The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-13
FOR OLYMPIC GAMES
TO SECURE ATTENDANCE OF
TEAMS FROM SAVANNAH IS
MOVEMENT AMONG MILITARY
DISCUSSED AT MEETING OF FIRST
REGIMENT OFFICERS.

savannah Men Have Been IN COrre-
spOndence with Secretary of COM
mittee of Military Affairs of Great
Olympic Games Movement Has
Been Given Considerable Impetus
Since Its InauguratiOn-Has Sup
port of MiIitary-CoI. Gordon Dis
closed the Probability of an En-
campment of the National Guard
Being Ordered Near the Games, in
the Event Congress Passes the
Dick Bill.
If the activity evinced by the mill
tary of Savannah keeps up, it. is not
improbable that it will be represented
In the great International Olympic
games in 1904, either at Chicago or st.
Louis. The movement to send team,
if not a regiment, has already received
considerable impetus, and has the
hearty Endorsement of the military.
In response to communications sent
by Capt. Walter E. Coney and others,
pamphlets giving the general scope and
plans as have been developed, have
been received from the secretary of the
Committee of Military Affairs of the
Olympic Games, Maj. Gordon Strong.
All of the details of this department
of the games have not been definitely
determined, but are being now elabor-
eted by the committee.
Discussed Last Night.
At a meeting of the company officers
OF the First Regiment of Infantry last
,for ,% xrrl,{1 Sc oA Ea11 o. nj
line ofEcers were present, the PROPOSE
ton was discussed at length, and it
was the sense of the meeting that ev-
cry means should be taken to have the
| regiment, or portion of 1t, present at
the games.
1t is thought much good will come
of the meeting. In view of the fact
that the games may be held at st.
Louis, during the Worlds Fair, in
| stead of at Chicago; as at first expect
ed, there has been an added interest,
since the probability of having them
nearer home, makes the undertaking
less magntudinous.
BY Presidents Order.
AS was suggested by Col. Gordon it
is not improbable that the President
might order the regiment to go in camp
at st. Louis or Chicago, in the event of
the passage of the Dick bill, which is
now before Congress. They would
there have, he said, the advantages of
the association with other regiments,
where they would receive splendid in
struction under the superintendent of
regular army officers.
THE prospect of such a trip should
be looked forward to with great pleas
ure by all military men," said Col.
Gordon, while the opportunity of en-
tering the Olympic games should cause
increased interest in military affairs,
and result in harder work of prepara-
ton. In the event the government, in
its desire to enhance the popularity of
these games which have received the
hearty Endorsement of President Roose-
welt, should order a portion or all of
the National Guard to attend them, the
Savannah men would have an oppor-
tunity to enter the rifle contests, or
| other field events of a military charac-
ter"
Should Embrace Opportunity.
Col. Gordon said that since there is
probability of being able to CO. the
military should embrace the opportu-
nifty, and make every effort to bring
about that end. so that when the ad-
vantages of going begin to present
themselves more plainly as the event.
full time arrives the military of Sa-
Vannah VIII md their lamps burning
The military feature of the games is
a new one, as the highest development
of physical activity, military exercises
will be rendered particularly promi-
nent. The contests will embrace the
duties of every department of the SER
vice. There will be competitions both
for organizations and for individual Of
ficers and men.
An Encampm Assured.
The committee on military affairs
have informed Capt. Coney that a
large encampment is assured of both
United States and National Guard
fo@ses in the vicinity of the games In
this encampment they further report,
the neighboring states will be repre-
sented by entire regiments, while the
more distant states may be expected to
send smaller organizations
There is every reason to believe"
writes Maj. Strong, 'that many among
foreign powers will send representa-
tive organizations to compete. as we'll
as delegates to observe and report
upon the exhibitions made in the DIFF
ferent competitions. Under these cir
cumstances it is expected that the mill
tary division of the games of 1904 will
be upon breadth of scale such as to
make its programme of unique inter-
est. and in keeping with the high ends
planned for the games in general"
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