The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-12
ONE VACANCY NOT FILLED.
THIRD DIVISION NAVAL RESERVES
ELECT OFFICERS.

j. II. Kinzie Elected Lieutenant, G.
L. Dickinson, Lieutenant Junior
Grade, and j. A. Thomas, Jr., En-
sign-EnsiGn Baker, Now in Pris-
on, Holds "A Commission Until He
Resigns or the Courts Find Him
Guilty of the Ofense With which
He Is Chnrged-omcers Giving Re-
cruits Close Attention.
The election of officers In the Third d.
vision of the Savannah Naval Militia was
held at the armory last night, and the re-
turns win be sent 10 Commander Aiken OF
Brunswick to-day.
Lieut.. J. H. Kinzie, Junior grade, was
elected lieutenant; Ensign G. f. Dlckin-
son was elected lieutenant. junior grade.
and Boatswain's Mate J. a. Thomas. Jr..
was elected ensign. These were the regu-
lar nominees of recent meeting, and
there was. therefore, no departure by any
of the men in casting their votes. The
votes were received by the election board
comprised of Capt. C. A. L. Cunningham,
of The Georgia Hussars; Capt. t. S. Lucas,
of the Oglethorpe Light Infantry and
Lieut.. C. e. Proughton of the naval bat
talon.
As soon as the report is received In
Brunswick It will be forwarded to the
Governor, who will issue the commissions,
which are expected to be in Savannah by
next Tuesday. This will still leave the
division in a disrupted state, however, be-
cause of the fact that one of its officers
is unable 10 discharge his duties, and
from present indications will not be able
to do so for some time to come. This
is Ensign Thomas M. Baker, who recent
~ became involved in transactions with
the Cumberland Touring mills of Nash
vile, Tenn, and is now in Jail pending a
trial on criminal charges, which were pre-
ferred some time ago. The question has
occurred, what should be done in regard
to supplying the vacancy, but no solution
has yet presented itself.
Ensign Baker has signiied no intention
of resgning. which at present is the only
way the office can be vacated. 1t is under
stood steps may be taken toward bring
ing about his release from Jail on the
ground that he is commissioned officer
OF the United States government and has
been ordered into the service. The pro-
cess in this event would be by writ of
habeas corpus, implying that the pc
titioner is being held in custody contrarz
to law. The success of such a move can
not be predicted, but 1t is understood En-
sign Baker believes from advice given him
that such can be done. If no effort is
made in this direction, however, the mat
ter will likely stand in statu quo, for the
reason that no action can be taken against
nv fioI lou
he is innocent until the contrary is pro-
ven. There Will be no hearing of the case
until the Superior Court sits in June.
There is no let up in drilling the large
number of recruits recently taken in both
divisions. They are being initiated by a
thorough drilling In the tactics, and from
the manner they take hold and the inn
provement they have thus far made In
their work, the officers are congratulating
themselves on getting an excellent body of
men together. There is every reason for
believing they will be called for very soon
to go into the coast service, on account of
which the officers are losing no time get
ting them in thorough readiness.
Naturally enough the recruits are ex-
pecting early orders and their eagerness
prompts them to make frequent Inquiries
as to whether any information has arrived
indicating a combined move of the divi-
siOns. More or less Disappointment Is felt
because of the suspense, especially by
those who are dependent on their earnings
for living, and who are not in position to
wait very long without some kind of re-
compense.
AS to the craft that will be used by
the four crews called for, the officers
know nothing further than the SUPPOSE |
ton that il will be made up of tugs which
are at the option Of the government. OF
the two classes, the torpedo boats will ply |
farther from the coast than the patrol
vessels. This is because they are more |
for the purpose of locating men-of-war, !
in order to do which they have to keep
directly in the course followed by coast |
wise vessels. The torpedo boats are not |
expected TO make attacks, except al |
night, when one shot from their destruc- |
tive tubes is sufficient to sink the great
vessels they may have been pursuing for |
days. With the patrol boats, however, |
the case is different their mission being |
TO lay 10 the coast, keep in close commune |
cation with the signal stations and bear |
messages TO the torpedo boats when nee.
essary.