The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-16
To CELEBRATE
LEES BIRTHDAY
FIRST REGIMENT PLANS
AT SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTIONS MAT
TER WAS DECIDED.

VIII Award Prizes Onered by Col.
Gordon in the Morning, Take Pare
in the Parade and Later in the
Afternoon Give an Exhibition Drill
I'm the Park ExtenstOn--Maj. wal
ter E. COncy Bade the Regiment "A
Formal Farewell.
Arrangements were made at the
school of instruction of the First Regi-
ment last night for the celebration
of Lees birthday and very attrac-
tive programme was mapped out.
The plans for the day include a pub
lie drill exhibition in the Park Ex-
tionsion in the afternoon. In the
morning the award of the prizes for
the squad drills. offered some timc
ago by Col. G. A. Gordon, the COM
mander of the regiment, will be made.
A prize of $40 will be given to the
best squad in each of the companies
and an additional prize of $40 will
regiment.
Col. Gordon offers the prizes to en-
courage the men. He makes offers of
some character at regular intervals
to keep the enthusiasm of the men
up. The squad drills have been going
on for some time. and the men have
shown great improvement. There is
great rivalry between the squads in
the companies and again between the
companies, as the best squad in the
regiment is to get an additional prize.
Regiment to Parade.
The regiment will, of course, take
part in the parade in the early after
noon of Lees birthday, and will aft
erwards give a public drill exhibition
in the Park Extension. Great prog
ress has been made in the new manual
of arms, and it is expected the drill
will be witnessed by, a large crowd.
AT the meeting the new manual was
discussed for an hour or more by the
officers and non commissioned officers.
Questions were asked and answered
and points not thoroughly understood
argued at length. Col. Gordon said
afterwards that the men showed they
had been doing some hard studying on
the subject The lack of manuals has
rather handicapped the work, but de-
spite this fact the men have shown
wonderful progress. Heretofore, 1t has
been impossible to obtain a sufficient
number of the new manuals. 1t is un.
derstood they are now on hand in the
city, however.
Major Conveys Adieu.
Maj. Walter E. Coney, who will be
examined on Saturday for the position
of inspector general of rife practice
for the state, bid the regiment formal
farewell. Maj. Coney has been In the
regiment for fourteen years and has
held every grade up to major
He said that some of the happiest
moments of his life had been with the
regiment Any success he may have
met with he modestly attributed to the
aid and cooperation of the members
of the regiment. He asked all present
to aid and advise him as inspector
general of rifle practice Just as they did
while he was in the regiment. He was
very sorry, he said, to sever his con-
nection with the regiment and he bid
each and every member an earnest
farewell.
Col. Gordon responded on behalf of
the regiment, saying Maj. Coney had
been of great value to the regiment.
His military information and his in
terest had brought about a high stand
ard that otherwise would not have
been obtained, said Col Gordon.
Col. Gordon said he was sure he ex-
pressed the sentiment of all present
as he expressed his own, when saying
that the regiment was sorry to lose
Mai Coney, and that IL wished him
well. Three cheers were given for Maj
Coney at the conclusion of Col. Cor
don's remarks.
Col Gordon complimented those who
attended with enjoyable refreshments.
Sandwiches, coffee and, other eatables
marc served