The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-23


thorpe Light Infantry and savan-
nah Cadets to SyIvanaa, in the
Event They Were Needcsi-CentrRl
Railroad Charged S22.TO-GOvernOr
Had Not Authorized the Expendi-
ture and WOuId Not -ApprOve-COI.
WyIIy Paid the Bill and Forward
ed His acknowledgements Who
Expressed Themselves Approved
Col. WyIIy's CourSe-ThOuEht Item
should Have Been Met by state.
Col. T. S. WHY. Jr.. commanding the
First Regiment. infantry, Georgia state
Troops, has resigned. His resignation
went on to Atlanta last night. The
Colonel requested THAT he be relieved from
active duty and pl;tced upon the roll Of
retired officers.
The news of Col. WHY'S resignation
will be a surprise to nearly all the Off
GERS and men in the state service in Sa-
vannah. But very few of them knew
about it last night, and general regret
was expressed among those aware of the
resignation, for the unfortunate circum-
stance that induced Col W'ylly to take
that action.
An item of expense involved in the
states dealing with the situation at Syl-
vania last month, when the five negroes
were taken there, presumably TO be hung
for the murder of Harrington and Mears,
is the cause of Col. WHY'S resignation.
The Governor refused TO approve the ex-
penditure. Col Wylly then paid the
amount in question himself and decided
TO resign.
The amount about which the question
vas raised was so. 20 This was charged
by the Central Railroad for having kept
a train under steam and in readiness for
a trip TO Sylvania, had the necessity for
sending the Oglethorpe Light Infantry
and the Savannah Cadets to the scene
OF the threatened trouble arisen. The ne
ccssitv did not arise, so the companies
were not sent The railroad made no
charge for the train. but only for the act
usl expense incurred. This was the pay
of the train hands.
The two or three officers familiar with
the circumstances with whom the matter
was discussed last night were a unit in
support of Col. Wylly in his action. They
assert positively that his position was
correct, and that he had every right to
incur the expense. 1t was not authorized
by the Governor. but officers declare that
there was reason to apprehend trouble at
Sylvania, and the one company there,
the Sylvania Guards newly-organized
and inexperienced, would probably have
been unable to suppress it, had it been
serious.
In their reports of the trouble Col .
Wylly and Mai w. l.. Grayson, who
went to Sylvania and took charge of the
situation. covered the item of expense
for the train. fully explaining the neces-
sity, as they saw it, that existed for this
precaution against trouble greater than
the Syivania company might have been
able to suppress. This was not deemed
sufficient by the Governor. however, who
approved items of expense for ammuni-
fion, the special engine that was used
by Maj. Grayson from Rocky Ford to
Sylvania and other necessities, but dis
approved that for the train held in readi-
ness at Savannah. In the letter OF the
adjutsnt general to Col. Wyily relative
TO the item, the following sentence oc-
ours: ''Fhe Governor of the state posi-
bly, knew more of the situation than you
did"
Cob Wylly returned the letter to At
lanta. endorsed with further explanations
and his views upon the responsibility
that devolves upon commanding officer
in such an emergency. The letter was
returned with the endorsement of the ad-
jutant general, who said that he had sub
mitted 1t to the Governor, who still did
not approve. Col. Wylly returned 1t again
last night, with his resignation
Il do not desire to appear to criticise
the military authority in any way" said
Col. Wylly. when seen about the matter
Il do not care to discuss the matter
further than 90 say that l believe a cues
ton of vital importance to regimentaI
commanders in the state service is involv-
ed, when they may not, If the exigencies
of a gifin ton demand MI.
command of a regiment is no small re-
sponsibility in time of riot or disorder
If regimental commander has no author
fty. when he deems it necessary, to spend
money in military service, his is a re-
sponsibility l, for one, do not care to
assume"
The following is the correspondence
about the charge for the train:
State of Georgia, Adjutant General
Office, Atlanta. Official. Atlanta, Ga,
April II, lsOl.-Col. r. S. Wylly. Jr., Com
manding First Infantry, Georgia State
troops Savannah, Ga: Sir-In Special
Orders No. Is, March IS, 1901 the first par
agraph and a part of the third are all
right, but would say the other is volun-
tary on your part. The Governor of the
state possibly knew more of the situation
than you did. There is nothing in your
orders from the Governor to be construed
into the fact that you should keen two
mt for an emergency call of the troops
at cost of SIS for thirteen hours The
Governor begs me to say that this part
of your expense will not be paid by the
state. inclose vouchers. in duplicate to
be corrected. Respectfully yours,
James w. Roberts
"Adjutant General"
The letter went back to Atlanta with
the following Endorsement from Col Wyl-
": Headquarters First Regiment In
fantry. Georgia State Troops. Savannah.
Ga. April u. 1901s-Respectfully returned
TO the Adjutant General. G. S. T., with
the request that action In this matter
be reconsidered for the reasons, that.
First. Had trouble actually occurred.
which was likely TO occur at any mo-
rnent. the delay of a few hours, or even
minutes, would probably have proved
fatal.
Second. II a regimental commander.
whose regiment. or part OF IT, is actual
ly on duty for the purpose OF SURPRISING
or preventing riot, or other trouble IL
allowed no discretion In the matter OF
preparation or mourning small expense
bids necessary TO insure prompt action
he will be 100 Handicapped 10 be OF much
use at the moment when needed most. r
= Wyliy, Jr., colonel commanding"
The second indorsement was from the