The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-17
SCREVEN NAMED AS MAJOR.
WILL PROBABLY SUCCEED COL.
GARRARD AS COMMANDER.

Officers and Men Eagerly Discussing
the Qualifications That Fit n Man
for the Onice-It Is Generally
Thought That Capt. screven VIII
senior officer of the Battalion, But
the Senior Captain in the state
Service-Duties of the Office VIII
Not Be as onerOus They Have
Been in the Pnst-MajOr Will BE
Chosen Informally on Friday.
There is much discussion in progress
among the officers and men of the Guards
battalion as to the election of a command
ing officer TO succeed Col Garrard Every
member of the corps, who takes an inter
est in its welfare, takes corresponding
interest in this election and cherishes the
hope that no mistake viii be made and
that the very best man for the place will
be chosen.
The next commander of the battalion
will be- not lieutenant colonel, as has
been the case in the past but major
to correspond with the rank of the com
handing officers of the other battalions
of the First Regiment of Georgia State
Troops, of which the Guards now form a
constituent and administrative part.
In the First Regiment it has been the
constant custom in the election of the
field and staff of one of the battalious, for
the officers of the regiment, to whom the
election is entrusted by law, to consult
the wishes and approve the nomination of
the line officers of the battalion. There
is no reason 30 believe that any other
course than this will be followed in the
election of a major to command the
Guards and that the man they select will
be made the unanimous choice of all the
officers of the regiment.
In this state of affairs it is proper to
think that the officers of the Guards viii
solve the problem by placing in nomina-
ton COpt. Thomas Screven, now,
since the resignation of Col Guer-
ard, the senior officer of the battalion.
Capt. Screven is not only the senior Off
Ger of the Guards, but the senior captain
in the state service his commission ante
dating that of any other officer of like
rank. He has long been devoted to the
best interest of the corps, and his cleo
ton will be a recognition by it, not only
of his own services, but of those of his
distinguished father and grandfather,
both of whom have been the battalion's
comma nding officer.
Other names have been mentioned in the
same connection, but it is thought that
Capt. Screven will be the choice of the
officers, as he certainly is of the battal-
ions enlisted strength His ambition to
be promoted to the vacant majority seems
to his friends both natural and proper,
and they may be relied on to do what
ever work is necessary to ensure his cleo
&c +lx- holt l,1t Lo
men of the battalion that more than one
or two votes will be found opposed to the
candidacy of Capt. Screven.
The duties of the commanding officer
of the battalion will be very materially de.
creased by the expressed intention of Col.
Garrard to continue as the chairman Of
the Reorganization Committee, upon
which devolve almost all the duties that
have in the past been performed by the
lieutenant colonel commanding who was
ex-offico the president of the military
corporation of the Savannah Volunteer
Guards.
The battalion is no longer a military
unit and the orders affecting it will come
in very large part from the commanding
officer of the regiment TO which it is at
tached. Though the position of it's COM
handing officer is thus stripped somewhat
of its prominence and attendant prestige
it is nevertheless desirable, and Capt
ScreVen is said to be at least willing TO
accept it, Under the circumstances it
| seems to be the belief of the officers AMI
men that his wish in this matter shall be
gratified
1t is understood that the major to COM
mand the battalion Will be chosen at the
officers meeting, TO be held after the pa
rade on Friday. The election 10 be held
on Feb. viii be purely formal and the
previous informal choice of the officers
! will govern.