The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-23
IN FAVOR OF COAST DEFENSE
MAYOR MELDRIM TO CONFER WITH
GOV. ATKINSON.

The Mayor Contends That All Geor-
gfa Troops should BE Used for
Coast Defense Purposes, and That
They shouId he Equipped and Sus-
tanned by the Government for This
PurpOse-He VIII Urge Gov. Akin
son TO Propose This Plan to the
War Department-TrOOps Would
BE of as Much Service on the Coast
as in Cuba, He Thinks.
Mayor Meldrim left last night for At
lanta for the purpose of comforting with
Gov. Atkinson on the subject of coast de-
lenses. He has already been in cores
pondence with the Governor about the
matter and was invited to come to Atlanta
for conference.
Mayor Meldrim thinks the Georgia vol
Unteers should be used to defend the Geor-
gia coast. In performing this duty, he
says, the volunteers would be Just as
much in the service of the United states
as II they were in Tampa or Cuba. His
idea is that, instead of sending volunteer
troops to Cuba, the entire volunteer force
of the state should be placed on the coast
While we do not expect any attempted
landing of Spanish army said Mayor
Medium, in talking with Morning News
reporter yesterday, ct is altogether within
the. range of possibilities that Spanish
Warship might land a force of marines
anywhere on our coast and large damage
be done. 1t is primarily the duty of the
general government to defend the coast
Of he
to be to throw large army into Cuba, it
Is not likely that there will be an ade-
quate force available to defend the coast
unless the state troops are used for that
purpose. My idea is that the Governor
should propose to the war department to
utilize the entire force of Georgia state
troops in coast defense, the government
TO furnish all arms, equipment, uniforms
and supplies, and the men to receive the
same pay during the time they are in serv-
Ice as the volunteer troops with the reg
ular army. Should the government de-
cline to accept this proposition, a meeting
of the legislature should be called and an
appropriation of 100000 made to be
used so much as may be needed, for this
purpose. The defense of our coast I con-
slider to be of the highest importance"
Mayor Meldim has not heard anything
further on the subject of defenses for
Warsaw sound. which Senator Bacon was
assured by the Secretary of War would
be provided.
Mayor Meldrim has written Gov, At
kinson, expressing his views on the sub
ject of coast Notifications and inviting him
to make a tour of the coast with him for
the purpose of deciding what points en-
the coast need TO be fortified.
Mayor Meldrim thinks the disposition of
the state troops proposed by him would
be much better than sending them to
Cuba and much more advanta geous to the
state. If a sufficient number of volun-
teers, outside of the organized militia,
should respond to the call to FIJI Georgia's
quota, as will undoubtedly be the case,
well and good, but anyway he contends
that the coast Of Georgia is the place for
the Georgia troops
ut Is doubtful If a large percentage of
the state troops will volunteer for service
in Cuba he said, while, on the contrary,
the troops would have no objections to
serving on the coast. Business men would
not be entirely removed from their husi-
ness, and the men would be in reach of
their families"