New Britain herald., 1917-04-03
WEDDING CHIMES AS PRELUDE TO WARFARE Members of Companies E and I to Wed Before ,.
 Leaving.

NerveS on cage, ready to Tall 1n'' and forward march" at moments notice. members of Company E and Company I, First Connecticut Regi- ment. are today bivouacked at the state armory on Arch street ready to start for their ultimate destination somewhere in Connecticut for ac-g tive duty. When the order will come is not known, but officers and men expect that 1t will be received to- morrow. or not later than Thursday. Today physical examinations of men In both companies continued and by early afternoon had been completed. Then began the task of taking all data, Information and finger prints of each man. Aside from the tense- ness that goes with the anticipation of an order to move, work at the armory has proceeded with orderly routine and except that the men were kept close to their command and but few outside passes were issued. the day had been spent very much as any other, Impatience II writ in letters large on the faces cf Ill ofacers and men end thsy aslk for no more wet-s c0m6 orders than to entr4ah. s'e'
 Several ssWvar Bx1desv rrunnised. ;
 Anticipating an. early order to move a number of the mon have announced. their intention of taking war brides'' before they march out for service and one man, Private Clifford Wagstaff. of Company ]. hAS stolen a march on his comrades and b already enrolled In the ranks of the benedicts. Last Saturday Private Wagstaff secured leave of absence for few hours and went to Southington where he and Miss Cora Furgeson were quietly mar ried at the Episcopal parsonage. Thus to Private Wagstan belongs the distinction of having the first war bride" in either of New Britairss units. Today Corporal Lnman e, Beck4tt. the Verdun veteran, who Int week enlist ed in Company I, announced hip tn- tentions of being natried 1fnre. stI,~ troops move. f1is flancee IT utas 9er- trude Scharff. daughter Of. Frederick Scharf of 114 Rockwell avenue ser- geant Garfield !. Mercy Of Companv also announced this morning that he Is to be married immediateiy. but withholds the hame Of hia .fiancea until she becomes his wife. Privata Leon Roberts of Company I Likewise tG00n0 leave If possible. He will take as his bride Miss Mable simpson. According to stories afloat at the armory several more of the young soldiers are con sidering matrimony, but none of those suspected will admit 1t.
 Secrecy Regarding Exauniuations.
 The physical examinations to which the men were subjected yesterday and today were conducted by Major Styles. U. s. A., retired, and Major Water.
 man of the First Infantry Medical Corps. They were assisted by Ser gcants Connors of the hospital corps
 Each man was put through a thor olgh examination. but the results have not been announced, nor will they be for some time to come. it is stated. Although no definite informa- ton can be obtained. it has been stated that in Company I about four teen men have been recommended for discharge because of physical disabil- ity, and in Company F about a similar number have been recommended
 Lieutenant Rayond R. Rand stated of : fcially this morning, however. that it will be some time before the definite status of the men is known. The ex- amining officers make their official re- pert to the regiental headquarters and the men mentioned are discharged or not. at the discretion of the colonel, working in conjunction with his sub ordinate officers While it has been currently reported about the city that a number of men have been rejected
 these reports are positively unofficial. Lieutenant Rand stated. and all men now in the companies will be taken out of town when the soldiers march
 away. If, when the reports are fully considered and action taken. it is de. cided to reject any of the men. their discharge will be forwarded in due time and then, and only then, will tkey leave the service. Until such (Continued on Ninth Page)