The age-herald., 1898-02-13
THE MILITARY SITUATION
TIL UlLIIHnI 0IIUHIlUH As Seen by Brigadier General
 Louis V. Clark. SURPRISED AT CRITICISMS A Little Discipline Would Not Be Out of Order Capt HoodW Msquoted and Ex-
 plains His Meaning.

'The military situation has quieted down and the companies are getting ready for the encampments' said Gen. Clark to an Age-Hera!d reporter yesterday. "See here," said he, handing the reporter an in- terview from the Demopolis Express, by Col. Elmore and communication from Major Walden. 'These papers will con vince the most skeptical how good men often misunderstood one anothers position In matter of friendly contest" Col. El- more and Major Walden both agree over their signatures to the following state ment:
 From reliable information which I have recently received, I am now confident that Col. Herzberg was not guilty of any im- proper conduct in reference to his race for the colonelcy of the Third infantry, satisfied that the whole muddle arose from a misunderstanding and that Col. HerZberg was acting honestly
 'I hear of no complaint whatever now about the reorganization of the state troops" continued Gen. Clark. "The opin- ion of the entire state is, l think, expressed by another quotation from the interview I have just mentioned, by Colonel Elmore which says
 q approve the reorganization in toto and have been in favor of it since the last brigade encampment at Mobile and there urged and pressed it upon those in au- thority, but the ommander-in-chief heid otherwise, and so the matter rested. l again urged Gen. Clark and Col. Llgon last summer to redstrict the troops, and again as hate as last month I told Gen. Clark it was the best thing to do and that II ought to be done at once It was very happy solution, too, to the umortunate feelings which had been engendered in the Third over the late election
 q have number of personal letters rom different officers and those interested Fl military affairs in this state, comme nding the transfers from every standpoint- III fact it had to be done sooner or later ana I could not conceive of more opporouie time for it than that selecteu
 ''According to the newspaper accounts the boys are kicking somewhat over the postponed election in the Third iniantry hut I think they are a little unreasonable about it. to elect bv ballot in the old Third regiment and one in the Second consequently fall so far to see the necessity for any change in the opinion reached by the governor adjutant general and myself l don't think any difficulty would have arisen ln the election held by ballot If the orders had heen carefully read and the ballots proper ly prepared and forwarded to brigade headouarters. But from the three cleo tions held it could not be determined who were the fortunate ones, therefore IL was decided that the next elect1OnS ndu peltSi be held over until all the officers could De gotten together and cast their ballots in the usual way. This will avoid misunder- standings and acrimonious newspaper talk
 .sThe public is not interested in personal differences that arise between ofncers. Such differences occur in every state In the union. but only in the selection Of good men for the offices, and so far all the cam didates voted for would no doubt have done their full duty to the state and credit to themselves. I am a little surprised at what is credited to some names l nave seen in print criticising their superior of ficers. Though done unofficially, 1t would seem a little disciplining would not be out of place. and the only way l have ever known good discipline to be effectually inculcated was in camp at officers meet ings.' where no reporters were allowed
 Look here," said Capt. G. F. Hart to an Age-Herald reporter yesterday, you made a bad mistake in quoting me In an inter- view Friday morning. You had me as say ing that the present officers of the regi- ment were mere figure-heads, simply wait ing for their terms to expire l stated to YOU in effect that the regiment Is now practically without a head, having but two ma iors. the other field officess' terms hav- ing expired and they are only holding their posjtions until their successors are elected Roth Fillmore and Herzberg are splendid officers. and any statement refiecting on their ability is untrue" r.