The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-10-08
MILITARY MATTERS;
GUARD OF ALABAMA
By D. w. McIVER.

K By D. W
A portion of the Alabama National
| Guard has been in a most trying po-
sition for the past ten days and 1t Is
a matter of congratulation that they
| met every call to duty with prompt
ness. fidelity and self sacrifice.
The troops at Mobile proved their
genuine worth and the true metal that
| Is in them by the manner in which
they responded to the demand upon
them in Sthe hour of destruction ana
devastation and suffering wrought by
the storm and but for them, property
would have been taken and houses OF
the stricken people looted. AS it was,
they ministered to the afflicted people.
| supplied their wants and immediate
needs and saved their property to them.
Other troops called upon, also did
their part nobly and the local compa-
MES here were ready in a remarkably
short time to go to the front and do
whatever was required of them.
The entire organization would have
| been as ready and no body of men on
earth would have performed duty more
cheerfully or more fully. The volun-
| teer soldier can be depended upon In
an emergency and the powers that be
are beginning to lean upon the militia
as their strong arm in the time OF
need. The regular National Guard Is
now equal to standing army and In
| real warfare, would do as good
| service as any body Of regulars that
could be found, and are far more re-
liable.
| 1t is certain that IL the negro pris-
oners hung at Mobile by the mob. had
| ever been in the hands Of militia
| tboy would have been pro-
| tected The Alabama soldier VIII
| obey his orders and do his duty under
any and all circumstances. Standins
for law and order and for the preserva-
ton of our rights and liberties.
The Alabama Guard.
| The National Guard in this State. Is
| we'll organized and equipped on al
most an equal footing with the Uniteo
states Army. With the addition OF
few articles to a unit here and there
the equipment will be complete ana
the men ready for active service at q
moments notice. ,,
| The organization is on a splendid
footing and Is sustained by the Ma
| tional and State governments .he
| former giving $4,000 year ana .no
latter $4,000 for encampment purP"'
| es and all necessary expenses OF INC
machinery of the organization IL Is a
l
| Is at low ebb just now ana rec'
ing is necessary to bring 1t up 10 INC
| reouirements There are many oo
| stacles in the way and yet there ~ ~
| GOOD reason why any or the coniP
| should not have the minimum hume
| of members of men wen qual,! ~
| u,o,I adapted to military duty. ne
| oon,nanies are mostly located IN tno
larger towns, which are the more ue,
| nirahIe because the membership can
ha more closely concentrated an" ~
| oose of emergency, easily so''eh ~
Rether. ,,t.,trv regiments,
win .,,'arv battalion and cavalry
the AZ tbat Alabama now has. the
Hanization should be easily Kept up
and far above the minimum, am
,.h Tho revived. interest. II WEI pe.
Il rho commanding ofhcers now
ough funds at their disposal 10 nave
al the rifle and revolver prac'ice ne.
essary to have their men peco'nc "a,
merit in shooting, ana II tney
hacome so by next year, 1t Will ne ~
! sa,,It NJ the authorities. The money
ow available and every day delayed
VOW Ia inst that much time lost.
II ia hoped that the next Legislature
will increase the appropriation i''
campment purposes to ie"re t"a
will enable the Guard to be lnhcPc""
/ ont and not have to ask AID from any
|; outside source. and that should not De
ba,ow $4,000. That is a small sum
row in comparison with the amount
/ given four years ago, according 10 the
L increased revenues Of the state
Ready for EmerSeucies
II The Alabama National Guard ls reaoy
for any emergency and all the ammuni :
,ior that NAV be needed is at hand. In
there y
900 ball and 1000 riot cartrius"
snd at call any command would be
ready for duty.
i AT tho principal points OF the state
riot ammunition is stored, ana ther"
| could not be a moment S delay on the'
1 account To be ready is the soloier
/ duty, and to know that our men nave
not been sleeping. but are ready Wli'
go far to keep down any trouble. Here
i in Alabama peace and good Will pre-
vail. and there is no Immediate pros
meet of its being disturbed. We can
not tell what a day may brinS torth'
however, and II is gratifying to Know
that we are ready to meet any condl :
ton that may ARISE.
The NOn-COmmissiOned Omcers.
Tho non-commissioncd officers of an
organization are tn" most important
mart thereof In their selection, the
greatest tact and wisdom should nt
exercisod and they should he the most
intelligent, enthusiasts ana e!hclch'
men in the whole con'"an
The reeimcntal n"n-rpmmiSsioncd
staff officers arc. aS Il matter of fact.
efficient and competent men, with some
few executions. but thoso IAN and will
he gradually wccdrd cut To give place
to those who VIII To- ,rm" so; "se are
selected by the comm tnd"r Wit view