The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-09-12

Is Capt. Russell Fleming Walthour,
.Jr., of the United States army, who
has been detailed here as instructor
with the national guard.
Captain WalthOur is distinct adj
dition to the Magic City, for he is
a young man of culture and refine
ment, and being a southerner, born in
Savannah, and receiving his educa-
ton at the Alabama Polytechnic
Institute, Auburn, and at the in
fantry school at Fort Benning,
Georgia, his affiliations and his SYM
pathies bear the courtIy atmosphere
of the south and make him an in
teresting personality.
Captain Walthour received his
commission in 1917, when like other
splendid young Americans he Of
fered his services for his country
during the late war, when he served
with distinction with the Seventh
Division.
Captain Walthour Is enthusiastic
about his work and residence in
Birmingham feeling that he has been
very fortunate in being detailed here
jim such a delightful place and
among such pleasant people and he
feels that his work here will be
redolent of excellent results.
Bit OF History
In June, 1920, the Congress of the
United States passed what is com
monty known as the National De-
Tense act. This act was only passed
after it had been drawn by the best
ability in the general staff and gone
over carefully by committees com
posed of the most competent au-
thorities on military legislation the
country possessed.
In drafting this policy for national
defense the general staff recognized
the fact that the World war just
passed had demonstrated that wars
of the future would be fought. not
by professional armies, but by whole
nations in arms.
The National Defense act there
fore provided for the organization
of the army of the United States
composed of the regular army, the
national guard and the organized
reserve.
Because of the fact that tho gem
eral staff of the regular army must
be held responsible to the people for
the proper administration of military
policy it was provided that a certain
number of officers of the regular
army be detailed with the national
guard and the organized reserve for
the purposes of organization and
training. Under this provision the
Alabama National Guard was as
signed six regular army officers all
working under Col. William ii.
Screws. OF this number three are
infantry officers, one cavalry, one
aviation and one field artillery.
birmingham Excellent Nucleus
Cautain Walthour, in speaking yes
terday of his assignment as tnstruc-
Tor with the Third Battalion, One
Hundred and Sixty-seventh infantry,
located in Birmingham. said:
IT have found in this battalion
birmingham as the nucleus Of a mil
itary organization will be unsur
nassed. It's officers are most eff
ficient men who are rendering a
service to the community which per-
hans few of their fellow citizens re-
aliza and appreciate. The enlisted
personnel of this traditional pat
TALON, though few, are fine patriotic
Young men who are at once taking
advantage of the opportunity to serve
their country and community ana
prepare themselves for any emer-
gency of the future.
"This infantry battalion, which be-
longs in Its entirety to Birmingham,
is perhaps one of the most famous of
the army of the United States and
has glorious past which must be
preserved for future generations.
N>w men, IL any, who were privileged
tS serve under the Stars and Stripes
during the World war have not heard
of the Forty-second division and the
one Hundred and Sixty-seventh in
fanury.
THE people of Birmingham must
exert their every effort to develop
this nucleus battalion into q strong
efficient and well trained military
organization, which will always be
prepared to answer on n moments
notice the call OF the governor. 1t
should be an organization to which
birmingham and Alabama at large
can point to with pride.
Efficiency
at is possible that a great many
of the citizens of this community DO
not appreciate the necessity for and
the benefits to be derived by the state
from the presence of a really efficient
national guard organization. lHes
do not think. perhaps, of it's value to
the nation at large as trained force
ready in case of national emergency,
or to the state in the case of local
disorder, flood or other disaster.
They do not appreciate that after
discipline comes the value of mill
tary training brought about by the
physical development afforded.
Through the efforts of the guard. IL
housed in an adequate armory. the
young men of the community can re-
ceive supervised physical training,
rivalry between organizations can
be stimulated and athletic competi-
ton OF all kinds fostered. Many
have not considered the possibilities
of creating through the national
guard a social atmosphere which will
have a positive moral effect The in
fluence brought to bear upon the
young men in the national guard by
competent officers will tend to edu-
cate the young men in self-discipline
and by promoting supervised social
activities along with the military
training given, will go a long way to
develop the spirit of chivalry.
ut Is very essential that all of the