New Britain herald., 1917-11-05
HOME GUARDSMEN
 IN ACTIVE SERVICE Had Practical Drill at Capital
 City Yesterday ARE HIGHLY SUPPLEMENTED
ARE HIGHLY SUPPLEMENTED

Dr. Stewart Phelps of Pennington Ap- pointed First Kieutenant of Medical Unit of 1st Regiment, c. H. G. Road to Be Finished This Week. For the first time since it's organi- zation the Plainville Home Guard was called into active service yesterday morning. Seven blasts on the whistle at the Bristol Mfg, Co.'s plant noti- fled members of Company I to lay aside civilian clothes for the khaki and report immediately at the town hall. Inside of 30 minutes 40 mem beES of the local company had mo- bilized ready for duty. Shortly after ward, nearly every member Of the company was present and stood at attention while orders were given by neutenants. Explanation was given for their being called out without moments warning. They were told I that Humber of the company would
 be picked to go to Hartford to do guard duty at the Capital city.
 Eighteen men, only those who had
 overcoats, were chosen to make the
 
 automobile and at 12:30 o'clock mem bers of the company were in Hart ford and ready to be assigned to duty, Every company of the First regl- mc44t ot tA1 \ -onnecllcLo Home Guard was represented in Hartford yester d11 I-'7"~-'r A'' " 'T "~>,3vnnt 9 thorough practical drill That the local com. pa4ly made u gooa impression is evil denced by the fact that Captain John Trumbull was highly complimented l by one of the commanders for the showing which the Plainville organl- zation made.
 That the Home Guard of this town | is several degrees more proficient than | it was several days ago and that the 1 public knows more about the officers l and men who have trained and 1 drilled during the summer season seems to be the consensus. The guardsmen yesterday responded to a call for duty similar to the plan for ! which they were organized under the
 new law last spring.
 Under clear skies with a wind some 1 what cold for their cotton khaki uni forms members of the organization lost no time in getting to the town
 hall when the signal was given. Not only members of the Home Guard showed up for duty but also members of the Machine Gun Battalion and of the ambulance company were in evil dence and ready for service. Inas- much as only members of the Home Guard proper were called out those who volunteered from the other 1 units had to be dismissed. Each man who went to Hartford was equipped 1 to stay "A hours with blankets, l pouches and haversacks.
 About o'clock the local company which was assigned to guard the mu- nicipal building twas relieved from
 duty and preparations were fnade for | the return trip. On return the men 1 were mustered out at the Town hall Owing to the fact that overcoats belonging to the Home Guard must | be turned over to the government all 1 members are to receive new coats in
 few days. Only commissioned off, l cers are allowed to retain the regula- l tion overcoats of the United States
 army. The new coats will be of AL l pine blue and will have a cape. The 1 cotton khaki uniforms will have to be 1 worn for the present until arrange
 ments can be made to secure others l of heavier material.
 Top Sergeant Gage Kent of the Am
 bulance Company has announced that
 members of the medical unit are not
 supposed to report for service unless
 so ordered by telephone. When the
 services of the medical unit are needed Captain Allen, who is in
 charge Of the platoon at Hartford, is
 supposed to get in touch with off,
 cers in charge of the Plainville con- l tingent, who in turn notify local mem 1 bers where and when to appear for
 mobilization. Dr. Stewart Phelps of Pennington has been appointed as 1 first lieutenant of the Ambulance | Company for the First regiment of 1 the Connecticut Home Guard by Cap l tain Allen of Hartford. He will be attached to the Plainville platoon and will fill the vacancy left open when Dr. Lawrence H. Frost was com
 missioned as a lieutenant in the off- l cers' reserve corps.
 l The only thing which marred yes i terday's performance of the Home
 Guard was the irregularity of the 1 blowing of the signal which calls
 the military forces into service. Seven
 blasts of the whistle call the Home Guard into action but yesterday the whistle first blew seven times and ] then five times. AS result the mem
 bers of the Plainville hose company
 also congregated at the Town hall 1 thinking there was a fire. The f1remen have made the suggestion that some other means of calling the military l forces be used that the efficiency of 1 the fire department may be main- 1 tained. Owing to the cold weather 1t 1 Is though that the whistle is liable to 1 be affected by the cold.
 l Church Notes.
 l Plainville Congregational Church 1 The annual thank offering of the 1 Women's Foreign Missionary society | c4 ha GoranraQ tinnQl ch11rch 111ill ho