The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-24
GEORGlANS IN THE WAR GAME.
GOVERNORS ATTITUDE TOWARDS
THE REGIMENTAL OFFICERS.


III Feeling Caused mt Atlanta by a
Report That He VIII Not Consider
Himself Confined to the Present
List in Making Selections for Act
i've service-The Governor Makes a
Statement which Fails to Clear Up
the Doubt.
Atlanta, Ga, April 2s.-It will be Monday
before Gov. Atkinson is notified by the Sec
retary of War of the number of volunteers
expected to be raised in Georgia.
The Governor said tonight that he had
had no Communication whatever from
Washington in reference to the call for
volunteers and did not look for anything
before Mondays mall
Press dispatches from Washington to-
day state that Georgias quota viii be
about. 5000 TO 5000 troops. and while the
Governor will not discuss his plans in ad-
vance of the official notification from the
war department 1t is understood that he is
informally proceeding upon this basis in
his communication with the various mill
tary organizations of the state.
Information at the Office Of the adjutant
general is that all enlistment will be as in
dividuals, and not by companies or regi-
ments as now organized. While men may
be mustered in companies, they will be
subject to. assignment to any regiment
that the commander may see proper. Thus
if the entire First Regiment should enlist
in the formation of the army it might be
scattered in several other different regi-
ments though this would not necessarily
be the case. seft 4u'
Some ill-feelng was caused here to-day
by the report that Gov. Atkinson, who will
have the nomination of all the regimental
officers, would not consider himself con
fined to the present list of officers in max
ing selections for active duty, but would
go outside to get his colonies, If he saw
fit.
The report was circulated with especial
reference to the Fifth Regiment, of which
John S. Gambler Is the colonel command
ing. The report was that he and possibly
other officers of the Fifth would he left
out by the Governor In selecting the staff
when the muster roll is made up
Officers and men of the regiment were
considerably agitated oversthe report, and
it was brought to the ofovernors atten,,
ton. In reference to 1t, he made the fol
lowing statement, which may mean a good
deal to the colonels who are figuring upon
marching with the invading army: II have
received no requisition for troops haVa
taken no steps TO officer troops, nor have
/ determined upon amy definite course and
cannot until know the terms of the re-
QUESTION made upon me and am aequainr
ed with the provisions of the Hull bill.
l may add however, that regardless of per-
sonal criticism from the men, the officers
or the public, when I come to the appoint
ment of officers / shall select those who
in my opinion, can best care for the men
and render to the country the best serv-
ice. Regardless Of the personal ambition
of any one shall appoint, SO far as in
my power, the most capable men TO COM
mand"
Some of the officers and men Of the
Fifth Regiment declared to-day that they
would not enlist if they thought the Gov
ernor intended to ignore their present
staff organization.
1t is not believed that the Governor has
any such intention with reference to any
regiment for the reason that he is salts
fed that the men now at the head Of the
state militia are all fully competent to
command in the face of any emergency.
Th state service is now In better condi-
ton than 1t ever has been and this being
so the governor would hardly be likely to
supercede any of the regimentaI command
ers who have been so largely Instrumental
in bringing the service up to its high
standard when the hour of action comes.
The Governor is just military man
enough himself to know that experience
and discipline are worth a great deal in
time of war, and 1t is thoroughly safe TO
say that he will not go outside the list of
officers now on the rolls as long as there
are enough of such officers willing to vol
unteer.