The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-03

 The circumstances two years ago were all against them, which will not be the case this year. After the election or colonel in April the matter can be soon arranged, and the boys will re- ceive a cordial welcome nere, 1t being understood that they are to be on their good behavior.
 The artillery may go to San Souci Beach or some place on the coast and the cavalry may go to Selma as the headquarters of the squadron, ai- though this is all to be determined In | the future and there is no authority J for any statement as to place. The different organizations nave shown up well in inspection so far, | that it is expected that the camps this year will be largely attended and great success,
 l The disbursing officer Captain .s. l Callaghan, of Co. M. Mobile. has been engaged for some weeks in sending | out checks for the payment of the troops in Camp JeIks last summer and it is probable that all have been paid l before now or that they will be paid in a very short while.
 l This Is the first time the boys in Alabama have ever been paid and it is a most pleasing innovation that | they would like to see continued. Governor Jelks, the Commander-in lChief of the Alabama National Guard, Ihas so far recovered from his illness as to be able to return to his duties, and there is not a member of the entire militia of the State who will not ex- tend him a cordial and hearty welcome and be rejoiced to know that ne IS Iagain at the helm.
 Governor Jelks has always been a true and loyal friend to the military land they will be glad to know that he is well again and in command.
 The retiring Lieutenant and Acting IGovernor and Commander-in- Chief lcarries with him the love and esteem of the Guard, for he has, during his short time in the high office, he has filled so well and so acceptably, lproven himself also to be the friend of the military. and they all have for him only the best wishes
 The term of Colonel k. l.. Higdon, as Colonel of the 3rd Regiment expired on Monday the 20th of March and an or der has been issued for an election for Colonel in that regiment to fill the vacancy. Colonel Higdon has made several attempts to resign before his term expired, but his letters of resig nation have been clothed in such ob- | iectionable and unsoldierly language. to say the least that they have not been accepted. The fact is-and every soldier at once recognized upon reading the letters of resignation published at the time-that Colonel HIgdon had therein subjected himself to court mar tial. but no action was taken and time was allowed to quietly take him out of the service for which he should be grateful
 Since the fiasco at Huntsville. when the negro Naples was taken by the mob from the military company there. the system of examination of every officer applying for commission in the Alabama National Guard has been adopted. all the current literature has been furnished to each organization and there is no reason why every mem Der of the Guard should not be thor oughly informed as to his duty and the forms and customs of the service.
 A great deal of good may yet come out of that most regrettable incident iu imparting general information to the soldiers who have duties to per form.
 The question of the desirable changes. if any. which should be made in the new Springfield rifle before its
 
 reports received of operations in the war in the Far East. is still under consideration at the War Department. The discussion Is directed almost en- urely to the bayonet. When the rod bayonet. which the new rifle was to be equipped with, was adopted. 1t was thought that hand-to-hand encounters In modern warfare would be of com paratively rare occurrence. and hence the new arm was to be fitted with only la bayonet of the third class. However, the reports from Manchuria tend to show that this hypothesis is erroneous, and that a bayonet of the first class, which shall be we'll adapted both for use as an entrenching tool and as an implement of hand hand encounter is still of military value The whole matter is now under consideratio by a committee of the general stan espec- ially appointed for that purpose.