The border vidette., 1917-01-20
THE ALABAMA TROOPS.
Governor Henderson Will Ask Govern
 ment to Send Them Home.

Governor Henderson of Ala bama, who has been here invest igating the conditions of the Alabama guardSmen, now sta toned at Nogales, before taking his departure for Douglas, to in spectS the troops at that place, issued the following report:
 At the present time Alabama has 4, ,955 guardsmen on the bor- der. One brigade of infantry located at Nogales, two batteries of artillery at Douglas, Arizona, and one regiment of cavalry at San Antonio, Texas. The brig ade of infantry arrived at Noga les from October p to %. There has been an unusual amount of sickness in the Nogales camp and the various reports sent out caused me to visit the camp for the purpose of ascertaining the present status and the cause leading up to this condition. l base hospitals, 1 have visited headquarters, talked with bri gade, regimental and company officers and with many of the enlisted men. Every facility has been offered me to ascertain not only the present conditions, but a complete history of all matters pertaining to the welfare of the Alabama guardsmen. The mili- tiamen are supplied with. ample clothing, and their quarters are boarded up and foored. Each tent furnished with stove and fuel.
 Tn talking with the enlisted men I find no complaint of the supplies furnished them. There is, however, a condition of un- rest and dissatisfaction among bilized more than six months three months in Alabama and three months in Arizona. This brigade is made up of guards men who were members of the organization at the time the call was made with such additions as were necessary to increase the brigade to the requirements de- manded for actual service. Al most to a man the Alabama Ma tional guardsmen took the oath required by the army regula- tions. This was done at great personal sacrifice. They thought their services were needed by heir country and they answered the call cheerfully. They have now trained and undergone the inconvenience of camp life for more than six months, and feel that they should be relieved actual hoStilitieS should become eminent.
 While the diplomatic negotia tions are being drawn out slowly, the state militia is being held in the mobilization camps without prospect of real service, or any thought, it would seem, by the department at Washington of their personal or material vel fare. With no prospect of hos tilitieS, six months is too long to retain the militia in camp. Their service will be of much greater advantage to their country if used in the various vacations pursued by them before enlist ment. Added to this is the un- certainty of the length of their detention and the many cases of sickness.
 ''The altitude of this section and variations of temperature are radically different from that of Alabama. This condition de- mands the exercise of different care on the part of the individ ual, tban that which he has been accustomed to in Alabama
 'The fatalities with the Ala bama brigade at Nogales from all sources have been fourteen. eleven of which resulted from pneumonia. The total number of pneumonia cases has been 6e with a mortality ratio up to this time of 16 10 per cent. At present there are twenty mine cases of pneumonia in the hos pital.
 ''The total number of cases o1 all character in the base hospital is 2O6, of which are the 29 cases of pneumonia, and these are the only cases considered of serious nature. In the Alabama field hospital there are 53 cases of measles and A from various other complaints, none of which