The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-22
GUARDS READY TO GO TO WAR.
MAJORITY OF TEE OFFICERs WILL
ANSWER THE CALL.

=
The Command Will Answer as a
Corps If "A Sufficient Number Is Sc
cured-TwO of the Companies In
spected Last Night-So Orders Yet
Received, But the Proclamation
Calling for Volunteers Is Expected
at Any Moment.
When it comes to the question of war
there is no doubt that the Savannah Vol
unteer Guards mean business. That is
true, at least SO far as the majority of
their officers are concerned.
The men themselves have not given any
expression to their views, but the officers
have had several meetings. called by Col.
William Garrard, and these meetings have
developed the feeling which may become
the sentiments and opinions of the bat
TALON.
The officers have met on two or three
occasions with Col. Garrard. and have had
general discussion of The situation.
There are different reports with regard to
the tenor of these meetings. 1t appears
that the officers themselves are in honor
bound not to tell what took place. 1t APP
pears. however, that the meetings were
for the purpose of discussing the war sit
uation, and what the Guards would do
in the event of hostilities.
1t is said that the officers, with one or
! two exceptions, agreed that they would be
ready to be ordered out at any moment.
Another report is that the question came
up as to whether the members of the
corps would volunteer as individuals or
whether they would volunteer as corps
| to go in charge of their commanding Of
fcer.
/ None of these matters have as yet been
| submitted to the men, and of course it
would depend largely on them what would
be done. 1t is said the officers, with the
two or. three exceptions referred to, ex-
pressed themselves as willing to be order
| ed out at once. 1t is reported also that the
members of the corps as well as the Of
ficers are divided on the question of volup-
| teerlng. They hesitate because they say
| they do not see the reason for fight, and
yet there is no doubt that when volunteers
1 are called for, they win respond whether
/ they see the reason for it or not
| A captain in. the Guards said yesterday
I that he had a good many men in his com
| pany whom he would not allow TO enlist
| as volunteers. 1t is either because they
| were physically disqualified or because
! their family situations are such that. they
Gould not well leave, unless the necessity
demands it. This is the feeling among
many of the men connected with the bat
| TALON in spite of the fact that the com
handing officer is DESTROYS of leading his
entire command, if not more, to the seat
of the conflict.
! If volunteers are called for there is nc
| doubt that good proportion of the Guards
| win respond, and this will be true alsC
/ of the First Regiment and of the cavalry
| With the militia it is not so much ques-
ton of war as of their duty to their coun-
/ try, and for the most part they will be
| ready and willing to respond to any call
The militia have stopped wondering
about whether they will be compelled tC
respond if called upon and are considering
| the question of volunteering. When the
notion of compulsion was dropped, and i
/ became "a matter of volunteers altogether
many of those who before said they woulC
not go, ca me TO the conclusion that under
the circumstances. they would not mind be
coming volunteers, and there is no doub
there will be many surprises when the cal
is made.
The commanding officers of regiments
and battalions here have received no or
ders as vet with regard to the movement!
of their troops, and they do not expec
any until the President has signed the bill
calling for volunteers, and has issued his
proclamation for volunteers. 1t is ex
pected that he will then call for so manl
from each state and that Georgia WIN b.
called upon to furnish her quota Whateve
that quota may be there is no doubt tina
Savannah win furnish more than he
share.
The commanding officers are awaitins
now the proclamation of the President an(
the call of the Governor hereunder
which is expected to follow immediately
upon the passage of the bill by Congress
calling for volunteers.
| Companies A and d of the Guards wer
inspected last night by Col. Garrard. Boil
companies turned out with full ranks ant
made a very satisfactory showing. Tn
inspections were held in the compan!
rooms. The lockers were first inspected am
found TO be in apple-ple order. The arms
uniforms and equipment We're all in goo
condition. Both companies showed up re
markedly well as to attendance. Compan,
A had an attendance of 80 per cent. and
percentage of 1884 present, and accounted
for Company DIS percentage of ATTENDANCE
was 80 4-10, and a percentage of 100 presen
and accounted for. Col Garrard expressed
himself as very much pleased at the show
ing made. lie will inspect Companies /
| and G tonight.