The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-07-25
SOLDIERS GET
 GREAT SEND-OFF
 FROM THE CITY
Two C. A. c. Companies With Band, Sanitary and Hospital Units Reviewed on Eve of Departure.

On the eve of their departure from the city, two companies of Coast Ar ttrery and the band, sanitary and corps, located in Bridgeport, were given an unprecedented send-om in the big military pageant of yesterday afternoon. The parade, reviewed by thousands of people whe turned out to bid adieu and God speed to the khaki end defenders, had special signln- cnnoe in the presentation of the Dridgeport Home Guardsmen, who will now become the National Guard, as the escort of honor for the soldiers who leave the city.
 There was a rush to the armory yes terday by mothers, sisters and friends of departing Guardsmen. Tears were plentiful throughout the city. On the streets and in the windows of build fngs and elsewhere sebping men and women were to be eeen-
 Veteran soldiers and sailors of the civil war who reviewed the parade from a stand on State street said that 1t was '-rhe same as in '61," and com- pared the present quota favorably with those who went to the call of President lincoln.
 At. the Hotel Stratf1eld where the
 
 lery band dined the unmarried and departing members, sadness also min- gaed with patriotic fervor. Paul Gould ing, former leader of the band. pre- I scented to Peter Borachek and the bows going south handsome ha1rbrush sets. Among those who spoke were Captain Louis R. O'Neil, Paul Gould ing, Dan Guilty and Albert E. Eccies.
 AS an aftermath to the big military escort which gave expression to the feelings of all Bridgeport on the de- parture of National Guardsmen into Uncle Sam's regular service. it is not cd that the concensus of opinion in dicates that the Home Guard has made rapid progress in its personnel sand morale since the last parade on July {.
 The physical condition of the men shows a marked improvement" said Major a. s. Ford, in charge of the sanitary department. "Only one man succumbed to the heat yesteriay even though the day was excessively hot for marching over super-heated pavements ascribe. their condi. ton largely to the endurance tests that individual companies and squad. have been havfng."
 . Asked if it was planned to give the Home Guard drills in the Setting LII ' exercises practiced daily in the United States army Major Ford sait that if the guard Is called into ser, vice the United States army regula tions would be effective at once bu that in view of the fact that meI usually drilled at night after hart days work whereas Tn the regula service setting up exercises" wer 11or Ilx1 held 10 in, morning, 1t might not be advisabl to institute the system at this time.
 Throughout the entire city citizen and military men did homage in thei talk to the rapid advancement of tn Home Guard in drilling. One office of an organization not connecte, with the Home Guard, who for ob vious reasons. did not wish his nam disclosed went so far as to compar the Guard with the former, Nationa Guard in these words:
 '-The Home Guard of Bridgepor has . morale that would be hard t find in any body of National Guar troops in the United States, It has short space of time through. enthu siastic appreciation of the situatio drilled itself far beyond what officer are able to accomplish in any organ ization not controlled directly by tn army authorities
 The marching and the carriage { the arms were revelations to seasone National Guard officers.
 '-The only possible criticism tl1s can be offered and that in a spirit fc the advancement of the Guard as whole is that it is so far lacking the technical field training which ust ally goes hand in hand with the clos order drills upon the armory floors.
 T have particular reference to thos essential necessities where units al called into service and need direction for travel and means of commun