The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-01
RENEWED INTEREST
IN STATE MILITIA
Must Meet New Requirements
of Dick Bill
INSPECTION NEXT WEEK
Next Meeting of Jefferson County Ma
tional Guard Association viii Be
Held Sunday Afternoon-Full
Attendance Expected.
INSPECTION NEXT WEEK

With the approach of the annual in
spection of the Alabama National Guard
interest among the military organizations
of this district is now at its height This
inspection, which will take place on April
6, and 8, is of especial interest, as the
officers and men have been notified that
unless they come up to the requirements
they will not be retained in the service
The Dick bill, which was passed in 1903
to take effect in 1908, specifies that the
National Guard shall measure up to the
standard of the United States army, as
regards the number of men enrolled, dis
cipline and general military efficiency
Each company of infantry and troop of
calvary is required to have not less than
90 enlisted men and three officers and
each battery of artillery must have 1873
men and five officers. The adjutant gen.
eral has issued orders that every man
enrolled must be in line for inspection
unless excused by his commanding Off
Ger upon a surgeons certificate, and no
other excuse will be accepted. The COM
pany commanders are held responsible
for the enforcement of this order and
they have been notified that dsobedience
to its provisions will be severely pun
ished by a military court. The import
ance of the presence of every man is
especially dwelt upon
The companies have been working hard
ever since the first of the year to come
up to the standard cleaning equipment
and securing new members to fill up the
ranks and some of the companies have
1~;IIf q
to make soldiers out of the new men.
Some of the captains have been very
lenient with their men in the matter OF
attendance at drills, but they have round
it necessary to be more strict and the
sentiments of every one were expressed
in an address made by Capt. M. M. Stew
art of Troop d to his men last Wednes-
day night. In part he said:
"When YOU men enlisted you swore to
and signed an oath to the effect that you
would uphold the constitution, OF tae
United States and of the state or Ala
bama; attend drills and obey all lawful
orders of your superior officers. 1t Is
lawful for me to order you TO come 10
this armory every Wednesday night LOT
drill and when you fail to come you not
only violate your oath but disobey the
orders of your comma nding officer and
subject yourself to arrest ana trlal ny
courtmartial. l have been very lehieht
with YOU and some of you nave TAKEN
advantage of it, therefore ! find 1t neces-
sary to strictly enforce disclpilhe IRON
now on and shall require every man 10
report or if unable to do So sehu sa'i'-
factory written excuse -,
THAT there is more interest in mill
tarv matters in Birmingham at the
present time than at any time IN
GREAT many years is acknowledged by
eyerv one. With the organization o.
tho Jefferson County National Guard
a ssocjation new life was injected INTO
the National Guard. The ASSOCIATION
! olds a meeting on the first sunday u
each month and the field, stan anu nae
officers. with body of representa-
tives of commissioned olncers am
nrivates from the different organiza-
IONS get together and discuss ways
and means for the betterment of tho
service One of the first movements
was the Inauguration of the battallo1
drill and muster held on the second
Thursday night of each month In which
the four companies of infantry inc
I, oop of cavalry and the battery u
ortillerv all take part. The first drill,
which was held on the night of March
-. was largely attended and every one
pronounced IL a success. The next drl'i
will be held on the night of April ava
a better drill is promised than the las''
The association is also making az
rangements to take part III ,ne
.artainment of the visiting military
somnanies during the reunion.
The next meeting will be held III
The armory of Troop ID in the eitV
tal1 sunday afternoon at 800 O'Clock,
snd as business of Importance is 10 De
brought UP a large attendance is eX-
I,ected.