The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-30
Equipment of Battery

| A | transport it.
 Equipment of Battery ! A complete battery consists of four three-inch field guns, eight caissons CT ammunition chests, 16 limbers, car- rying oils and ammunition; one stor- age, one battery, two kits, four trans portation wagons, Al sets russett leather harness, 20 saddles, one spare part for every carriage, blacksmith's s chests saddlers' chests, carpenters chests, cleaning and preservation chests, oils, materials, ammunition, 120 | horses, five officers and 133 men. From the ranking officer to the pri- vate in the ranks. intelligence, cour- ege and knowledge are essential. The | enormous quantity of material and | equipment carried by a battery and the modern methods of it's employment make it essential to select its person = mel from the varied walks of life to meet fully the requirements that fall upon them.
 Civil and mechanical engineers, vet ernarians, mechanics, b1acksmiths, car penters, draftsmen, electricians, harness makers, saddlers, gunsmiths, musicians are all needed to man a complete bat 1 tery and of such is composed the mem hership of the local orginaztion.
 The officers who head this organ ization. Captain Dorrence and Lieu tenants Anderson, Luckie, Hooper and | Finn, are men of long military serv- l ice, capable and competent both In their military and civic duties. They have labored under difficult circum- stances to develop the battery up to it's present efficient standard and the report of the United States army of fcers shows that the government rec ognizes them as capable and efficient officers. They are well known both | in military and civil life here in Bir- mingham and throughout the state and are to be congratulated on their achievements.
 The Official Report | The report of Lieutenant Walker Is as follows:
 | Report of Lieut.. J. F. Walker U. s. | A., of Battery D, First Field All tillery. A. N. G.
 Camp of Instruction, Mobile, Ala, July 1925, 1911. Attendance: Four officers, IS men; average attendance at drills, four of | fcers and 70 men.
 "Personnel: Officers, good; military bearing very good; mental qualifica- tions good; professional qualifications | fair zeal in performance of duties very good. The captain and first lieutenant | had both been under instruction at | the Mexican border camp recently and | nt ipa m therahV in zeal and efficiency; their work dur | ing camp was first class.
 Enlisted men: Military bearing fair; physical qualifications good; mental qualifications fair; zeal good. A distinc- | tion should be made between the man. ner in which enlisted men perform their strictly artillery duties and their mil itary duties; their artillery work was very well done and in this they showed interest; other duties were more or less sighted; guard duty was bad. "The two officers commended were Captain Dorrence and Lieutenant An 1 derson. Uniforms and quartermastcr equipment: In regard to this the bat tery was we'll supplied; clothing was regulation and fit well, good quality and in good condition. This battery compares favorably with the regular army in clothing and equipments. Arms and ordnance we'll kept and complete; l tentaSe, Iull equipment oL CoHlcdl teHtS in good condition.
 | Sanitation and mess: Police, fair; tents, poor; mess tents, poor; kitchens, good condition; trench latrines were used due to low site and heavy rains it was very difficult to keep the rears In sanitary condition; lime was used picket line, good; system of garbage disposal, carried away in carts, sat
 isfactory; nearly straight garrison ra- tion preparation, very good, ample cooks, enlisted, capable Cooking uten- sils were sufficient in number and Tn good condition.
 Drill and instruction: Battery fir ing, efficient and well instructed, espe- cially captain; enlisted men. inexpe- rlenced but improved during camp preparation and conduct of fire, good results obtained; target practice held at range of 400 yards. The only crit icism was slowness to make correc- tion from observation of fire. Battery work well done, only hired mules were available but nevertheless mounted work was very creditable. Driving. well done; material, well cared for. | IN. B.-It should be taken into con- sideration that this battery brought to camp about 30 recruits of less than three months service. which explains in part the most noticeable deficiency; foot movements and guard duty"