen are stil deVoting all their
snare time to practice and they expect
to send down some winning teams. They
are we'll pleased with the prizes offered in
the rifle contests.
The SnmOrd's Trip TO Port Royal.
The steamer Gov. Stafford carried
crowd of Savannahians to Port Royal