The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-22

Hon. L. A. Watres has been elected
colonel of the new Eleventh provision
al regiment of the National guard. On
Saturday night the Scranton and
Honesdale officers returned from Har-
risburg, where the election was held,
with the satisfaction of having scored
a bloodless victory-of having accom-
plished their object without leaving
any wounds which would otherwise
have to be healed during the further
organizing of the regiment.
Major Milton A. Gherst of Leban-
on, was elected lieutenant colonel and
Captain II. II. Raber. of York, and DR..
B. Rush Field, of Easton. majors.
Mr.. Watres' election was unanimous.
Nobody was opposed to him, although
Major Gherst was q candidate until a
short time before the election was held.
The latter won the admiration of all
of Mr.. Watres' supporters not only in
Withdrawing, but, also, in declining to
make his retirement conditional upon
the election of any of his friends to the
other officers. He was elected lieuten-
ant colonel almost unanimously and
without any solicitation on his part.
MAJOR GHERSTS REPLY.
1t was explained to Major Gherst by
long-dstance telephone from Scranton
Friday evening that a new armory for
Scranton depended largely on having
the colonelcy and regimental headquar-
ters in this city; that his withdrawal
would not only help Scranton directly,
but would, indirectly help the National
guard of the state. In reply he begged
that a definite answer be not exacted
from him. but that the Scranton Of
ficers settle the matter with his friends.
They had conducted the canvass in his
behalf, he said, and they should be
consulted although he was, PERSONAL
ly, willing to retire.
That was the situation Saturday
morning.
When Colonel +. II. Ripple and the
Scranton officers reached Harrisburg
they had little or no difficulty in induc-
ing Major Gherst's friends to withdraw
his candidacy and make Mr.. Watres'
election unanimous. In justice to the
latter it should be said that he, like
Major Gherst, took no part whatso-
ever in the canvass in his behalf at any
time.
The only candidate nominated in op-
position to Major Gherst for lieutenant
colonel was Captain M. J. Fitzgerald
| OF Lebanon. Out of the thirty-four
votes present, he received only those
of the Lebanon and Allentown officers.
He is an ex-United States army of
ficer and has for many years been we'll
known in the National guard as COM
mander of Company I, Fourth regi-
| ment Major Gherst has been the re-
cent assistant adjutant general of the
| Third brigade of the provisional guard
on Brigadier General Magee's staff.
CANDIDATE FOR MAJOR.
| Captain H. NJ. Phillippi, of Reading.
was the only opponent of Captain Ra-
Der and DIR. Field for the two ma
| jorships. He received the votes of the
officers of only one company in addi-
ton to the votes of the Reading Of
ficers. While the regiment comprises
three battalons, only two majors are
required under the United States army
regulations, which provides that the
lieutenant colonel shall command one
battalion.
Saturdays election does not by any
means complete the organization of the
regiment. Colonel Watres has many
appointments to make, and the condi-
elapse before this can be done. Among
the features to be considered are these:
Scranton has three companies and the
colonelcy and must be the regimental
headquarters; Lebanon, York and Eas.
ton are in part cared for in the cleo
ton of regimental officers from those
places.
The adjutant WILL almost beyond q
| hA
the one in that position must he in
close touch with the commander of the
regiment. The same observation an.
plies to the sergeant major, a non.
com, who bears the same relation tc
the adJutant as does the latter to the
colonel.
Battalion adjutants will not be ap
pointed In the new three battalion
formation, the United States army rult
will be followed whereby second lieu
tenants, detailed from the line for tina
purpose, will act as battalion adult
ants.
COMPLETE THE LIST.
A quartermaster, an inspector of riff,
practice, a surgeon major and twt
assistant surgeons complete the list o
commissioned officers, all to be an
pointed by the colonel. To make thes
selections will be no easy task con
sidering the fact that they are to b.
selected from twelve companies in tel
cities.
But in addition there are to be ap
pointed by the colonel the following
commissioned officers: A sergean
major, a quartermaster sergeant,
commissary sergeant and a hospita
steward. There will be no battalion
sergeant majors.