The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-10
REFERRED TO COL. GARRARD.
his REPORT TO GOV. ATKINSON ON
NAVAL MILITIA TROUBLES.

The Acceptance of the Resignation
of Lieut.. ii. S. CoIding Believed to
Have Been Recommended - The
The Election for Battalion Officers
Proceed Tuesday NiGht-DissOlu-
ton of the Reserves May Follow.
Col. William Garrard of the First Bat
talon Infantry Investigated the differences
between the two divisions of the Savannah
Naval Militia yesterday, in accordance
with instructions from Acting Adjt Gen.
Brown. The object of the investigation is
10 more thoroughly acquaint Gov. Akin
son with conditions in the naval militia.
A knowledge. of the exact status of af-
fairs was necessary because two important
matter now before the Governor are be-
ing held in allegiance. One is the election
of battalion officers, ordered for Tuesday
night, but which has since been requested
withdrawn; the other is the resignation of
Lieut.. II. S. Coldlng, which was filed with
the Governor a week ago, but which has
not yet been accepted. Owing to the rup
ture in the divisions, several communica-
tions are reported to have been sent the
and in order to reconcile the facts, the pa
pers were all sent to Col. Garrard with
| instructions to investigate at once and re-
| port, making such recommendations as he
deemed expedient.
Copies of the letter sent Col Garrard
were also received by Lieut.. Colding and
Lieut.. Broughton, between whom the con-
| tention exists. Engagements were made
for both officers to appear at Col. Gar
lrap n 90 ,fa nj IL
ing was not accompanied by any of the
| officers of his division, but Lieut.. Brough-
| ton appeared with Ensign Kinzie. The
| object seems more to have been to arrive
at an agreed statement of facts, including
a review of all matters leading up to the
! differences which exist
! What took place at the investigation is
not definitely known, as all concerned had
official reasons for not discussing the mat
| ter. Col. Garrard was seen at his office
| shortly after the investigation, which last
| ed only about an hour, but declined to say
| anything as to what his report contained.
| He said it had already been prepared, and
would be mailed to the Governor in time
| to reach Atlanta this morning. The in
! structlons were accompanied by all pa
pers received by the Governor on the
question, among which was Lieut. Cold
ings resignation and the protests sent by
members of the naval militia, urging that
it be not accepted.
Judging from the time ii took Col. Gar
rard to investigate the matter and reach
a conclusion as to what he would recon-
mend there is little doubt but one of the
objects was to get the report to Atlanta
in time for the Governor to take action in
time for his decision to reach here by
Tuesday, al which time the election for
battalion officers is to take place.
1t is pretty well understood that Col
| Garrard recommended that Lieut. Cold
iRgs resignation be accepted, and that The
| election proceed. The facts presented are
also believed to have convinced Col. Gar
rard that from former official clashes be-
| tween Lieut.. Colding and Lieut.. Brough-
ton, others are apt to follow If the same
conditions prevail. The would eventually
destroy all discipline in the militia, and it
is believed Col. Garrard looked upon the
| withdrawal of one or the other as the only
solution of the question. He may have
| considered the sentiment of the men in
arriving at his conclusions, but as TO the
recommendation that the election proceed
there is little question but the nomination
of Lieut.. Broughton for lieutenant COM
mander of the batflion two weeks ago was
the controlling point, Notwithstanding the
informal elections held by the seamen eX-
pressing their preference in the matter OF
a lieutenant commander.
There is some talk as to the appoint
ment by the acting adjutant general of
a Savannah officer to conduct the investi-
cation. Col Garrard was a member of
the City Council which voted the police
appropriation of $3.50 to every white mill
tary company in the city except the naval
militia companies. He was one of the
members of the Council instrumental in
passing the appropriation and opposed the
participation of the naval reserves in it's
benefits.