The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-18
CONDITION
 OF SOLDIERS Inspection of Alabama Na-
 tiOnal Guard. REPORT OF GEN. BRANDON Mobile Regiment in Highest State of Efficiency. Organization Consists of 2,izy 0mcers and Mcn--Attcndance this Year
 Was Much Better Than
 Heretofore.

The 1st infantry is the most efficient branch of the Alabama National Guard according to an official report on the annnai mnSn nspeetion of the Adjutant-General.
 Company e" of the 2nd infantry, stationed in Selma, is commended as the best separate organization in the State Their inspection was perfect," says the Adjutant General; their drill was good, 1eO per cent present: the equip ment clean and well kept; the men zeal
 While the list infantry. commanded by Col R. B. duMont O. Mobile, made the best record, it is pointed out by the many infantry companies in the Gulf City and Company "A" of Mobile Is criticised for its lack of interest
 The report shows that the Alabama National Guard consists of 2.127 officers The full text of the report is as fol-
 "Montgomery.- April 17th. 1905.
 in-Chief:
 ''sir-Complying with General Order No 8, copy of which Is hereto att tached. I have the honor to report that the annual inspection of the Alabama National Guard was completed on April 18th.
 tached. showing the strength of each command, and the percentage absent. l have the honor to especially recommend the muster out of Co H, Bessemer. 3rd this company states that it is impossi- ble, under the existing circumstances, to maintain well-organized company at this point. of the commanding officer of the 1st infantry be called to the condition ex- isting in Company of his regiment. The muster roll seems to carry num- ef tno ha and If has e. cured to me that he might combine the strength of this company with some other organization of his command. The thirty-seven men present at the in spection of this command seem to be willing and earnest. but 1t is my opin- ion that there are too many organfza- tions in the city of Mobile for the mum Der of men composing same. This com pany only made 75 per cent attendance at inspection.
 'The company at wetumpka made tho smallest pereentage m the snd regi, n, and twelve absent. The company. however, was enthusiastic and seemed to be doing good work
 Company at Decatur.
 "ReportinE specially on the condition at Decatur, I have the honor to report that this company had 70 3-4 per cent present out of a total membership Of forty-two. So far as s.a the inspsnsctdiiGn pss,disl Long, the commanding officer, seems to have worked hard under adverse CIT cumstances. There appears to exist in the city of Decatur much opposition to the company at that point. l was informed by the Mayor that he regard ed 1t as an inefficient organization. Other good citizens of the town seem to think that the company was In pet ter shape than ever before. From the inspection I could not say that It was in efficiert; but on account of local con ditions and opposition in the city or Decatur am In doubt whether 1t would be good judgment to use 1t in case or local trouble, but believe that It would be efficient where this opposition did not exist.
 Captain Long should be commended for his earnest effort in endeavoring to maintain the organization against such opposition.
 q desire further to recommend steps being taken looking to the organiza- ton of the present Artillery Battalion into Coast Artillery instead of light batteries. My reasons for this are on account of the failure to obtain proper ordnance equipment for this branch of the service. Most of the guns they have are obsolete and almost unser- viceable and 1t would be exceedingly difficult to obtain ammunition for same.
 My plan would be to equip them as infantry and ascertain from the De partment whether or not they would allow them, once q year, to attend practice camp at the expense of the general government, either at Fort Morgan or Barancas, where they could familiarize themselves with the forti- fcations and use of the Coast Artillery at these places. In event of trouble. it would be absolutely necessary for the general government to recruit these