New Britain herald., 1917-06-20
FIRST REGIMENT IS
 LACKING 800 MEN
Coy. Holcomb Thinks Situation
 Is No Credit to the State


 Guard to full war strenath. a. task calling for the enlistment of about 1SOO men, were discussed yesterday afternoon in the old senate chamber at the state capitol when . meeting called by the Connecticut State Coun- oil of Defense was held and waa a&- tended by about fifty prominent mon from all parts of the state. Those present included Governor Marcus H. Holcomb. members of the military and naval afrairs and publicity con- mlttees of the state council of de- rense, chairmen and members of the county auxiliary committees, military omcers. members of the military emergency board and others.
 T. A. Scott, chairman of the Naw London county committee, presided. Secretary Thomas Hewes of inc council outlined the purpose of the meeting. reading letters urging work Tor enlistments in the regular army and letter from Adjutant General George M. Cole pointing out the need of recruiting 1900 men for the Con- necticut National Guard.
 Condition Not Very Creditanle.
 Governor Holcomb told of the needs of the regiments, and said the present condition was mot a vsry credible ono for Connecticut to be in. Such a condition did not exist n the Revolution, he said, when with a population of 100000 the state fur nished 15,ooo troops. ''If we fur nished men in that proportion now. we would send 175,000 men," he said. Conneotiout's young men must realize that they must fill up the ranks, the governor pointed, out. 1T can only wish I was young enough to get into the first rank" said the governor. Somebody must i'll the first rank and carry muskets, we wont have any trouble to ill the places in the munitions factories The thing to do Is to set the young men to enlist and do their part.
 Major ". A. Mercer. U. IA. re- tired, regular army recruiting ofll- cer for Connecticut told of the meth ods of publicity used to get regular army recruits. billboards, posters. cir- culars, slides in moving picture the- aters and other methods. He said the postmasters had aided in recruit ing and that stationing uniformed soldiers in public places had brought good results. He believed that the town clerks could assist. Tho enlist ed. reserve organisations, he said, prove attractive to young men. Tho ambulance and aviation sections have met large response. When the re- serve corps Is filled up, in his opinion, 1t will be easier to get men for the regular army. He said that the reg ular army now needs about 65,00O mon, and that Connecticut's quota of this h about 1.233.
 Draft May Be Ordered.
 Adjutant General George M. Cole said that the question which presents itself to him as the important one for Connecticut is that one regiment is over 300 men short and unless some thing is done it will have to be drafted into federal service much depleted or alse there will be draft to i'll the ranks. The Second regiment is mak- ing splendid progress and is only about 250 short of it's full complement of 2,002 men.
 We must get these 800 men for the First regiment before July 25. We cannot send the selected army for nine or ten months and these national guard troops and the regular army must go over and hold the fort until the new army can get over. said General Cole. He sAid he had come to the council to assist in building up Che national guard
 ''It would - to our everlasting dis credit if this First regiment went into the federal service 800 short he said.
 Colonel Richard ,. Gpodman. com of the First regiment, said he believed the difficulty in recruiting was partly due to the troops being spread in small detachments over a great area doing guard duty. It has been dimcult to got sun1ciently large recruiting details without taking men off the guard duty.
 Colonel Goodman said that the regi- ment had 900 men when called into service. The discharge of about 300 had been required. The regiment now has 1,15D men. Company E of New Britain is now forty-five men short. Company l. Of Wfllimantic Is ninety i've men short, other companies are short varying numbers between these two figures.
 Colonel Goodman said he has called upon mayors of cities and first select men of towns where First regiment units are located to name civilian to aid in recruiting work, A similar plan, he felt, might be used throughout the state for both the na- ,tonal guard and regular army.
 For Period Of War Only.
 Adjutant General Cole pointed out hat there is a large field for recruit ng in war time not open in peace inc. All enlistments now made arc or the period of tho war only, he aid. and not for period of years.
 The chairman then made . call for John H Gloss of water- oury said he felt that the reason ,oung men don't come forward Is the ype of duty they are called upon to