The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-08-25
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt Not
Disposed to Take Away
the Passaic.
COLDING ASKS FOR PASSAIC.
Makes Formal Application to the Adjutant
General-What Mr.. Roosevelt
Has to Say.

|
applied for the transfer of the monitor
Passaic from Brunswick to Savannah.
His application is as follows:
Second Division Naval Militia,
Georgia Volunteers, Savannah, Ca,
Aug. 10, 1S97.-Hon, Theo. Roosevelt,
Assistant Secretary of the Navy,
Washington, D. c.: Sir-Seeing by a
dispatch from Washington that no
steps have been taken by the navy de-
partment relative to the report of
Commander Todd of the Wilmington,
recommending the transfer of the
Passaic from Brunswick to Savannah
for use of the naval militia, and that
if the Savannah reserves want the use
of this vessel they should make for
NAL application for her, 1 have this
day, as senior officer of the divisions
located here, forwarded to the office of
the adjutant general of this state a
formal request for the transfer.
Gin doing this 1 have no desire or
intention of antagonizing a sister city,
but believe that change will benefit
the naval militia of Georgia by raising
the standard of excellence here where
the largest divisions are located and
which can now, in my opinion, be
very easily recruited to their full
strength.
"My reason for writing direct is be-
cause of the Importance of the matter
under consideration and the necessity
of acting promptly, and in order to
avoid the necessary delay incident to
correspondence, | shall forward to
the adjutant generals office with my
application for this transfer copy of
this letter and will ask his endorse
ment of my course in this matter.
Trusting my request will be en-
dOrsed by the state authorities and be
transmitted to you promptly, and the
necessary orders will be issued as soon
as practicable and that you will notify
me as soon as you hear from the adju-
tant general of this state, | rem ain,
respectfully, etc."
The Washington correspondent of
the Savannah News writes as follows
Mr.. Roosevelt has not acted upon
Lieutenant Colding's request, because
he desires to fully consider the subject
in all its bearings. 1t is question in
his mind whether it would be wise to
take the Passaic away from Brunswick
and thereby destroy that division of
I the Georgia reserves. 1t is not his
| purpose TO punish the Brunswick re-
| serves to such an extent as to imperil
that organization. On the contrary, he
would rather do something more to
encourage them and induce them
to improve their standing in
the service. The criticism of
the board was made in good
faith and in the best interest of the
service, and the Brunswick division
should accept it in that light. If they
display the proper spirit and show a
disposition to correct some of the in
efticiencies complained of by the
board Mr.. Roosevelt holds that it
might be extreme punishment to de-
prive them of the Passaic.
On the other hand, he believes that
the Savannah reserves are apprecia-
tive, ambitious and filled with the
right kind of zeal, and they are en-
titled to practice ship. While 1t is
not usual to allow one state more than
a single ship for naval militia service
the circumstances surrounding this
case might justify departure from
the general rule. Mr.. Roosevelt will
look over the roster of ships and see
if he can find an available craft for
Savannah. He has an idea that he
can find another monitor, of the Pas
sale class, for duty at Savannah.
BROWN REFUSES.
A dispatch from Savannah to yes
terday's Constitution states that Capt.
Oscar j. Brown has pointedly refused
to sanction the transfer of the Passaic
from Brunswick to Savannah.