The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-20
THE NAVAL
The Organization Of Wilmington Div
ision TO be Kept up by the Homo
Staying Nu~c;eus-Capt. j. G. Morrison
Appointed Aid to Commander Morton

A meeting of Wilmington Division,
North Carolina Naval Battalion, was
held last night at the armory, to con-
slider the matter of keeping up the or
ganization while the main bod of the
reserves are in the United States navy
for the war. Mr.. J. w. Freeman, sec
rotary and treasurer, presided.
Commander Geo. L. Morton attend
ed and discussed the matter of keep
ing up the organization. He suggest
ed that the home staying members
keep up the organization with the SEN
ior Junior officers that are left, and ad-
vised, in Difference to the members who
are off at war, that the skeleton Of the
division left here be recruited up to
the full limit Of eighty-fve men, in
Guiding about fifty Of the members
who are now enlisted on the United
States monitor Nantucket. With that
n in view he said he had written the
adjutant genera to get indefinite IA
of absence for the officers and men now
absent, but he has not yet heard from
the adjutant general on the subject.
He stated that If the adjutant general
would grant the leave Of absence ask
ed, the skeleton and the addi-
tional recruits could keep up the Or
ganization till the war contingent re-
turns.
After consultation with Captain J. G.
Morrison, Commander Morton an
nounced that as he had been commits
stoned a lieutenant in the United states
navy, and had for the present been
placed on shore duty, with the bust
ness in hand Of placing the several di-
visions of the reserves on to
be assigned for this urpose he may
necessarily be ordered away at any
time for duty. He said he had there
fore appointed Capt. Morrison his aid
and acting adjutant and he would be
his full representative in his absence.
Under the law he had a right to make
this appointment, and during his alb
sence the reserves here and at other
places, would be in charge of Captain
Morrison, who would have full power
to act in all matters concerning the
organization. Commander Morton fur
Their stated that if the ad%jutant general
would grant the leave or absence ask
ed for, the Wilmington Division could
go on as organized, occupy the armOry
as usual, have it's regular meetings and
drills, and Adjutant Morrison would
take charge and drill the division and
give it instructions. If the leave of
absence is not granted then the divis-
ion would have to reOrganiZe and elect
a full complement of officers. If this
should be done, Adjutant Morrison, in
mis- absence, would have full command
of the Naval Battalion. He said he
hoped, however, that the adjutant gen.
eral would grant the leave of absence
to the officers and men now away and
that the organization could be kept
up as now organized, retaining the alb
sent members as a mark of honor dur
ing their service in the navy. He ask
ed the members present to express
their views and sentiments on the mat
ter and they unanimously c~oncurred in
his views.
Captain Morrison mad a few re-
marks and was received with aD-
plause. He was at one time lieutenant
commanding the division and said he
had now come forward to volunteer his
services and would do anything in his
power to keep up the organization. He
was heartily ~applauded.
1t was decided to call another meet
ing as soon as Commander Morton a