The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-14
MILITARY MATTERS;
 GUARD OF ALABAMA

by the Guard for his thoushtfulness in getting out the laws in this shape, just at this time. when it is so neces- | sary that every officer and member of the organization should be familiar l In a general way. with the laws gov erning them, and defining and fixing their duties and responsibilities as officers and men in the State militia. The provision of the Constitution,
 the civil and criminal code. and the | recent statutes are all included and
 incorporated in the compilation, and | no one can now have any excuse for l ignorance of the law.
 The new infantry tactics have beer distributed and the new army regti1a-
 tions for 1904 will soon be out and placed in the hands of every organi- l zation. The Adjutant General Is keep ing a standing order for the latest determined that the officers and men shall have every opportunity to keep posted on the laws and up-to-date in
 all military information.
 The oficsrs and men of the Alabama Guard have not been paid for their services at Camp Jelks.
 The amount was near s1s.ooo and Captain J. S. Callaghan, of Mobile. Company M.. 1st Regiment. was ap- pointed disbursing officer by the Gov
 ernor. to receive and pay out the mon ey
 There has been delay in preparing the pay rolls. there being only one copy made in camp and the law requir- ing the rolls to be made in quadruple. This has caused great delay and fn- convenience. and in some instances many of the men who signed the roll in camp cannot be found. and will lose
 their pay for the service in camp. Many of the commands have not
 sent in their payrolls and the money
 cannot be- paid until they do. So 1t has been nearly four months
 since Camp Jelks and there should be no longer delay in the matter, as both officers and men are getting restless and dissatisfied. The fact is. the de- lay is a great embarrassment to the entire organization. for in many in- stances indebtedness contracted was upon basis of obtaining the money from the gdvernment, and the credit
 ors are complaining of not getting their money.
 In Illinois applicants for admission to the National Guard are examined
 as to their physical and mental fitness. as they are in the regular army, and 1t is universally admitted that a force of men that is liable at any time to
 be called upon to take the field side by | side with regular troops. should be or | ganized on the same lines and in &C.,
 cordance with the same standards as ! to qualifications as obtain in the Unit
 ed states army. Medical oficers might be assigned
 by commanding oficers of each regi- ment squadron or battalion for each
 company. troop or battery, and appoint dates for examination of recruits, the
 examination being made and the &C., ceptance of the applicant being based
 on favorable report from the sur geon. as to physical soundnessy It is as important for members of the
 National Guard to be strong and heal thy, as 1t is that they should be men of character and standing, and this
 fact is being recognized and is enforc- ed by company commanders, wherever
 they are alert and active.
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 Application has been made for the organization of a signal corps at Bir-
 mingham and its mastering into the Alabama National Guard. The peti-
 tion is signed by a large number of
 citizens of Birmingham and has the endorsement of many of the officers | of the National Guard in that city. The
 matter has not yet been acted on by the Adjutant General, and consequent
 iy has never reached the Governor. -
 l Troop A. Montgomery, has not yet
 held it's election for Junior Second Lieutenant to Succeed Lieutenant K. bP. Dexter, Jr.. resigned The date was fixed and notice given for last Monday night, but the order was enormously addressed to the Troop instead of the Squadron Commander and delay has lbeen caused. The election will be held in a few days now.