The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-11
MAY GO IN AS DIVISIONS
RESERVES WILL NOT NOW DE
CALLED ON AS a BATTALION.

The Assignment of Mr.. GigniIliRt to
the Navy Breaks Up the Battalion
Arrangement-He VIII Arrive in
Savannah To-day and Meet the
OHicers TO-niEht-He VIII Join
Admiral SIMPSONS Fleet and Is
Instructed to Go to Key West for
orders-COnsiderab DisnPpoint-
ment Among the Men.
The Georgia naval reserves are undoubt-
edly having a hard time in getting into
the navy. Some go or 800 or more men
are waiting anxlously to 80 70 sea in the
service of their country, and so far they
do not know what their country is going
10 do about it.
There is no doubt about the fact that
Mr.. Thomas Hayward Gignilliat who was
to have been the commander of the Geor-
gia battalion, has been ordered Into the
regular navy, and in coming TO Savannah,
as he will do this afternoon, it will be
merely on his way to join one of the yes
sells of Admiral SIMPSONS squadron, now
off Santiago.
Mr.. GigniIliat goes into the navy as a
EGCOIlu lieutenant Win SBltAlQiQ CIldAtNtS
for promotion at an early date. He had
hoped to command the Georgia battalion,
but the navy department looked at the
matter in a different light, and called him
into the regular service. 1t is not known
what vessel Mr.. Giguulat viii go upon.
and it Is not likely that he knows yet
himself. He has been ordered to Key
West, and after stopping here a day or
two will go there at once, subject to or
ders.
Mr.. Gignilliat desires 40 meet the officers
of the battalion at the naval reserves ar
mory tonight. and he win undoubtedly
have considerable interesting information
for them. It was due to him in part that
the order for their mastering in by the
Port Royal naval board was secured. That
order has already been issued, but the
date has been left blank, so the naval
board can act practically at its own con
venlence. The men are all in the dark as
to when this will be done, but those most
interested are expecting some information
within the next day or two.
The removal of Mr.. Gignillat from the
command of the battalion practically does
away with the battalion itself and there
is little or no chance that it viii now be
called on as such There is every reason
to believe however, that the men will he
called on in divisions, and mustered in as
such
This would practically do away with the
battalion organization altogether Assur-
ances have been received that some or
all of the divisions will be called upon,
and the work of mastering them in Is
expected 10 be taken up within q short
time.
1t is said that there is a need for men
in the navy, and this will be a good OPP
portunity to secure recruits But with
the destruction of Admiral Cervera's fleet
the necessity for coast defense vessels was
greatly diminished, and it Is not likely
that any new vessels will be put out for
that particular purpose. The Georgia men
cannot therefore, have an opportunity OF
distinguishing themselves and their state
in battalion formation, though their Off
GERS still feel confident that the divisions
will be called upon, and that the ma
iority of them at least will go into the
service.
A good many of the men are becoming
impatient for their work TO begin, Some of
them have been waiting now for weeks,
and several are without any employment
or means OF support. About eighteen or
twenty of, them are being looked after at
White Blufe where they are encamped I'M
der Ensign Noble Jones. The men are
getting along we'll there, and 1t is said
the discipline is excellent The grub,
too is as plentiful as the discipline.
This new turn in affairs will undoubted-
ly be quite disappointing TO many in the
reserves, but they wall, of course, have
10 make the best of it, and consider them
selves fortunate now If they get into the
navy as divisions.