The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-24
MILITARY MATTERS;
 GUARD OF ALABAMA
By D. ". McIVER.

ting them for home service and is work ing them like regulars. but he is giv- ing them some attractive and pleasant diversion at the same time, on last Thursday night after the reg ular drill, entertaining the Battery at his residence with a bounteous sup-, per prepared by his wife and daugh- ters and served by them. The boys enjoyed themselves and duly appreci- and his home folks.
 Nearing the Crisis.
 As is generally known by members of the National Guard, the organiza- ton of the National Guard must be in full accord and conform in organiza- ton. armament and discipline of the regular army by the 21st day of Janu- ary next Speaking of the approach ing crises, The Army and Navy Journal says:
 Tt is nearly five years since this law was placed in the statute book, and 1t has not yet produced the results expected of it. Various States, espe- cially New York, New Jersey and Mas sachusetts, have undertaken to reor- ganize their militia in the manner pre- scribed by the act, and excellent results have been accomplished; but in other States there has been none of the viz orous practical cooperation on the part of the militia authorities by which alone success can be achieved. On the contrary, there has been widespread indifference to the whole project. Some progress has been made along the lines laid down in the Dick Act. and much earnest thought has been given to the matter by distinguished National Guard officers who appreciate its importance, but the net results accomplished ln- der the act are disappointing and dis heartening to the last degree. The fact Is. the militia of the country is ap- preaching a crisis. The fve-year pe- riod prescribed for reorganization as required by the law will expire on Jan- uary 21, 1908, and no State whose or- ganized militia does not at that time conform to the organization or the army can thereafter share In the an- nual appropriation for militia purposes. In other words, those States whose militia has not been brought into line with the army will be debarred from the benefits of the most liberal meas ure of militia reform that Congress has ever enacted.
 with a desire to avert the demor- alization that would inevitably follow the utter breakdown of the project proposed in the Dick Act. the Acting Secretary of War has issued circular to the Governors of States and Terri 
 tories maintaining militia organiza- tions urging them to act before the expiration of the fve-year period. He suggests that each State enact mill fla law of its own embodying the pro- visions set forth in the War Depart ment circular of October 8. 1905 The act should define the duties of the Ad- iutant General and his assistants. It should provide for the necessary gen eral officers and for stan composed of Adiutant- Generals, Inspector Gen. erals, Judge Advocate Generals and Ouartermasters. together with hospital corps. subsistence officers, medical corps, engineers. ordnance corps and signal corps. Provision should aiso De made for organizing the militia into divisions, brigades. regiments, etc, conforming to the organization Of the army"
 It is very gratifying to know that Alabama will have no troupie' as