The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-26
ALABAMA GUARDS <, EXPECT ID STAY IN SERVICE LONGER Reports to Montgomery In- dicate Brigade Will Not Be Mustered Out Now COLONEL GRAVES
 OFFERS RESIGNATION The Retirement of This Popular Off, ficer Causes Surprise Among His
 Friends-Roach Is To Be
 Courtmartialed

Montgomery, March 25. Especial. )-Mustering off cers do not believe the Ala bama National Guard will be dismissed from the fed eral service at present. They are preparing for any even- tuality and particularly for the cancellation of orders for the demobilization of the troops. While they were tell ing newspapers tonight that there had been no change in their plans, they let officers of the brigade know that they expect a change during the next day or so.
 Military officers are not permitted to give their opinion on questions mil itary and for that reason they are not giving all information to the press, but they believe Alabamians will be used further in the army. Reports came first Saturday that the govern ment would arrange so as to use the soldiers at moments call and today the announcement was made that the first companies would not be mustered out until Friday, and that all troops would not be out of the federal serv- ice until after April 2. Then came a report tonight that the government had called back into service IA regi- ments.
 Col William A. Skunk, United States cavalry senior mastering officer, was asked tonight if any change had been in his orders. He gave a negative reply. Informed that 1.4 regiments had been called back, he said no official advice would come to him until Monday.
 Every soldier seems to believe at least part of the Alabama guard. especially the cavalry, will be kept in service and that probably the other units also will be retained.
 Under the new schedule, the Fourth regiment is to be released from govern ment service about Friday. the Second regiment April ?, and the First regiment shortly afterward.
 hn ic,u I4p pn nr11n nv q T. pany and hospital corpse probably will be the last units released.
 GRAVES RESIGNS
 Col. E. H. Graves of Eufaula, com mander of the Fourth Alabama infantry since it was organized several years ago, tire from the Alabama National Guard. officers of the brigade Sunday afternoon admitted that Colonel Graves had decided to quit his position, and said the resig- nation had been forwarded to the war department by Colonel Jenkins, United States cavalry, who IS In command of the troops.
 Colonel Jenkins made no statement in connection with the resignation and Col mel Graves has offered no reason for his action. He is one of the best known military men in the stcte and it was through his efforts that the Fourth reg iment was organized
 The resignation, according to reports, vas rendered soon after the troops reached Montgomery, but was not ap- proved and rendered the war depart ment by Colonel Jenkins until Saturday afternoon.
 It was also stated Sunday afternoon that Lieut. Virgil T. Roach or Birming- ham, who was found to be morally un- fit for his position by an efficiency board at Nugaies and removed, had been turned oyer to the army for courtmartial on a charge of beating his wife. Roach's af- fair has been the sensation of the camp.