The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-16
Preliminary Work of Teams Yesterday. TARGETS FOR SCORE
 USED THIS MORNING Trials for Selection of Alabama
 Team Last Week. arcn Aspiring to Positions on State Team at Fort Perry in Comfort able Camp Near Central Ala
 hama Rifle Range.

Rifle practice for teams represent ing the companies of the Alabama Ma tional Guard was commenced tenta- lively yesterday morning at the Gen. tral Alabama Rifle Range. The prac- tice was altogether preliminary, no scoring being done. and the nring pe- ing utilized to acouaint the men with the range and to put them in condi- fion for the regular shooting which will determine the team that will rep resent Alabama's militia at the na- fIonal rife shoot at Fort Perry, ohio, in August.
 In the absence of the adjutant gem eral, General Bibb Graves. Co. 1, c. R. Bricken. of the Second Regiment of Infantry is in comand of the rifle range and the camp tn which the teams are bivouaced.
 Not nearly all the teams had arriv- ed by o'clock yesterday morning. the hour appointed for the report or the men and not all even had reported for duty last night, but there were many in the camp and the interest manifested in the contest Is alreaoy sharp. Others are to come today Everything has been made ready Tor the practice and there was no delay when the first contestants entered the range yesterday morning.
 The camp itself is ideal. It IS To- cated upon a beautiful hillside adJa-- ent to the Rife Range, between Mont gonery and Pickett Springs. It lies in a grove of pines, Is excellent ar ranged and is carefully supervised by Col. Bricken and the officers with him. Tha men are excellently attended.
 The work of the rifiemen today will be the beginning of the contests. The teams are to fire at various distances and will do skirmish practice That kind of work will continue through Thursday afternoon when the contes- tants will be reduced to 45- From them will be selected. in accordance with their exact scores as shown on the targets, the team that is going to try for victory for Alabama.
 Camp BnIbuI is Organized.
 Though there were men and officers iu the camp Sunday night martial ra- gime, so to say, was not actually effec- tive until yesterday morning. Tho teams had been ordered to report for duty at o'clock in the morning and from that time every one who enter ed Camp Bulbul entered the land Of strict military discipline.
 And here. before 1t is too late to take 1t back, 1t had best be said that Camp Bulbul Is by no means the offi- ciaI name of the camp. By general ordax nothing of -the-kind Is named that; 1t is not named at all. But in honor of the nightingale 1t ought to be called Camp Bulbul until 1t is call ed something else. There Is no night ingale within its guarding lines; but then. that Is not the nightingale's fault.
 But-to return to our muttons, as the French so delicately say-from the mystic hour of 8 yesterday morning the camp was a real camp, intensely atmospheric with wars and alarms of wars and the soldiers within its gates, wearing soldiers clothes and carry ing soldiers cut and thrust guns and loud discharging swords and rapiers (if one may speak with Mrs. Malaprop In "The Rivals) comported themsel- yes as soldiers under the watchful eyes and directed by the commanding voices of their officers.
 There are about forty tents in Camp Bulbul. There are the headquarters of the commanding officer and his stan, Col. c. R. Briclcen, Capt. W. A. Col Her, Capt. J H. Patterson, Major c. o. Diclxey and Capt. J. H. Taylor. and for Major Lucien c. Brown, range officer; Major D. W. McIver, Paymaster; Capt. I. M. Maddox, Adiutant; Lieut.. c. G. Burgess. Capt. W. A. Collier. Capt. V. Mabry. Inspectors; Capt Sam c. Pelham, coach.
 Then there are sleeping quarters for those officers.
 But perhaps more important in the eyes-or perhaps another part or the anatomy-of the rank and file are the mess tents, where foods of choice quail ity and fulsome and filling quantity are served, and the tents where Mat and Barney and others cook and produce.
 Then there are the tents for the teams near a whole city full, if Biblical lan- guage can be employed in describing so Mohammedan . camp as Bulbul. In each of them are cots and blankets for the men to slwep on when the officers of the day and night are watching. They are all very comfortable.
 And, just as ample preparations were made for the food and the bedding of the men, so. too, the officers are looking after the mems health Water is i'm ported from Montgomery, where purity comes from so that there may be no possibly infection from surface water.
 The First Firing.
 The improved Springfield rifles with which the target practice Is being done were first discharged yesterday morn ing. The purpose of the discharging was to acquaint the men with local conditions as well as to afford a last training eye and hand. Despite the fact that the shooting was tentative, aorna fairly good unofficial scores were