The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-21
BRYAN IS SORRY
 HE CANNOT ATTEND Regrets Are Sent to Colonel
 Nave At Columbus
FEATURES OF ENCAMPMENT
Col. Sam Mccants Will Hold an or ficers' School During the Gath ering-CoIumbus Trying To
 Get State Rifle Range.

Columbus. Miss, July 2O.-tspecial) The following communication has just been received from MT. Bryan;
 Lincoln, Neb.. July 16. 1908. MT. John P. Mayo, Columbus, Miss.
 My Dear MT. Mayo-I regret very much that I cannot accept the invita- tion so cordially extended to attend your encampment, but I am over whelmed with work and cannot get away from home at present. Present my compliments to the boys and tell them that I not only appreciate the acquaintance made in the army but the loyalty that Mississippi has shown me for so many years. Very truly yours,
 tSigned) W. J. BRYAN.
 Colonel Mayo this morning received another communication which brings more information about the encamp- ment. Col. Sam I. McCants, Second regiment, has notified the different ot- ficers throughout the stath who are connected with his command that he will hold what he terms ah officers schooP' at Camp Noel from July Sl to August 4. This service will of course be- unremunerative to the officers ot the regiment, but 1t will give these gentlemen valuable instruction Which they cannot obtain otherwise than at tending these meetings. Then, too, the object of the four days meeting prior to the big gathering is so that the officers may become familiar with each other personally and may learn to know each other before their duties demand their cooperation. Tie school is considered as a most excellent idea and both General Fridge and Colonel Mayo express themselves as being de- lighted at the manifested interest of Colonel McCants.
 Another rifle range Is to be estab- lished in Mississippi and Columbus is making an effort to have 1t located here. The first requisite is for the city to donate a suitable and convenient tract, well drained and free from ob- structions of any sort. Tn ere is at present only one range in this state. and that is at Vicksburg. The expense of all the companies going to that city II of the state to the Hill City at various seasons is quite an item and that is one of the prime reasons for another range establishment.
 General Fridge will look into the mat ter before he leaves Columbus. He will be here until Camp Noel is disband- ed, which will be August 15, and he will boxya opopla opnor+upitx +o look into the matter of placing the range here. If the range is established, and those highest in military circles seem practically con- fdent that it will be, there is good req son to believe that Columbus will be se- leeted as the permanent city for holding the annual encampmen Besides splendid tract that will be offered for the range, the camp grounds where the sol diers were last summer and where the tented city will again be this summer commencing early next month, are just model of excellence in all respects and that lends more credulence to the re- ports
 General Fridge and the gentlemen who went into the camp with him Saturday spent this morning organizing their forces at the camp grounds, and actual work of the laborers in preparing the site for tents and all other work will be started immediately. Formerly, ex- cept at last seasons gathering, it was the custom for the volunteers to pitch their own tents and do all their own ditchng. Experience found this was an unnecessary hardship and served to make encampments not as popular with the Mississippians as it should be. So this year all the boys will have to do is to leave their cars, just a stones throw from the camp, and walk right into their tents Everything will be in complete readiness by August 3. and the volun teers will get the benefit of Il days of real soldier life and not have any ardu- ous duties to perform