New Britain herald., 1916-10-17
HASTEN MASTERING
OUT FOR GUARDSMEN
Go. D and Go. | Will Probably Be
First Discharged

Routine work In connection with
the final mastering out Of the New
Britain and Bristol military compan-
les just back from Nogales is proceed
ing rapidly at the state armorv and
Major Purcell of the First Connecticut
Regiment, who is in charge, was at
the armory early today and stated that
the officers expect Company D of Bris-
tol and Company I of New Britain will
surely be mustered out of the federal
service by Saturday at the latest. and
Company e Of New Britain if possible.
Major Waterman a Hartford physi-
clan, Lieutenant r. S. Heating Of Will
limantic, and DR.. Wideman of Hart
ford, all members of the sanitary corps
and all of whom saw service on the
border, with two regular army physi-
clans examined the militiamen this
morning. Company E was first ex-
amined. Company I was examined
next and Company D was the last to
take the physical tests. The examina-
ton given each man was very rigid
and the physicians spent about ten
minutes on each soldier. The thor
ough examination was in order that
all army regulations may be complied
with and to make certain that the
men are in as good physical condition
as when they started last June. These
records, if they show the men to be
in perfect condition now, may also be
used at some future time in case any
of the soldiers should apply for a
pension AS far as could be learned
all of the men are in excellent physi-
cal condition.
Possible Delay in Co q.
1t was stated that Company D Of
Bristol will be the first company to
be mustered out Of the federal ser
vice and in rank Company E should
follow, but there may be some delay
in this command, it was reported this
morning. All equipment, records and
reports must be completed and filed
before the men can be mustered out,
and it is understood that there is n
mixup in this part of Company Els
routine.
Major Purcell will be in direct
charge of mastering out, and each
company will be mustered out in
body. The Formally is not lengthy.
The muster roll of the company is
called and the mastering officer then
administers the formal oath and de-
clares the company mustered from the
federal service. AS a preliminary
however, there is much red tape TO
be done.
Every lot of equipment for each
man must be checked up and recorded
and each man must account for every
article with which he left the city last
June and any other articles that were
given him in the interim. The only
things that the militiamen are per-
! mitted to keep are their clothes, but
their new sweaters are not included
| in this list If the men want their
sweaters it is understood that they
| can buy them from the government,
and some of the men have already
| purchased them. Each man, since
being mustered into the federal ser
vice has been allowed $54.O3 for
| clothes, and If his record shows that
| he has spent less than this amount he
| will receive a financial rebate on being
mustered out. If he has expended
more he will have to make UP the diff
ference All fines that may have been
| levied on any Of the men will also
| be taken from their pay The men
| are still on regular army pay. that IS
| SIS per month, and their food for the
! private.
| Still Belong to G. N. G.
Upon being mustered out the
| militiamen will still belong to the
| National Guard and will have to re-
| port for drills the same as before they
| left for Mexico. Under the recent
army bill they will also be subject to
| call anywhere for a period of six
years. The men who were rejected at
Mantle or who were rejected and sent
home from Nogales are out of military
life entirely.
| AS the time hangs heavy on the
! hands of the militiamen now that they
are at home, the officers are doing
their best to give thena work to oc-
cupy their minds. Daily walks are
ordered and the men are put through