The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-10
ARMS FOR THE STATE TROOPS.
GOVERNMENT TO SUPPLY EQUIP
MENT IN CASE OF WAR.

Commands of Regiments, Unasstgn-
ed BattaIions and Batteries Direct
ed to Increase the Enlistment oil
Their Companies to Number NOT
TO Exceed Seventy-Five Men-TeNt
of Gov. AtISinsOn's Letter to the
war Department.
Atlanta. Ga, April 9.-An order was Is
sued to-day by the acting adJutant gen
eral. Capt. Oscar J. Brown, TO increase
the enlistment of all companies in the
state guard.
In view of the outlook for war with
spain. the instructions to the commanders
are to set aside the company rules re-
curing a period of probation in the case
of applicants for enlistment, so as TO IA
ciHtate increase in the muster rolls.
The effect Of the order will be TO in
crease the strength of the state militia
about 50 per cent. There are now about
5000 white troops and in obedience to
instructions the total number of men Will
aggregate 5000, exclusive of officers.
The following Is a copy of the order sent
out from the adjutant generals office:
Atlanta, Ca, April o. 1s9S.-General Or
der No. 4-Commanders of regiments, I'M
assigned battalions and batteries of the
Georgia volunteers are hereby directed to
increase the enlistment of their companies
10 a number not to exceed 70 men, and
will use every effort to place their COM
mands in as efficient condition for active
service as the means at hand will allow
In making these enlistments, company
rules requiring a period of probation will
be set aside, but strict attention will be
paid to the physical condition of recruits,
and enlistments will be confined to those
between the ages of is and As years.
Company commanders will prepare lists
of mebers of their company who are
disqualified physically, by age or other
wise, for active service, and file them with
their regimental or battalion commanders
for the action of this Office in case of hos
tilities. In the event of the troops of this
state being called into active service In
formation has been received that the war
department will properly arm and equip
them before they are sent into the field.
"By order of the Governor.
oscar ]. Brown,
Acting Adjutant General"
Gov. Atkinson to-day gave out some
highly important correspondence with the
war department at Washington, bearing
upon the equipment of the state troops in
case they are called out for service. This
correspondence explains why the action
of the state advisory board, which author
lied the expenditure of the entire military
appropriation for equipment, instead of
an encampment, has not been carried into
effect by the Governor.
Gov. Atkinson felt that in case of war
the government would equip the militia,
and hence he did not deem 1t advisable to
go ahead and apply the states money to
that purpose, when the fund could prob
ably be better used in improving the coast
defense of the state. Anticipating the
meeting of the advisory board and its ac-
ton with reference to equipping the state
force for field duty, Gov. Atkinson sent
the following letter to the war department:
I'm view of the critical situation of af-
fairs in our present relations with Spain,
and under assumption that an the event of
hostilities the state will be called upon to
supply troops, l have the honor to request
information upon the following points:
is it the intention of the war depart
ment to make an immediate call for state
forces upon a declaration of war?
VIII this call be for volunteers to be or
ganized under instructions from the war
oSPai tiheht Ut from the troops as now or
ganized?
In what manner will the officers for
these troops be selected In either case?
When called out will the war depart
ment supply Immediately any deficiencies
that may exist in armament and equip
ment of these troops so as to place them
In condition for efficient service?"
In reply, the Governor received to-day
letter from Gen. Flagler chief of ord
nance, to whom the matter had been re-
ferred, in which he said that should the
services of the state troops be required nv
the United States. they would be properly
armed and equipped by the government be-
fore being sent TO the field.
The object of the Governor in delaying
his decision on the recommendation of the
board is thus explained 1t is plain that It
would be unnecessary for the state to
spend its money in equipping the troops
when that obligation would fall upon the
war department. The Governor maintains
that in the event of war there would be
ample need of the money appropriated for
state militia for state needs, without
spending it for equipment, which he
thought the federal government should
provide.
The reply of Gen. Flagler assures the
militia of proper equipment in case OF
active warfare and the state still has al
its command the funds set aside for mill
tary purposes. If a struggle ensues be-
tween this country and Spain, the military
appropriation of 200 will probably be
utilized TO place unprotected parts of the
Georgia coast in a state of defense