The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-02
1T MAY BRING DISSENSIoN.
NAVAL BATTALION ELECTION Or
DERED FOR APRIL IL.

COmmander-Some of the Men
Have Talked of Withdrawing AL
together-The Situation Said to
Have Been Brought About by "A
Combination with the Brunswick
Officers.
Lieut.. H. S. Colding, commanding the
Second division of the Naval Reserves of
Savannah. received an official notice yes
terday from Acting Adjt. Gen. Oscar ].
Brown calling an election for commander
and lieutenant commander of the Geor-
gia naval battalion to be held April Y,
between Z o'clock and 10 o'clock p. m.
1t being understood that the officers who
are to fill these positions have already
been informally chosen, the election was
ordered. The election is to be held under
the superintendent of two or more JUS
tees of the peace or freeholders and one
or more freeholders of the county, or any
two or more officers of volunteers not con-
nected with the naval reserves. The SUI
perintending officers are required to
transmit the returns to the Governor.
1t is said this action is going to bring
about some trouble among the naval re-
serves in Savannah, and the situation al
together gives rise to some very interest
ing questions. The members of the mill
tia here held a meeting not long ago at
which sixty-one out of something like 100
members were present. The meeting was
held by the men for the purpose of dis
CnGSinur al h.
of a lieutenant commander for the battal-
ion it having been settled that Brunswick
was to have the commander and Savan-
nah the Lieutenant commander.
After discussion of the matter the
meeting took vote, at which fifty-eight
OF those present voted in favor of Lieut.
H. S. Colding, while three asked to be ex-
cused from voting. The officers of the
two commands here, however, got to-
gether and decided in favor of Lieut.. c.
E. Broughton for lieutenant commander
and the officers of the Brunswick Re-
serves have acquiesced in that agreement
There has been considerable correspon-
dence with regard to the matter. it is sta
ted, and Lieut. Broughton made a trip to
Brunswick to consult with the naval re-
serve officers there with regard to the
matter
The result has been that the officers
with whom the voting power lies, have
decided in favor of Lieut. Broughton as
against Lieut. Colding. This, of course
puts Lieut.. Colding out of the race. and
the question now is as to what will be
the result
Some of the men who attended the
meeting tbav
ton of Lieut.. Colding on account of the
fact that he was the senior officer. and
TO MIN, in a large measure, was due the
upbuilding of the naval reserve in Savan-
nah.
The Brunswick Reserves. as has heen
stated, nave decided on Lieut. f. d. Aiken
LOT commander, and on Lieut.. Broughton
LOT lieutenant commander. 1t has been
hihteo among some of the men that this
Sction might lead to disruption of the
savannah divisions, or at least OF one of
them, that commanded by Lieut.. Colding
mere are some who do not hesitate to ex
press their dissatisfaction with what has
pSeh zone, and it seems apparent that
, though the officers have come to a set
tieheht OF the vexed problem of battsl
ION oincefs, the trouble within the naval
pattalion has not been settled vet.
An officer of the Second division has
written a letter in which he says: Lieut.
CoIdlng began career which has brougbt
the naval militia well to the front ~ e.
cured the sixty Remington rifles. 1O0 Ice
rlHeS ana accoutrements for the two com
Lhahds' a Whale boat, one-pounder randi
IRE t1otchkiss gun and 5000 rounds of ban
cartridges. In the interest of the militia
ne erected the gun racks, visited The Naval
war College, made two trips to Washing
ton' made all official returns and answered
questions by the Naval War College he
appeared single-handed before Council and
asked snare or the military appropria-
ton for the naval force.
"On the night of March q the
officers of the naval militia met
10 erect If possible, a nomination for a
battalion officer. Lieut.. Broughton asked
further time on account of the letter he
received from Mr.. C. L. Elliott of Bruns
wick in which the latter said: Although
have had no reply to my letter of the
lTth inst, am convinced that our officers
thihK that the matter of navigator should
pe settled. AS we have the ship here we
thlnk Brunswick should have that Office
and If you will guarantee one or more
votes of your officers for our candidate
the Brunswick officers will poll a fun vote
Tor yourself as lieutenant commander
Lieut.. Broughton said he felt mortified
that any one should approach him in this
manner and asked that no nomination he
made until he could reply to the above
This was accorded to, and the next dav
Lieut. Broughton visited Brunswick. fol-
lowed later by Ensign Baker 1t is not
known what transpired, but at the Of
hcers meeting Monday night last ex-En-
sign Dickinson nominated Lieut.. Brough
ton for the position of lieutenant com
mander."
The success of Lieut. Broughton seems
to be assured, as he has four votes in
savannah and eight in Brunswick. which
gives him twelve of a total of sixteen
votes. The talk concerning a split in the
Second division is kept very quiet
The men of both divisions. of course. are
all enlisted in the state service. the en-
hstment covering a period of one year.
They could not, therefore, resign at once
though it is very easy to see how, il their
wishes are violated. they could make the
service most ineffective. Whether a ma
jority of the men would persist in this
stand or not cannot now be stated There
are some who say that such would be the
case, while others think most of the men
would come around and remain with their
companies.
At all events, the future of the naval mi
litia seems somewhat dark. Brunswick
and Savannah have been at loggerheads
for some time and now thera &c a a.