The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-12
GEN. KEIFER SAYS 1T is so.
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT COL. bryan
WILL RESIGN FROM TIE ARMY.

derStood to Have EndeaVOred 10
Induce Him TO Reconsider His De-
cision and Continue with the
Corps and Go To Cuba With His
Observation-Disclosures Soldiers Re-
fuse TO Believe That Their Colonel
Is to Leave the scrvice-It VIII BE
n BLOW TO Them.
All doubt that Col William Jennings
Bryan is TO resign from the army was re-
moved last night when Maj. Gen. Keifer,
commander of The troops stationed here,
acknowledged that Col. Bryan intended to
quit the army. and would not so to Cuba.
Gen, Keifer was. averse to discussing
the matter beyond admitting that the ru-
mors were correct, and expressing his
regrets that such was the fact
1t can be stated, on what is regarded
as excellent authority that both Gen.
Lee and Gen. Keifer epdeavored to per
suade Col. Bryan to change his decision
and go with the corps to Cuba, deferring
his resignation to some later period. What
ever the cause of Col. Bryans decision,
though, il was sufficient to lead him to
adhere to his intention of sending in his
resignation now. Both Gen. Lee and Gen.
Keifer have a high estimation Of Col.
Bryan, having found him man of the
| finest character, and there is no question
that they were sincere in endeavoring 10
dissuade him from leaving the army at
present.
! Col. Bryan took dinner yesterday with
! Mr. II. NJ. Conner He has not yet pre-
pared whatever statement he intends Civ
| ing to- the public when his resignation is
sent TO the war department or is an
nounced as having been received al Wash
! ington. Ii is regarded as probable that
| ne will mention the reasons that led
| him to organize a regiment and enter the
! service expecting to be used in the fed
| against Spanish forces. He has given
seven or eight months time to the regi-
ment, and # is probable has sufficient rea-
| sons for deciding not to 90 to Cuba to the
| monotony of garrison duty in time OF
! peace. He was mustered in on July 10,
| but prior TO that had worked in organ
| izing the regiment. Col. Bryan, friend
| stated yesterday, entered the army
| through patriotic motives, and not from
| any financial or other personal selfish rea-
sons. There is now no enemy to be
! fought, nothing but police duty TO do in
| Cuba, and the changed conditions he con-
! siders will justify him in the step he is
| about to take.
out at the camp Of the Third Nebraska
yesterday there was considerable desire
TO know whether it was really true that
| Col. Bryan is about to leave the army.
Many of the men positively refused to be-
leve it and will not be convinced until
the colonel himself states that it is so to
them or their officers. Even then it viii
be hard for them to accept it as fact.
"AIany of US Joined the regiment because
Col. Bryan was to be at the head" said
| one private, in talking over the rumors.
| I'VE feel attached to him and we can
hardly believe that he is going to quit US
now Why it has not been long since,
| when some of the boys thought of getting
| discharges, that Col. Bryan told them
| that the regiment would probably be mus
tered out in two or three months, and il
would be better to wait until then and
! finish up the service with 1t. We have a
| fine lieutenant colonel, one of the best
| military men in the whole corps, but
while We appreciate him we have IAN es-
pecially tender feeling for the colonel. He
| has shown a quiet personal interest in us
! that we can't forget. 1 have known him
! to 90 and talk TO a man who had got
| drunk, point out to him the foolishness
of injuring himself in that way and vast
| ing his money, and give him advice as
| kindly as a father could have done He
may not be a military genius, but he has
got a heart in him that never forgets thai
| we are all men,"
Several of the officers confirmed wha
| A. bo1 cot 10 ha fan1iDor n
| the regiment toward the colonel. He has
got close to the men, that is evident, and
| IL is going TO be a shock to them wher
! they finally learn that he Is about to sur
render the command.
The Third Nebraska has an exceptionally
| good c.ass of men in it.. 1t has made an
excellent record for good behavior and It's
camp is acknowledged by all to be the
prettiest and best kept in the whole corps
! II is really a gem of cleanliness is laid
off with military precision and bears d
more military appearance than any other
regimental camp, although the others are
] themselves well kept and well managed
| at all times. Col Bryan, the officers say
| has never got the "swelled head" He
| has never refused to seek advice and has
never allowed himself to get so far above
| his men that they would not feel like ap
preaching him for advice or with conf
dences. II is evident that it is going tC
be a sore regiment when Col. Bryan
| leaves.
1t is understood that when Col Bryan
leaves the service he will be succeeded in
the colonelcy by Lieut.. Col. Victor VII.
quain. Maj. John II. McClay will be-
come lieutenant colonel and Capt. Charles
H. Marble of Company c will become ma.
| jor, First Lieutenant WIG. Doane becom.
ing captain of Company c.
Cost of a Soldiers Funeral"
Editor Morning News: An article III
] your paper. headed Cost Of a Soldiers