Waterbury Democrat., 1902-08-23
REoRGANIzING THE O. N. c.
Local Military Men are Interested in the New Schema

the New Scheme.
 The chief topic of conversation in military circles in this city and throughout the state is the proposed reorganization of the Connecticut Ma tional Guard Persons who keep in touch with military affairs are positive that there will be radical changes in the Connecticut National Guard before the end of the present year, and that it will be completely reorganized. 1t is, believed that the number of regi- ments will be reduced to two, each regiment containing twelve companies instead of eight, as now. The Third regiment will probably be disbanded, while parts of the Fourth will bc merged into the First and Second. The Third regiment was miserably weak at Camp Keeler last week, There were only five companies, and these com panies did not appear to be in the best of shape. Snap and vigor and energy did not characterize the movement of large number of the members. The Fourth, however. was much better than the Third.
 If reorganization of the Connecticut National Guard is effected, it is said that Company 0, Sarsfield Guards New Haven, will be transferred to Colts battery. It is said that Captain Donovan of Company c desires very much this change. This change would make a place i'll the Second regiment for Bridgeport company. The First regiment companies in NorwaIk and Stamford would be transferred into the Second, while the company in Walling- ford would be disbanded. The Middle town company would probably be joined to the First regiment. In ali probability the companies in the two regiments would be re-lettered. Local military men hope that the local com panies will retain their present letters, A and G. They would hate to lose them.
 In regard to the report that there was more drinking at Camp Keeler this year than last year, local military men say such is not the case, at least in regard to the Second regiment. Some calamity howlers wish to give the pub lie the impression that camp is a place for general jollification, a place for drinking and making merry. That Is not so. Neither is 1t so that all the soldiers are teetotaIers. That there Is some drinking and little dgunkenness among 1,5O0 or 2,0O0 young men Is not matter of wonder, but far surprising indeed is the fact that there isn't much nore drunkenness. The men have no easy time during camp week, but there is plenty of nard work.
 A local military man, in speaking of the above matter, said that the critics had picked out a little rotten part of the apple and had bore into it, while they had left the good wholesome part of the apple untouched. A whole regi- ment should not be censured for the fnjudicious acts of one or two men. In regard to depredations being made on the property of farmefs, when the Sec ond and Fourth regiments went to, bivouac on Tuesday night. team was stolen on one man, three or four chickens on another, and abous 30 cents worth of wild apples were used in mimic battle. About S5 worth of damages were caused by GOO soldiers marching through the country. That's a good record and one which cannot be criticized very much" Lo-' cal military men are we'll satisfied that Camp Keeler would compare favorably in all respects with past camps.