The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-08
Torpedo Patrol

It will be seen al once that those who go
into this branch of the service will be we'll
cared for. Aside from the salaries appor-
toned to each. all except commissioned Of
ficers have an additional allowance of thir-
ty cents per diem for rations, which will
easily enable them to clear their salaries
of any necessary expense. The expense for
rations will of course be paid proportion
ately by each men, the officers probably
going In with them an whatever arrange
ment it is customary to make.
AT the meeting last night all arrange
ments were made with but few exceptions
The men were enthusiastic over the pros
pect of being called into service by the
middle of the week and all were anxious to
be detailed In the crews that have
been called for. While this
could not be done, of course 4
yet the men were assured that their time
to go would come very soon probably ear
lier than they expected it. 1t is stated
that other and larger vessels will be as
signed to the coast defense later on the
prospect Of which has melted the officers
to renewed efforts in recruiting their di-
visions to their full strength at the ear
Hest possible moment. The pay attached
to the different positions, it Is expected,
will prove an incentive for able bodied men
to enlist. The two divisions now have
about 12O men, but they want 100 as soon as
they can be obtained.
AS arranged last night, the details for
the four boats win include the following
commissioned officers from the two divis-
ions: Lieut.. Cornelius r. Walker and En-
sign w. Norman Beckett will be with the
first torpedo boat; Ensign G. E. Dlckin-
son and another to be selected, win pe
with the second; Lieut.. j. II. Kinzie and
an ensign, to be selected, will have the
first patrol boat while Lieut.. w. j.
Thompson and Ensign j. A. Thomas will
be with athe second.
There are several vacancies in the Third
division TO be filled at an election that has
been ordered by the Governor for Wednes-
day night The probability is that Ensign
G.. e. Dickinson will be elected lieutenant,
junior grade, and that Ensign j. H. Kin
zie win be elected Lieutenant while there
will remain two ensigns to be elected. The
fact that Ensign Dickinson is almost sure
to be elected was the reason for placing
him with one OF the torpedo boat crews
as a commissioned officer.
There viii be no trouble finishing the
selections this morning. it is stated, as
men fully capacitated to fill the positions
are already enlisted. As soon as the
crews are perfected Lieutenant Command
err Broughton will forward the lists to
Commander Aiken at Brunswick, who will
in turn forward them to the navy Ge-
partment.
AS in the case of the infantry, govern
ment examiners will proceed here and 10
Brunswick for the purpose of examining
the crews before they are mustered into
service AS the recruiting officers have eX-
ercised the greatest care in selecting the
crews on account of their being the first
put forth, 1t 10 probable they win pass
the examinations with few, If any, excop-
tons. Absolutely none not up 20 the re-
quirements have been taken, for the rea-
son that the officers did not wish to be
DELAYED by having their divisions filled
with incompetent men.
Orders to the Mosquito fiotilla win
probably be given from the signal station
at Tybee. The station was turned over
by Lieut. H. S. Coldng to Lieut. Com
mander Broughton some days ago, having
already been placed in shape for service.
The flags, lamps and other necessary
equipment for the station was received
here yesterday and will be taken to Tybee
by some OF the officers to-day. There is
telegraphic connection between the island
and the city. where Lieut. Commander
Broughton will be stationed, so that or
Gers coming from Commander Aiken can
be received here and transmitted to the
signal station without delay.
There will likely be the same number of
boats manned at Brunswick for the coast
service, which will insure a fleet suffi-
clent to give a war vessel considerable
worry, especially at night. Where the
boats are to come from has not yet been
learned, even by the officers themselves,
but it is likely some of the tugs of the
government recently purchased. including
some from Savannah, will likely be mount
ed with torpedo tubes and guns and placed
in immediate shape for service.