The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-21
TALK AMONG THE TROOPS.
THINKING OF WAR AND EXPECT
ING TO BE CALLED ON.

Call for Volunteers Removes the
Question of the Status of the Vol
unteer NilitIa-QuestiOn as to
What Would BE Done If All the Mi
Iifia should VOluntecr-Meetfng of
the officers of the Guards-RepOrts
Made Upon the Condition of All the
Troops.
The military authorities here are all in
the dark as yet with regard to what will
be expected of them. The lines are some
what strongly. drawn between the views
expressed by officers attached to different
commands. Some of the officers express
the opinion that the President has not
the authority to order out the state vol
unteer militia for service outside of the
state and outside of the country, while
others say they are in the service to take
whatever comes, and obey orders without
raising any question of authority.
Col. Al r. Lawton is very emphatic on
the subject. Without going into any of
the abstract legal questions he says point
blank, "If any man in the volunteer ser
order him out for duty, let him resign.
The militia is no place for any half way
business"
Col. .Lawton was quoted the other day
as saying he did not think married men
should be called on to respond for military
duty in a case of the present kind or
something to that effect Such state
ment gave an erroneous impression of
Col. Lawton's views on that line. What
he said was that there are some married
men whose business and family relations
are such that he did not think 1T would
be incumbent upon them to go. He did
not say that no married man should go.
The call of the President for volunteers
under the act of Congress practically does
away with the question of the volunteer
militia being ordered out by the Governor.
1t makes the question entirely one of vol
unteers over whom the President can have
absolute control 1t is most probable how
ever, that the Governor would call first on
his volunteer militia, and if he secured the
required quota from them he would not go
outside. II an insufficient number should
be secured from among the volunteer MT
litia the Governor would call for volun-
teers from other sources, since it is a vol
unteer army that the President wants.
Another interest ting question in this con-
nection is what would be done in case all
of the volunteer militia of Georgia, or the
greater portion of 1t, should respond to a
call for 900 volunteers. Georgia has six
infantry regiments and one cavalry regi-
ment, besides some few detached COM
mands. 1t would be interesting to know
what course would be pursued in case 1900
Georgia troops responded to the call, in
case the President should ask Gov Akin
son for only 1000. The government might
| accept the surplus or it might be held as
a reserve.
There was meeting of all of the officers
of the Guards Battalion In the office of
Col. VIM. Garrard yesterday afternoon to
discuss the situation in general so far as
it concerns. the volunteer forces. Col. Gar
rard would say nothing about the confer
ence for publication. II is probable that
there will be several such conferences be-
tween officers of the different commands
| within the next week or two.
| So far as is known the troops here have
not been sounded as to their willingness
| to respond to such call as is expected,
but 1t is believed the bulk of them would
| respond promptly, and go. Col Gordon
| Col Lawton and Col. Garrard have made
detailed reports of the inspection of their
commands TO the adjutant general, giving
! the strength, equipment and efficiency, and
| stating wherein their forces were lacking
1t is believed that a large number of re-
| cruits 10 these commands could be secured
| if the necessity should demand it.
Col Lawton received a telegram yester-
| day from Hon. John d. Little of Columbus
asking him to consider the application OF
Rev. DR.. Wood of the company there, as
chaplain of the First Regiment in case he
| had not already made an appointment AS
is well known the First Regiment has no
chaplain. Its composition is such that
question has never been considered, and II
is not likely that there will be one in any
| event
The officers here are now awaiting what
ever may come from Atlanta. So far they
know only what they have seen published
in the newspa pers. but they are momenta-
rily expecting to be called on. They do
not know yet just what the nature of the
order will be- but the supposition is as
has been announced. that there will be
| simply call for, volunteers. The situation
is all the talk around the military armo-
ries, where there is considerable difference
of sentiment and opinion among the men
but the majority of them say they art
| ready TO go IL called on.