The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-30
MERGING OF THE MILITARY.
GUARDS AND THE REGIMENT FUR
NISH A LIVE TOPIC.

Assignment of the Guards to the
Regiment and the Proposed Joint
Use of Guards Armory Discussed.
Advantages to Both Commands
Are Readily Seen, Yet the Opinion
Seems to Grow That Difficulties
Are TnsurmOuntnbIe-The Com
panies of the Regiment Are Wen
Fixed FInanciaIIy-BIues, Cadets
and Greens May Have the Letters
In the Regiment by Which They
Were Known in the Service.
The assignment of the Guards to the
First Regiment and the talked-of occu-
pancy of the quarters of the former by
all the Savannah companies of the regi-
ment continued to supply a subject of con-
| versation yesterday, and both matters
were rather generally discussed.
The opinion grows that the transfer of
quarters will not be made. the financial
obstacles being regarded as Instrumental
bic 1t is possible, however. that the care
ful investigation and consideration of those
able 10 cope with such problems might
result in the discovery of a method ad-
hitting of the execution of the plan.
Practically all the members OF the
Guards and the original companies of the
regiment agree that there would be bene-
fits accruing to each by the change The
Guards would secure a reduction of their
debt and the companies would get far
better quarters. Those are the principal
advantages, as now recognized that would
fol 70 h.
the others of the regiment while there
would be the no incoHs!derable one to
the regiment of having all of its local
| companies housed in the same building.
Those who take the greatest interest in
the Guards and their military fitness are
almost unanimous in favor OF such a com
bination Many members dot not like the
idea of sacrificing the club feature of the
armory, which has furnished very pleas
ant social side to military duties, though
the most ardent eXponents of the policy
for the advancement of the soldierly stan
dard of the battalion insist that in the
abolition of the club would be found a
sure means of creating renewed interest
in drills and matters military
Unquestionably, judging from conversa-
tons held with members of the original
companies of the regiment, officers and en-
listed men, there is a strong sentiment
against giving up their own armory The
building is very well suited to their needs
though not nearly so handsome nor we'll
located as the Guards Armory The reg1-
mental armory, however, is absolutely I'M
encountered. The regiment owns the ex-
tensive lot on which the building stands
| besides having a comfortable balance in
bank and several thousand dollars In ne
! 8ottable securities Its members believe
! the command ia we'll
desire forsal1ing its already suitable quar-
tiers for the more elegant and commodious
ones of the Guards when to do So would
! probably Involve It's assumption of a part
Of the debt Of the latter
| The meeting of the board Of officers of
the regiment will be anticipated by the
! several compan' es occupying the regiment
al armory with great interest 1t Is then
that the matter will be taken up and fully
| discussed
To many the objections that have arisen
! TO the change OF the letters now designat-
/ ing the original companies of the regi-
ment in order to admit of the retention
OF their own by the companies of the
/ Guard are rather surprising. Several have
expressed themselves as thoroughly I'M
concerned as to the change. their COM
/ pany names being sufficient designation
/ and guarantee Of identity to satisfy them
Col. Lawton will ask the Adtutant Cen
eral to so arrange the change Of letters. IL
his recommendation of the change is ado1-
ted, as to admit of the Blues now Com
pany A, becoming Company NJ; the Ca
diets, now Company E. becoming Company
K; and the Green's now Company b. be-
/ coming Company l.. Those letters were
/ the respective designation Of the con1pa-
| MES while they were in service during the
! Spanish war, and Col. Lawton believes The
members would therefore prefer them TO
4 any others. No reason is known why the
/ Oglethorpes or the Germans should object
TO the change of their letters, D and c. re-
/ spectively to the two that might rem I'm
/ of the first thirteen, not being used after
the other ten companies of the regiment
are lettered.