Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-20
HOW HOME GUARD
 WILL BE ARMED.
Is to Be Equipped by State With Uni-
 forms, Rifles and Machine Guns.

The Home guard witch is being or
 ganized by the governor by authority
 of the general assembly is not to be
 a collection of minutcmen. with indi-
 vidual styles of armament and uni-
 form; 1t is to be equipped by the state with uniforms, rifles. machine guns,
 ammunition Ind anything else that
 may be needed to make it an efficient
 armed force; f is to be drilled by men
 wko have had military aervice, and 1t
 is to be officered by 'e best men ob-
 tainab1e. so that it vii become, it's or
 ganizers hope, an efficient body of men
 for guard and riot dafy within the
 state if the National auard Is called
 be. ond the state borders.
 All this is going to cost money, but
 the act which created the board pro- vides that the board nay with the
 e, sent of the governor and the state
 board of contIol, dr@ on the state
 tr r3asury for any amounts it may need.
 The board consists of Judge Lucien F.
 Burpee, Benedict M. Holden and Major
 J. Moss Ives.
 Judge Burpee says however, that
 the number in the active guard prob
 ah'y would not be more than 5000.
 and that it might be less, according
 to present plans. Tn remainder will
 be placed on reserve. le active guard will be unif ,rmed ana armed with rifles. The uniform VII nave to be different from that of the National guard or of the army, according to law, but what it will he has not been dec ded. Uniforms ar, nee ,ssary. be- cause of The Hague convention. which "slipers'' and not to he treated as prisoners of war if captured. The rifles will probably not be of high
 power type: their make has not yet been determined. The United Sta tes government will not be 1epsnded upon either for arpls or ammunition, so the rifles will not have to be of type that will takc government ammuni- ton.
 It is probable that u;l:ts will not be taken from heir owr communities T2ey will guard pubic property and wid be subject to ca ir case of riot | or fire. when the National guard unit ] in their community is srsent, but Il ey may also be called to other communi- ties if needed. Their purpose will be fo- home defense to tdke the place Of the National guard W :en t'le latter is away. As the act creating it says tn Home guard is for constabulary duty within the state ot Connecticut Not knowing what emergencies it will be called upon to mee' F. fulfilling this duty. the board is unThle to tell how many men it will nee9 in the actiN 2 guard. It will enlist as many as it can. put many in the active guard as seems necessary. .,f hold the re- 1 ma:nder. unequipped, for reserve.
 
 need for such home des4rse. Unwilling to discuss, for pub cation, possible emergencies, the members lay stress upon the very real d3nser in case of war and the necessity of protection against the activities of enemies in the state.
 As the guard is intended for home dezense. it's drilling w,Ii be mostly in guard duty and the use of the rife, ard little attempt wi ,e made to 20 beyond the -udimentaries otherwise. The drilling will be q ne by men who have had military serv. ,e: several of hcers in the National guard have vol unteere for his worI: Drills will be held in the state armor'es. where such are available. an d i- other places wherever room can be obtained. The men will live at their homes The guard may be called into service only by order of the governor or acting governor.
 Officers in the guard ,rili be named b., the board from ariong the enlist ed men who have had experience. Most of the men who have enlisted
 so far have seen serv'Ce either in the N.'tional guard or In the United States