The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-21
CAVALRY WILL CAMP
MONTHLY ENGAGEMENTS ARE
SUGGESTED BY COL. OBEAR AS
SOLUTION OF A PROBLEM
WHICH ARISES OUT OF PROVISIONS
OF DICK BILL.

New Militia Law Provides for, n
Minimum of Twenty-FOur ASSEM-
bIages n Yearly Holding Camp
Once n Month, ON the First and
Last Day, the Provision Will BE
Met-CoI. MeIdrim Is Now Securing
Views of Officers of His Regiment.
Capt. Cassels Has Tried Plan and
Thinks 1t Good One.
1t is probable that all of the troops
of Georgia cavalry will in the future
hold monthly encampments. This is
the solution of a knotty problem which
confronts the Adjustant Generals Of
flee, arising out of the provisions of
one of the sections of the Dick bill.
which is that every company in the
service must have at least twenty-four
assemblages a wear.
Capt. Cassels has already tried the
plan, and believes that it is the best
| solution of the question. and will re-
suit in the increase efficiency of the
cavalry in every department. Col.
Obear has issued a personal letter. di-
rected to the officers Of the different
troops, in which he suggests monthly
encampments as the most practicable
way to comply with the provisions of
the bill. This provision was embodied
in general orders sent out from the
Adjutant Generals Office.
The plan is best set forth in the let
ter OF Gen. Obear, which is here given:
ITO those organizations which find
it inconvenient TO meet more than once
per month l have to suggest that it is
possible to comply with Section 3 of
t1~V- - toT,
requires twenty-four assemblies a year,
by meeting in the following manner:
Assemble on the last day of the
month, have drill and a target prac-
tice on that day and remain over un-
til the next day, the first of the next
month, and have a drill and target
practice also. which will count for four
assemblies. BY this course it is pos
sible to make forty-eight assemblies
for drill and target practice yearly in
addition to camp and annual inspec-
tioG.
ut may be that the target practice
will have to be on an authorized range.
If so, take the matter up at once, get
a range and have it authorized by the
inspector general of rifle practice. Col.
George 7. Cam of Savannah l make
this suggestion, as it has been made
to me by an officer (Capt. Cassels) of
the cavalry, who is now putting 1t
into operation successfully
Col Meldrim has expressed his desire
to have each officer of the regiment in
terested in the matter, and has solic-
tied an expression of their views on
the subject. Col. Cam, inspector gen.
eral of rifle practice. has intimated that
there will be no trouble in having the
ranges authorized.
Several responses have been received
from the officers of the regiment.
Capt. H. w. Whaley of the Jesup
troop writes that the officers of his
command are unanimous in the belief
that the plan suggested is the best one
that could be devised. Capt. Hughes
of the Liberty Independent Guards has
written that the plan would work we'll
in his command. but for the reason
that it would interfere with the farm
ers, many of whom belong to his COM
mand. in their work at certain seasons
of the year. He believes that the sac
riflce which the adoption of the plan
would entail would result in diminu-
ton the membership of the troop. For
this reason he is not as enthusiastic
over its adoption as are some of the
other officers of the regiment. He sug-
gests that some special arrangement
might be made in regard to his troop.
The matter will soon be taken up
for final determination. and It is not
unlikely that the plan now proposed
will be adopted with little modification