The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-22
VOLUNTEERS DIDN'T ORGANIZE.
New Enlistment Movement Gave Way
20 Organized Militia.

For some time an advertisement has
been running in the Morning News, head
ed Atlantic Volunteers, calling for fifty
abled-bodied young men to join others
now ready, in forming company, perma-
nent formation conditioned on war" The
advertisement was signed Enlistment.
care News"
The promoters Of the movement did not
come to light until yesterday, when call
was issued for meeting Of the Atlantic
Volunteers at No. 4 Bryan street at $50
O'clock last night The call was signed
by D.. H. Bythewood. chairman, and E.
r. Mcclellan, secretary. No meeting was
held, however.
Messrs. MoKethan and Bythewood,
when seen by a Morning News reporter,
said that, owing to the fact that 1t Is I'M
derstood the call for volunteers will be
restricted to the organized militia they
| considered it unnecessary to prosecute
their efforts ftrther. They accordingly
notified those interested with them that
there would be no meeting
ut was decided" said Mr. Mcclellan,
in view of the construction placed upon
the late army bill, not to organize perma-
started as the Atlantic Volunteers. This
was decided upon tonight. and the par
! ties promoting the same win now use their
| endeayors to increase the strength of the
commands already existing in the city,
| in which several OF the men are already
enlisted, It being understood that until the
| fun strength OF the present companies is
made up no new or Independent compa-
MES will be equipped by the government"
| Mr.. Mcclellan, when asked to explain
the movement said: "A little party of US
| here in Savannah took the matter up and
decided to see what response there would
be to movement to organize a company
| intended strictly for service in the war.
| We received number of answers to eur
advertisement, many of them being from
outside the city. have consulted officers
of the local military and they considered
the movement to be on the right line. For
the reasons given, however, we have de-
cided to discontinue our efforts for tho
present. We shall use our influence to get
| the men who have corresponded with us
on the subject to enter the local com
mands and thus swell their enlisted
! strength"
The question of whether new organiza-
lions shall be formed for the war or wheth-
| er the existing commands shah volunteer
| in whole or in part, is stu an open one
| No conclusion can be formed until the
army bill, now before the House, is adopt
| ed. It is very Bkely that some effort viii
he made to accept the offer contained ir
| the bill to allow volunteer organizations
| Offering their services as a body, TO enlis
for one year, and retain the officers elect
/ ed by themselves before entering the serv-
| ice. The feature of the bill allowing oil
one year enlistment is approved of by tht
| local military men. While none of then
expect that the war viii last three years
or ono year even they do not care to bind
| themselves to the service of the govern
.ment for that length of time. They woult
rather take their chances for re-enlist
| ing, if they like the experience.
THE one-year term is long enough,
said Lieut. Col Garrard of the Guards
battalion six months would have teeI
| better. There would have been less lesi
! fancy on the part of men to enlist AT tn
| end of six nlofiths a class Of soldiers woult
| have been developed who would be wortl
something, especially Ia breaking in new
| men. The majority would be almost cer
tain to re-enlist. The idea of asking bust
ness men to give up their business an
sever all their interests in civil life 70
three years is preposterous."
/ What the membets of the organized mil
! itia will do in the matter of enlisting 70
The war is hard to say. An order fron
the Governor or from the President 70
service anywhere on this side would NEE
with prompt response, but the miiitiame
recognize that there is a wide differenc
between such service a S. this and that wit
an army of occupation intended for seryic
in Cuba. Many of the mlitiamen have n
hesitancy in stating that they have n
idea OF enlistlng for service in Cuba. Wha
the majority of them will do, however, de
ponds TO a large extent upon the cours
adopted by their officers. The personal in
huence of the commanding officers is yer
great and this, with the pride felt by tn
men in their commands, would be sufflcieu
to carry a large percentage of any com
mand which should decide to enter tn
service. The question of Are you going?
is one that will be very frequently aske
in Savannah for some days to come.
Gov. Atkinson's announcement that h
might lead the Georgia troops to Cuba di
not meet with any great applause here
The military men do not understand hol
the Governor could leave his Office nc
what authority he. would have outside
the state. unless he should receive a CON
mission in The volunteer army from tn
President. Anyway they do not think.
likely that state troops viii be taken t
Cuba.
.