The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-21

The annual encampments for 1905 of the Alabama National Guard have all been held and the report Is that all the organizations have been left In most satisfactory condition. all being out of debt and full of enthusiasm for the work of another year.
 I am glad to see SO much interest nov being taken in rife practice and hope to zee every company have a range and regular practice with the rife SO that the men can learn to shoot and handle the new sun.
 A rife range was erected by the Montgomery Traction Company Tor the fst regiment during It's recent encamp- ment near Pickett Springs and Major w F. Tebbetts succeeded In getting up some interest in all the commands in the shoot for the trophy offered by Briaadier General Clark. The ist regiment is fortunate in having most eficient and enthusiastic inspector oa rifle practice, Captain W. E. Mickie, who is largely responsible for the great interest taken in that regiment in rifle practice and his efforts are sure to result in much good to the service. He has an indoor range at Mobile at which the Mobile battalion and mem hers of the regiment for other places narticipate and 1t has been found 10 be most beneficial and helpful in teacn- ing the men to shoot the new rihe. Many individual marksmen have pe- come most efticient and in case of ao, five service the 1st regiment would have to furnish the crack shots and sharp shooters for the reason that they have had most of the practice,
 am glad to see interest being re- vived in this important thing in effec- tive warfare and before a great while I hope to see rife practice going on in all the regiments. Every encourage ment should be given along that line and every facility furnished to make 1t most effective and satisfactory.
 If ;S proposed to divide the country into twelve military districts. to be composed of all the regulars ana suardsmen situated therein, who shall go into joint camps of instruction am I,ually, at the expense of the Govern ment. the expense to be paid out or the regular appropriation for the main tenance and equipment of the regular army.
 The proposition has come from an of flcer of the regular army and Is meet ing much favor. Speaking of the pro- feet, an enthusiastic and prominent Euardsman says:
 The purpose of the act would un- doubtedIy be looked upon with great flavor by the officers of the National Guard as well as the enthusiastic en- listed men. Section 1 of the act, per- hitting troops to make application through the Governor. etc, is an excel lent measure, as 1t would give enter prisIng regimental commanders an op- portunity to act upon their own judg- ment Section No. is also a move in the right direction, as under this sec ton enlisted men would feel that their efforts, in the direction of close atten- tion to duty, could attain something more than mere printed percentages of efficiency etc. The matter of regular service pay for enlisted men on such duty Is practically the only question which Is open to misgiving. Many en- listed men, who would gladly accept the opportunities offered in the act. were -lhmaot for the fact that they be- long to class of citizens whose em- ployers allow them a per diem rate of pay; and absence from their employ ment usually means an absolute loss of salary. It can readily be seen that with such a class of men. an absence of ten or twenty days, with no other compensation than that authorized in the act, would work positive hardship.