The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-23
Federal Officials Have Is
sued Ultimatum on Local
Conditions
OFFICERS TRYING
TO RAISE FUNDS
Equipment Now Here Valued at
$S5, 1000 and Better Place
Must Be Had to
Keep 1t

The officers, active and retired, of Bat
terry d, First Field artillery Alabama
National Guard. are making an effort TO
raise funds for the purpose of building
war department at Washington has notf-
fled the officers that unless adequate
arrnory facilities are secured for the prop
er housing and care of the battery equip
ment, which is valued at $50 900, the equip
ment will be removed from Birmingham
and stored in a government arsenal
Battery D is one OF the most efficient
companies of the Alabama National
Guard and has always received a hsl.
rating both in camp and at the quarterly
inspections. Lieut. Henry c. King, L.
! S. A., in one OF his reports stated the
armory facilities for the local battery
were the worst in the United States. They
occupy one of the stores the ground
floor of the city hail in which is crowded
the guns and other valuable equipment.
They also have quarters on the fourth
floor of the city hall in the armery
proper.
YeOman Service
Battery D has rendered yeoman service
in the past and is considered among mill
tary circles as one of the best organiza-
tions of the south. The local officers of
the battery are making an effort to keep
the battery in Birmingham and have
prepared the following statement of the
situation:
''The undersigned committee having in
charge the raising Of funds for the build
| ing of an armory for Battery d wish to
announce that Battery d must either
secure adequate armory facilities or be
mustered out of the service.
"The war department has stated In
unnlistakable terms that the batterys
armory in birmingham is the worst in
the entire United States.
"The present quarters In the city hall
provide space for storing only one-halt of
the equipments, the balance being stored
in local warehouse. 1t also provides
no drill space whatever instructions must
be given in tfe streets under very try
ing conditions. Under present conditions
the entire battery cannot be drilled as a
unit at any time.
"The committee has formulated a prac-
teal plan for the building of quarters
and asks the support of the business in
terests of Birmingham.
Subscriptions Wanted
subscriptions are being solicited and
subscribers are asked to give their checks
at once In order that building operations
may commence at an early date.
'erhe following letter from the war de-
o,.tt, a
second letter of like character received
in six monthsf is explanatory.
1.-The Acting Chief Division of Militia
Affairs. to the Adjutant General Of Ala
hama Subject Reports OF Inspection
Field Artillery, Organized Militia of
Alabama:
"I am directed by the Secretary OF
War to enclose the reports of inspection
of Battery d, Birmingham.
The armory at Birmingham does not
comply with the spirit of paragraph s.,
militia regulations. It is idle ever to ex-
pect to retain it's present efficiency in
battery that is furnished no better armory
facilities.
Z" THE cost of the battery, about $4,000
is too large to permit the federal govern
ment to allow its retention in a state
Were armory facilities for instruction do
| not exist
" Either the field artillery situation in
| Birmingham must be promptly and great
| ly improved, or the battery will be taken
in and stored in a United States arsenal
AN early report is desired as to the
steps being taken to correct the present
| conditions.
HARRY c. HALE.
Lieutenant Colonel Infantry. for the
Chief of Staff
Washington, ID. c., July Is. 1873
"E. ID. SMITH,
Capt. Commanding 1902-l905 Chairman.
Il. S. DORRANcE.
Major Commanding First Battalion.
! Captain Commanding 1908 S-l9l2
/ FRANK FLINN,
| "Captain Commanding Battery p.
| j. o. SMITH.
Captain Commanding 19Qo-l9eS.
| "E. l.. ANDERSON,
| Captain c@1mans'n: lgl2-lsis"
! NOW WITH VI. WEI. 4 BRO.
John B. La Bontie. the we'll known
clothing salesman. wishes to announce
to his friends that he is now connected
with the firm of NJ. We'll & Bro, the
home of Hart Schaffrter 4 Marx
1 x.rf11 ha nj n