The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-13
CoLDING OUT OF UNIFORM.
NAVAL MILITIA DIVIsItfNs CAST
THEIR VOTES FOR OFIG GERS.

Received Mt 10 O'Clock Last ~ 'ght by
the Election Board and MAJ led to
the GOvernOr-Lieut. f. ID. il<eH
for Commander and Lieut.. @. f.
BrOughton for Lieutenant "a M
mander VIII He the ResuIt-N Q. ne
of the Second Division OmcaA
Voted in the Election.
The much-talked-of election for battal-
ion officers IN The naval militia was held
by the two Savannah divisions at 10 o'clock
last night, the legal hour for the cleo
tons.
The officers cast their ballots for a com
mander and lieutenant commander of tho
battalion simultaneously with the officers
of the two Brunswick divisions The re-
turns were mailed direct to the Governor,
who viii probably announce the result very
soon.
The board of selected officers to receive
the returns here was composed of Capt.
]. J. Gaudry of the Republican Blues,
Capt. W. T. Hopkins and Lieut. w. P. OFT
of the Savannah Volunteer Guards. The
board appeared an uniform at the naval
militia quarters some time before the
time for the election and promptly at 10
o clock, received the sealed vote, which
was mailed to the Governor
The ruptured condition of the divisions
is probably better attested in the fact
that only two of the officers were pre-
sent to vote besides Lieut.. Broughton
hi
and Ensign Baker. both of whom voted
for Lieut. f. d. Aiken of Brunswick Tor
commander and Lieut.. c. E. Brougaton
of the third division for lieutenant COM
mander. None of the officers or seamen
of the second division were present as was
expected, and while it required nine
votes of sixteen to elect there were My
eleven votes cast if Brunswick voted its
full strength and Lieut. Broughton east
a vote for himself. There is no question,
however, either about his election or that
of Lieut. Aiken, as the votes cast mere
We're for Lieut.. Aiken and it has been
commonly known for some time that
Lieut. Broughtou was to receive the solid
eight of Brunswick in return for tine
necessary leverage from this end of the
line
Lieut. Colding is now out of the naval
reserves. His resignation, which has been
filed with the Governor since April l. was
acted upon yesterday byi the following
order from the Adjutant Generals office:
Special orders No. 3d. The resignation
by H. S. Coding of his commission as
lieutenant. second division, Naval Battal-
ion, Georgia Volunteers, is hereby accept
ed" The resignation filed by Lieut.. Cold
ing is as follows:
Il am in receipt of an order from the
adjutant generals office for an election
of commander and lieutenant commander
of the naval battalion.
Il have done all in my power to build up
this branch of the states service and the
reports from the navy department show
how | have succeeded. 1 feel assured thar
l have the good will of the enlisted mer
of the second and third divisions which
are located here and have received the
unqualified Endorsement of the officers of
my division. A combination has beer
formed against me, however, that pre-
cludes my continuing in the position l
now occupy as senior officer of the dvi-
sion here. Under the circumstances feel
it would be best for all concerned that /
retire. In case of trouble 1 will offer my
self in some other branch of the service,
where 1 feel I could serve to better adj
vantage"
now in command of the second division.
The effect of the election will probably
be its dissolution on account of dissa it's,
faction caused by it. This will leave the
third division in control, though there are
few who, it is said. will retire on ac-
count OF the feeling which has arisen since
the fight between the senior officers or
the divisions began.
The minimum number of seamen in
division is thirty-two while the maximum
which was formerly sixty, has been re-
Gently changed by the Governor to seven
ty-five seamen. The second division will
probably now run below the minimum and
| therefore naturally disintergrate. The
enlisted men cannot then be transferred
! to another command unless they elect to
do so according 70 a provision which Gov
ers this contingency.
A Brunswick dispatch says at the cleo
| ton for battalion officers there eight votes
went for F. d. Aiken. commander, and o.
f. Broughton, lieutenant commander.
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