The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-12
ATKINSON WON'T GIVE UP ARMS
PROF EsTs AGAINST TURNING ALL
OVER TO VOLUNTEERS.

sent a Telegram to Secretary of
War AIGer on the Subject-AlSO
Asks the Georgia Senators to Take
the Matter Up at washington.
Points Out the Necessity for Main
taIning an Armed Militia Force at
Home After the Troops Go TO
Cuba.
Atlanta. Ca, May n-GOv. Atkinson
has entered a vigorous protest against
the order of the war department by which
the arms and equipments now in the
hands OF the militia Of the state are 10
be used for the volunteers in process Of
organization at Griffin.
Recently general orders 81 and 50 is
sued from the department direct that guns
and equipment now in the hands Of the
militia Of the several states be inyoiced
to the quartermasters and ordnance Off
GERS Of such regiments and commands as
are mustered into the United States ser
vice, so that these arms and supplies may
be utilized for such volunteers. the de-
feiency to be made up by requsition on
the department at Washington
From these orders it seems that the
volunteers are not to receive new equip
ment as was at first expected from the
tenor OF adviees from the department
This is unwelcome news to Georgia, not
only because the volunteers were expect
ing new Krag- Jorgensen rifles and ac-
coutrements. but also because the militia
commands which have not gone to the
front do not want to give up their arms
at this time.
Gov. Atkinson has strong IDEAS on the
subject. growing out of the absolute ne
cessity for the maintainence Of an armed
military force in some parts of the state
and he mas accordingly opened up COM
munication with the department. with
view to forestalling the execution OF the
orders referred to so far as they relate
to the Georgia militia at least.
This afternoon he telegTaphed Senators
Bacon and Clay asking them to see Sec
rotary Alger at once and urge him TO
grant the Georgia militia exemption from
the orders requiring the militia to sur
render their arms 10 the volunteers.
He also sent the following telegram to
Secretary Alger on the subject. which
together with the work Of
readily understand the necessities
of the situation, will be productive OF the
desired results:
Atlanta, Ca, May n.-R. A. Alger, Sec
rotary of War, Washington, ID. G.: On
account Of local conditions and widespread
apprehension of trouble after our volun-
teer forces have been mustered into SER
vice, it Is extremely important that we be
permitted to retain arms and equipment
now in the hands of the state militia ans
recruit the organizations that have been
depleted by volunteering. ] earnestly ask
that arms and equipment for the United
States volunteers be furnished by the Fed
eral government Atkinson, Governor.
A recruiting Office was reopened at the
capitol to-day for the purpose of securing
men to fiil up the ranks of the Atlanta
companies now in camp at Griffin. None
of the companies have the maximum num-
Der of men, and some may not have the
minimum when the surgeons get through
With them, and TO provide against the
contingency, Capts. Nash and Barker
came to town to-day and began taking
in new men.
Mai Kendrick of Col. Browns regiment
also came up to-day and spent some time
at the Office of the adjutant general