The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-04-22
MACHINE GUN
 MEN MAY GET
 FIRST WAR CALL
But Members of Naval Militia Hope For First
 Chance.

Fl
 Because members of the local com panies of the Coast Artilley corps have been trained in handling machine guns there is possibility the local bat talion may be sent out as a Gatling gun battalion attached to one of the infantry regiments nf the Connecticut National Guard, in the event that this state is called to, furnish troops for hostflities in Mexico. z
 In 1906 when the Hawes guard, now the 4th company Coast Artillery was organied,a this command was a pla- toon of the machine gun battery Later the battery was disbanded and the platoon in Bridgeport reorganized to company of the Coast artillery The new regulations regarding the mi Iitia require that a machine gun com
 pany shall be attached to each regl-
 ment of infantry There is no such hcompany attached to the First Infan
 try, whose headquarters are in Hart
 ford.
 The machf11e guns formerly used by l the 4th company in Bridgeport, are now stored iIl the Bridgeport armory and are in charge of Major Louis J. Herrmann,S ScoTnrnandant Of the local battalion. As yet Major Hermann has but a battalion of machine gun conn panies could readily be made up in Brid geport from the present Coast Ar-a tillery commands.
 Although Adjutant General George | M Cole issued orders yesterday to all
 crs1it at once to 58 men. the commands CTS of the Bridgeport Coast Artillery I conpanies have received no such or-s ders. Lieut.. A Merritt. comnanding the Third Division Naval militia was Eordered some months ago to bring his . U readiness for service at few hours notice.
 It is the belief Of local militia of11- icers that if there is any call for the l National Guard of Connecticut the orr ganizations of the Naval militia. will be called first.
 Fhe actual enrollment in the Con- necticut National Guard according to i the war department figures is 2,641.l
 This state would have to furnish
 about 500 more men if call for 250,- 900 voIuntee is made. as the local
 cut quota at 3, POO
 4 The passage of the militia bill by I Congress would make it possible for
 the government to order into thefser- T vice at once any or all organizations I of the state militia. It was different in l1s98 when rnilitiamen had to submit
 themselves as volunteers and to under go physical and mental examinations at the rendezvous camp at Mantle
 x Prompt organization of a. a.vo1unteer . army for service in Mexico, or in any
 other crisis is provided for in a bill
 passed Monday by the Senate with amendments. sending of the measure
 to conference was delayed by a motion I by Senator Reed to reconsider the ] vote. The matter Is still held up. :. The bill would revise the law under
 which a volunteer force was organized .3 for the spanish American war in I S96. It's authors contend that volunteer force could be raised more quickly ,l than under the existing law; that it ! would prevent the payment of boun- : ties. would do away with a short term ,. Of enlistu ent by making tie term of volunteers the same as that in the regular army. would procure the nec- ,| sessary number of men at the begin l hing Of the war for long period, thus making drafting unnecessary, and the war.
 Company K, 4th regiment c. N. G.. went to the Spanish-American war
 from Bridgeport It was re-organized las Battery B. 1st Connecticut Heavy
 Arti1lery The company had been E lconamanded by Capt Frederick J. sI BreckbiIL He was thes first company
 comma nder in the then infantry bri- , gade to bring his organization from Iltha minimum membership of 58 to aEf the war footing of 84 enlisted men and officers. For this good and quick work he was given 8 commission to organize a heavy artillery battery. The battery numbered 200 officers and enlisted men when it left Bridge
 port for the rendezvous camp at NJ : l antic about noon May 4, 1898. The r comnniasione ed officers were Capt F. 6 J. Breckbill, 1st Lieut.. Arthur c. \ Bennett, 2nd Lieut.. William A. vl Evans. The battery remained at Mi f antic for Is days while the members E l were subjected to physical and mem a tai examination before being muster . led into the service of the United ! States.
 During this period Lieut.. Bennett
 resigned. He was succeeded by 1st
 ISergt. John A. Leonard Governor z Lounsbury also appointed William A : Basely to be junior second lieutenant
 and drill officer The latter had been E a sergeant in the United States Heavy ' Artillery on duty at Fort Trumbull in : New London harbor
 : After being mustered into the y United States service the battery was n sent to garrison Fort Griswold where s members were mustered out of the
 service and the organization disban6-
 ed.
 Il A company of the. list United State.
 Engineers was also organized 1T
 Bridgeport. in May, 1898. The mem
 bers of this command saw service 1T 5 Puerto Rico with Gen. Miles and sey z erai of them remained in the army.
 Members of Battery B later Joined s the regular army and served in tht II Philippines. Several were killed ther, T. in actions, including William
 Muth, whose body was brought to thi }. city and buried with military honor. F in Mountain Grove cemetery.
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