The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-21
MILITARY CLUBS MAY UNITE.
4 PROPOSITION TO CONSOLIDATE
ALL THREE OF THEM.


Georgia Hussars and Chatham Ar
tiIIery May Dispose of Their Pres
cnt Quarters and Unite With Sa-
vannah Volunteer Guards at the
Quarters of the Latter in Maintain
ing "a Military C1ub-PIan Includes
Joint Ownership of the Guards
Property and the Main tainance OF
General Military CIub-NO For
NAL Action Taken to This End as
Yet, But Committees Likely to, BE
Appointed Soon.
move is on foot which may result In
the consolidation of the three military
lion takes effect the new military club will
be located at the Guards armory and the
club viii in all probability be known as
the Arsenal Club
The three organizations interested are
the Savannah Volunteer Guards, the Geor-
gia Hussars and the Chatham Artillery,
all of which have been maintaining indie
pendent clubs. The consolidation would
not only affect the clubs, but the military
headquarters of the three commands
would also be located at the Guards Ar
senal, separate quarters being provided for
each command. The Chathams are al
ready availing themselves of the privileges
of the Guards Club. by invitation of the
latter the armory of the artillery now be-
ing in use by the government as provost
headquarters.
No formal steps have been taken in the
matter yet, but the idea has been gem
orally discussed by the members of the
three commands interested. and is said
TO have met with The general Endorsement
of those to whom the matter has been
presented.
There are various reasons why the pro-
posed consolidation has met with favor
All three of the military corporations men
toned own valuable properties. The
Guards have the most commodious prop
erty, and the one best suited for mill
tary and club purposes, having been built
especially for such uses Both the Chat
hams and the Hussars, 1t is said have
the opportunity of disposing of their prop
critics on desirable terms, but it would NOT
be TO their advantage to do so unless
they can secure equally suitable accom-
modations elsewhere. The expense of
maintaining the club organizations has. il
is said, hardly proved adequate 10 the
results.
Many of the active members of the mill
tary organizations take little interest in
the club feature, and many of the pay
members remain upon the rolls simply
because of their interest i'm the organiza
tons, and do not attend the clubs regu-
larly. In fact, the interest in club life
does not seem to have been sufficient TO
maintain so many clubs successfully. Es-
pecially has this been the case during the
absence of so many members of the mill
tary in the service of the country dur
ing the war with Spain. The clubs not
only lacked the support of the absentees
bun the dizziness consequent upon the alb
sence of the war members and the result
ing lack of interest of the stay-at-homes
was very evident in the diminished re-
ceipts.
The idea which now seems to be in ia,
vor is to form one military club which
should have the support of all the
three organizations named. There would
of course, be considerable reduction in ex-
penses and the increase as the result of
bringing together so many military club
men would, ii is believed make the club
both popular and a prosperous one. SEN
arate military quarters would be provided
for each command. To 10 this ID might be
rear of the present building The Guards
have their company rooms in the rear of
the first floor The other two commands
might be provided with military quarters
in the addition or in the present building
The burden OF maintaining these sepa-
rate establishments has been found
heavy one and the idea is to combine the
finances of the three institutions in the
support of one. The Chathams and the
Hussars would be expected to invest in a
proportionate share in the Guards prop
erty. A considerable portion of the funds
would doubtless be invested in additions
and improvements in order to place the
club in such condition as to be thoroughly
suitable to its increased membership.
How the idea originated is not known
but il is said TO have met with favor from
members of all three organizations Com
mittees will probably be appointed at an
early date 10 confer with each other and
consider the feasibility of The plan