The morning news., 1898-10-17
WORK OF THE. PROVOST GUARD
THE POLICE SYSTEM AMONG THE
SOLDIERS WHO ARE COMING.

MDt. Russell ii. Harrison, Provost
Marshal of the Corps Here to Look
After PreIfminaries-PrOm Sa-
vannah the Very Best Police Sys-
TEN That Can Possibly Be Given.
Had "A Whole Regiment Assigned
to His Department., and VIII Put
sOIdier-POIice in Every Part of
the City.
Maj. Russell B. Harrison. provost guard
of the Seventh Army Corps, accompanied
by the adjutant of the provost guard,
Lieut. Willis C. Metcalf arrived in the city
last night from Jacksonville, for the pur-
pose of looking into arrangements for es-
tablishing the police system of the corps
on its arrival here
Maj. Harrison has charge of about the
most important part of the corps so far
as the citizens are concerned, and his de-
partment comes into contact with the citi-
zens more than any other It is no small
thing to provide a police system for 1900
men, but Maj. Harrison has a good one
and he says the people of Savannah may
rest assured of the fact that full protec-
ton viii be afforded in all quarters.
The provost guard under Maj. Harrison
has charge of all arrests of soldiers, de-
sertions, the ambulance system, patrol
termaster's and ordnance depots, and is in
fact a thoroughly equipped and organized
police system.
Maj. Harrison and Lieut. Metcalf were
in conference for some time last night
with Chief McDermott and Police Com
missioners Gleason and Karow, with a
view to getting information as to the lay
of land here for police purposes. The
chief and the commissioners went over
the situation with him thoroughly, and
Will afford them every possible assistance
In Jacksonville the provost guard and
the police department worked in thorough
harmony, and there was good feeling
between them always. There is no doubt
that the same relation will exist here.
This morning at o'clock Commission
er Gleason and Chief McDermott will
take Maj. Harrison and Lieut.. Metcalf
out for a drive around the city and to-
ward the camps. The officers, after that,
will take the Plant System train for Jack
sonville In order to be there upon the ar
rival of the army investigation commits
sion. but they will return shortly after
ward.
Maj Harrison devised a splendid system
for police work in Jacksonville, and he said
| last night he intended to put the same
system into effect here. He has here six
precinct sta tions in the city, three in build
| ings one of which is used.as headquarters,
and three others are small camps. When
ever arrests are made the prisoners are
taken TO one of these precinct stations and
kept there for twenty-four hours. They
are then returned to their regiments and
placed in the guard tents there, a receipt
for them being given to the provost
guard.
Maj Harrison has an entire regiment,
| the Fourth Illinois, assigned to his de-
partment. With this 1000 men he is able
J to keep the other 1900 pretty straight. De-
tails of armed soldiers are distributed
through all parts of the city where SOL
| diers are Ikely to go. They have their or
ders and they know just wnat to do with
any offenders.
| When O'Clock comes most of the passes
! given soldiers to be out of camp expire,
and a search for all the stragglers is then
! made, an sorts of places, barrooms, re-
! sorts and dives being looked through. Most
of the arrests are made on account of ex-
| pired passes.
we are going to give Savannah the
| very best service that can be given" Maj.
| Harrison said last night I'VE shall work
| hand in hand with the police department
! and our relations viii be NEST cordial. The
/ provost guard wll look after all cases
where soldiers are concerned. aud such
cases viii always he attended to promptly.
Any riot or disturbance that may occur
| is nearly always suppressed in its incip-
| iency, SO that nothing serious is liable
/ to happen. This has been the case in Jack
/ sonViue, and the consequence has been
/ there have been no very serious difficult
! ties there"
Maj. Harrison speaks with energy and
earnestness indicative of the fact that
he means what he says, and that the
people of Savannah need noI worry about
! any lawlessness on the part of the sol
| diers. An effort will be made this morn
ing before Maj. Harrison leaves the city
| to secure a building TO be used as the cen
! tral station for The provost guard That
/ station viii be right in the business sec
/ ton of the city.