The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-20
WILL PULL FOR THE PASSAIC.
sAVANNAH's NAVAL RESERVES
WILL LAY CLAIM TO MONITOR.

Lieut.. COIding Says Nothing VIII
he Left UDdonc ia His Effort to
Get the Whrship as a Training
school For His Mcn-A Meeting OF
the Officers VIII he Held in the
Near Future-BrunswickI Is Making
IA strong Fight to Hold Her own.
Savannah's Naval Reserves will make a
strong fight for the Passaic. and ii is quite
probable that Savannah Will be the port
to which the famous old monitor viii be
assigned by the naval authorities at Wash
ington, instead of Brunswick, where the
vessel is now claimed by the reserves Of
that city Commander Todd OF the VIII
mington recommended in his report to the
department Of the navy that the monitor
should De turned over to the Savannah
reserves, and while this report has not
been acted on yet by the Secretary of the
Navy, 1t IS quite probable that some ac-
ton will be taken in the near future.
When such action is taken it is certain
that savannah's claims viii be forcefully
advanced before the proper authorities.
Lieut. H. s. Colding Of the Savannah re-
serves is much elated at the prospect of
securing the Passaic for his men. The dis
patch in he Morning News from Washing
ton yesterday was extremely gratifying to
the members Of the reserves in this city,
stating as it did, that it is not at all inn
probable that the monitor viii be taken
away from the Brunswick men and given
to Savannah
Lieut. Coldng said to a Morning News
reporter, when asked what steps would be
taken to secure the Passaic: You may
rest assured that no stone will be left un-
turned in our efforts to put Savannah's
claim with telling effect. There is no rea-
son in the world why this city should not
have the monitor allowed the naval re-
serves in Georgia, If only one Is to be al
lowed. We have here double the number
of enlisted men that Brunswick has and
muster two divisions We have as much
enthusiasm among our reserves as any
command in the country can boast of, and
am sure that when the facts are all
known the Secretary of the Navy and
those in authority upon such matters viii
see that Savannah's claim to the Passaic
is better than that of Brunswick We will
take such action as is necessary and hope
that through the proper authorities we
may be enabled 70 get the monitor. We
need il very much in Savannah to give our
men proper training aboard ship"
1t is well known that the Savannah
naval reserves are fully awake to the inn
pOrtance Of immediate action In this re-
gard and 1t is given out by all the officers
that a strong fight will be made to get the
PaSsaic from Brunswick
The news from Washington Is encourage
ing 1t IS stated that if Savannah makes
an effort it Will be an easy task to get
the monitor in these waters for the use
of the local divisions of the Georgia re-
serves. 1t is further stated that unless
Savannah does take vigorous action in the
matter the authorities will not be dis
posed to change the present plan by
which Brunswick is allowed the use of
the monitor It is known that it is the
policy of the naval authorities at Wash.
ington TO give but one training vessel to
the Georgia reserves, and unless Savannah
lays claim to ii, Brunswick will be al
lowed to continue to hold possession Of
the Passaic.
1t is probable that there will be a meet
ing Of the officers of the Savannah re-
serves within the next few days to take
such action as may be deemed essential
to further the interests of this city in
the movement TO comply with all the re-
quirements and get the control of the his.
toric old monitor which is now In Bruins
wicks waters.