The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-26
Farmers Special Correspond ent Learns That Officers Have Reason for Belief That the Coast Defense Units Will Be Used In the Field.
RECALL POLICY OF
 U. S. IN SPANISH WAR
Absence of Menace to Coast In Event of Mexican HOstilitieS Leads to Conclusion That Troops Will Be Used to Better Advantage.

N. r., Sunday, June 25, (By The Farmers special correspondent with the Conn. c. A. C.)-If war is declar- ed with Mexico it is belief of army officers that the Connecticut Coast Ar tillery corps now engaged in summer maneuvers here will be called into service not as artillery but as infan- trymen- The Connecticut Coast Ar t1llery corps is rated by the war de- partment in addition to being well up in coast defense work, as one of the best equipped and drilled infantry units in the National Guard. In the first call of President Wilson for mob ilization none of the Coast Artillery Corps of Connecticut or other states , has been called. There are about 32,0OO Coast Artil- lery men in the National Guard 1ocat- l ed in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode 1 Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, the l Caronnass Oregon, Alabama, ,CaIifor- 1 mia and Washington. In addition to the drill in coast defense, these or gan1zations are armed, equipped and | drilled as infantry.
 1 If the President makes 8 second call for troops army officers believe the call will be for 100000 men at least. | This will bring to the colors the Coast Artillery organizations and the Ma l L1OAoA reserves Wn1Ch many l states naaintain, in all more than 50,- 900. The others will De volunteers. All these troops would be used either | as border guards or as armies of in l vasion in Mexico. As Mexico has no navy that could threaten our sea coast there would be no need for large gar risons for coast defense except per haps in a few southern ports.
 During the Spanish war, although 1 Spain had a navy capable of doing considerable damage could it's vessels have reached some of our ports, the coast defense duty, were relieved and sent with the armies of invasion to Cuba or the Philippines.
 Small details of volunteers were left in the forts as caretakers was the case at Fort Trumbull, New Lon 1 don, where a detail of one officer and 16 enlisted men took the place of the former garrison of two batteries of l Heavy Artillery. The same course was followed at other forts on tho At 1antic coast.
 The officers point out that it would be improbable that the secretary ot war would countenance the cost Of maintaining a large National Guard 1 garrisons in the island forts which comprise the eastern defenses of Long 1 Island Sound when these troops could be utilized to such good advantage l M0A1CO UT dIO1lS l11S OO1oSA Col. Henry $. Dorsey, commanding the corps. several months ago wrote to the senators and mem bers of con l gress from Connecticut pointing to the fine record of his troops and the high marks of efficiency given them by war department inspectors. He also offered the services of himself, his of- l fcers and men for any duty that may l be required of them.
 There has not been a case of illness reported among any mem bers of the Bridgeport battalion, the band or the hospital corps since the arrival here Thursday afternoon. The time from arrival until 5:15 that afternoon was l utilized in pitching tents and ar : ranging the camp formation. The first days work began Friday, the Second company going to Battery But terf1eld for drill on the ? inch guns 5 and the Fourth and Eleventh com . panies to Battery Clinton for drill on the 12 inch nortars
 There was infantry and artillery r drill Saturday forenoon. An ath- 3 letic meet and field day was held in
 company of Bridgeport carried off prizes. The Eighth and Thirteenth t companies tied for second place.
 The Second company winners were; 100 yard dash, Private J. Capron- 3 Three legged race, Corporal w. c. 7 Palmer and Private J. Voytershark.
 Sack race, Private Voytersh ark 3 Equipment race, Sergeant H. La
 tham.
 Litter bearer race, Corporal R.
 Grant, Private G. Casserly, Private F. Reynolds
 Obstacle race, Private William Ben ham.
 Rescue race, Sergeant H. Latham and Private G. Osborne.
 Relay race, Musician H. Olmstead, Private B. Linke, Private B. F'uhs, Private c. Shepard, Private G. Casser- ly, Private G. Osborne.
 The officials of the course were:
 Referee, Colonel Henry s. Dorsey; marshal, Lieutenant Colonel Vincent
 M King; clerk of course, Captain
 Stephen T. Smith; starter Major Fred
 erick J. Adams; scorer, Lieutenant Anthony Sunderland; judges at the 1 finish, Lieutenant Frank Withee
 Lieutenant William Foord and Lieu
 tenant Louis O'Neil1. Major John J
 Half, Captain Percy H. Morgan and l Captain E1bert L. Darbie, timekeep-
 CTS. The athletic committee com
 prised Major Morris B. Payne, Lieu
 tenant Edmund B. Reed and Lieuten-
 ant Hugh M. Bell. Sergeant B. B | Palmer, field manager.
 Monday morning the work of the | camp will commence in earnest. There
 has been no target practice yet. Sub
 calibre practice will be held Wed
 nesday and Thursday and full service
 practice Thursday and Friday. Gov
 Marcus H. HoIcomb is expected to wis
 it the camp on Friday.
 n IT Dillon & Co 1 1O5 Main street