The age-herald., 1898-03-04
WAR-LIKE STIR IN MILITARY CIRCLES OYOF an Order From the Adjutant Gen.
 eFal. WANTS NUMBER OF MEN And Condition of Equipment in Double
 Quick Time. ON ACCOUNT OF THE ENCAMPMENT The Excuse Given for Order Several Items in Document Which Would Not Fit July Gathering of Boys on Pleas
 ure Bent
ON ACCOUNT OF THE ENCAMPMENT

The following order. which was received yesterday by the local military companies, served to create a small-sized sensation among the soldier boys. Not that the order was very wardke in It's tone, but it was readily apparent that the officers in command of the Alabama national guard are endeavoaing to find out the exact num- Der of men ready to report for duty and an accurate deuailetf report of the condition of their arms and equipments. Headquarters First Brigade Alabama Ma ticnal Guard, Birmingham, Ala, Feb. 28, 1898. Circular No. l.
 In view of the approaching encampment of the Aalabama National Guard you will reply in detail by return mail, or as soon thedeafter as possible. to the following questions:
 N. 1. Number of mon who will be able to attend euscanpment.
 No. 2. Number of enrolled mem
 No. B. Number of Springfield rifles, call bre and condition of each by number On rifle, setting foGth accurately the parts of each piece that are defective.
 No. f. Number of cartridge boxes, belts, bayonslts, soabbords, complete, and num- ber of parts.
 No D. Number of 9eggings and condition. No. 6. Number of uniforms and condi- tion of same
 No. T. Number of ball cartridges.
 No B. Number of blankets and their condition.
 No. 9. Number of canteens and their condition.
 No. 10. Number of haveusackS and unelr condition.
 No. Il. Number of overcoats and their condition.
 No. 12 Number and condition of other such arms or equipments not enumerated above for infantry, cavalry and artillery.
 In the event that answer to question No. 1 canot be furnished by return mall, send answers to questions to F, inclusive. ana answer to question No. 1 as soon there after as possible. Send the above inforrna- tion direct to brigade headquarters' blfh- ingham, Ala
 By command of gadier-General Clark.
 c. A. JONES, Acting Assistant Adjutant General First Brigade A. N. G.
 Clerks Excellent Subterfuge.
 General Clark was seen by an Age-Her- ald reporter last night and asked what was the meaning of the above order He said that a. similar order was sent out every year before the annual encampment to ma ont the condition of the men and equlp- ments in the Alabama National Guard, and that this year the order had simply been sent out a little earlier than usual.
 Bot there Is evidently deeper meaning attached to the order than is given out by the officials.
 In the first place encampment is nearly five months off, and an order of this kind at so early a date as this Is something heretofore unheard of. Then the final in- attractions of the order shows that the question of how many men will attend en- campment is a matter of small importance, but the number of men enrolled and the condition of the equipments is the matter of utmost haste. Question No. 3 indicates that all defects in the rifles will be repaired at once Questions T to Il inclusive are very unusual. Ball cartridges at encamp- ments are of very small importance, only A few being used for target practice. Then a question of blankets and overcoats for Julv encampment is worse than ironcal Nor are canteens and haversacks in very general use at encampments.
 Government Inquiry.
 The most plausible explanation of the above is that the United States govern ment has sent inquiries to the different states as to the condition of the state militia, especially with reference to the equipments, and the commanding officers are making their investigations in as quiet a way as possible.
 These investigations are not necessarily war-like in their nature, but as there is a probability of a war with Spain the Tinted States wants accurate information regarding the condition of the militia.
 In this connection the special dispatch from Montgomery published In yesterdays Age-Herald announcing that the elections for the vacant offices now existing in the Alabama National Guard, including the Colonel in the Third infantry, would be ordered soon, is of a good deal of interest. If looks as if the elections which it was originally intended should be put off until encampment are to be ordered at once in order to get the vacancies filled.
 Gen. Clark confirmed the Montgomery dispatch yesterday. and said that as fifteen davs' notice of an election must be given, the election would be ordered for about the first of April. The order will be issued as soon as Gen. Clark hears from Adjt.- Con Jjgon in Montgonery