The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-07
MILITARY MATTERS;
 GUARD OF ALABAMA
By D. W. NEWER.

Since 1903, there have been two funds Tor the purchase of arms one consisting of the 100000 before mentioned. and its accumulations and the other of the regular establishment These two funds have always been kept separate by the secertary of war.sad there was 2 time when about the only arms furn, by the regular army.
 By 1897, the government had accu-
 mulated large reserve supply of arms.
 better equipment, and arny ofIicers be- gan to recognize tho Importance of training the militia to use the arms that would be in actual service in tune of war In 1897. Congress provided Authorised By Congress-. The Secretary of War is hereby au- | thorized to issue to Governors of the several States and Territories, such
 number of springheld breech-loading of an inch. as are required for arming
 all regularly organized and equipped
 militia tgenerally known as the Na- tional GQard). of each State and Ter
 ritory that are not already supplied with this arm"
 During the short war with Spain.
 some of the reeiments of volunteers
 raised by the several States, having ta-
 issued to the militia, and the govern
 ment having retained the arms when i the regiments were mustered out. the
 place such arms so retained, by new ri. hes of the same model, the provision cf the law being that:
 "on application of the Governor of
 of War is authorized to replace the the volunteers from said State or Ter
 TIt's, rltory carried st1 into the service of the war with Spain. and have been retained by the United States"
 After a while new model was adop- ted by the government for the arming of the regulars. and the militia were again put at a disadvantage. and in 1905. Congress placed them once more on an equality. so far as armament went, by replacing the arms issued at the close of the war with Spain. with ,if1es of the new model The act pro- viding as follows:
 The Secretary of War is hereby l of the Governors of the several States l and Territories, or of the command | ing general of the militia of the Dis
 united States stknSard service maga- | zine arms as ars required for the ar l my nf the IInitei States, for arming 1 all the organizei militia in said States l .Cmbia
 Similar authority was given the de- | partment by the net of 1904. contained | in the army appropriation bill. It pro- | vided that:
 Furnish Necessary Equipment.
 For the purpose of furnishing. the l necessary articles requisite to fully arm. equip and supply each regiment. l battalion, squadron. company, troop, 1 battery, signal. engineer and hospital
 corps, and medical department of the | organized militia of the several States | and Territories and District Of Colum-
 bia with the same armament and equip
 responding branches of the line or staff in the regular army, the Secretary | of War is hereby authorized to issue | the said armament and equipment to | tho ..rganired militia. Now that another change has btt n re the old iEt CusIty exists. cs the
 militia have the Krag and the regulars
 the New Springfield. model 1903. It is 1 held by the War Department that 1t l has no power to issue the new arms | to the militia without Congressional
 action. The department recognizes the
 importance of exchanging the old | new Springhelds. and is very anxious
 " A law of Congress provides for an
 annual national rifle match where teams of the regular army, navy. ma
 rIne corps and the National Guard com
 pear that action should promptly be | taken to. put all branches of the ser | vice on an equality as regards arms. | With the National Guard using the old | Krags, 1t can be readily seen, 1t can not compete on an equality with the 1 The second war with Great Britain,