The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-13
NAVAL RESERVES AT OUTS.
SAVANNAH AND BRUNSWICK DIVI-
sIONs WAR OVER OFFICERS.

Elections For Battalion Officers Held
Last Night-The Slate Agreed Upon
by the Divisions of the Two Cities
FhiIed-The Savannah Division
Voted For Lieut.. CoIding, COmman-
der, Lieut.. BrOughton, Lieuten-
ant Commander, and Private
Thompson Eavigator-A Contest
Probable.
The officers of the two divisions of the
Savannah Naval Reserves voted last nigh;
for officers for the naval battalion, Gaor-
gia Volunteers, to be formed Of the di-
vision here and at Brunswick.
The election was under the superintend-
end of Col. w. w. Gordon, First Regiment
Cavalry, Georgia Volunteers, Capt. Geo.
P. Walker Chatham Artillery, and Lieu.
George w. Drummond, Company A. First
Regiment Infantry. Capt. Thomas Screw
en-, Company B. Savannah Volunteer
Guards, had been invited to assist, but
was unable to do so.
The eight officers of the Savannah di-
visions cast their votes solidly for The
Savannah candidates for offices of the
battalion. These officers are, commander
lieutenant commander. and navigator
The vote in Savannah was for Lieut.
H. S. Colding, commander, Lieut. Clar-
ence E. Broughton, lieutenant COM
mander and Private Walter ]. Thompson,
navigator.
The officers of the Brunswick division
also voted last night at Brunswick, and
the probability is that their ballots We're
cast solidly for their own candidates. This
will leave the vote a tie. There is some
feeling between the division of the two
cities, over the offices of the battalion
which the Savannah and Brunswick divis-
ions viii form, and any technicality or
form upon which the election may legally
be set aside will be seized upon.
1t Is said that one of
the Brunswick votes is not
legal, the officer holding it having been
elected without the proper observance of
rules governing elections. If this be true,
and the allegation can be proven, the cleo
ton will be anpulled. There was an eff
fort to bring the divisions of the two cities
to an amcable understanding regarding
the battalion officers, but it was found the
Brunswick officers did not come to ac-
cept the proposition offered them by the
Savannah division. The commands here
were ready to give the Brunswick division
the offices of lieutenant commander and
navigator, retaining that of commander,
or to reverse the matter, and let the
Brunswick commands have the command
err and the Savannah COM
mands the other two offices.
This proposition had no reasons patent
to the men Of the Naval Reserves here
against it's acceptance, one way or the
other and they were wroth that the
Pm, oh Of iror
offer or the other, should desire to keep
all the offices or the two highest, such
evidently being their intention
1t was believed up to a few days ago
that the election would be settled with
out friction, and that the officers agreed
upon by the two cities would be elected.
These officers were Lieut. Frank d. Aiken
of Brunswick, to be commander; Lieut.. H.
S. Colding of Savannah, to be lieutenant
commander, and Private Walter J. Thomp-
son of Savannah, to be navigator. This
arrangement was thought here to be per-
fectly satisfactory to the Brunswick cam
mands, and the election was expected to
be smooth sailing.
The first intimation that matters were
not to stand as arranged came a day or
two ago. when the reserves here were
wired from Brunswick that a committee
from the division at that place would like
to sit Savannah and consult concern
ing the election. They were wired that
the conference could not be held. and the
Brunswick men were informed that the ar
engagements might be reversed and the Sa-
vannah division would take the command
er and leave the other officers for the
Brunswick commands. The Brunswick
officers were bent on the conference, how
ever, and they came to Savannah and met
the officers of the Savannah division in
the Hussars' club.
The conference committee consisted of
Lieut. Charles L. Elliott of the First di-
vision and Lieut.. Clyde A. Taylor of the
Fourth division. The visitors were to
have returned to Brunswick last night,
but missed their train, and will return to-
day. The Savannah commands expected
to hear from Brunswick last night, but
did not, so the officers voted solidly for
the Savannah candidates as they felt con-
fdent that three Brunswick men would get
all the votes at that place.
The trip to Brunswick on Memorial day
has been declared off, and the Savannah
commands will tender an escort to the
Confederate Veterans Association for
that occasion.