The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-03
NAVAL MILITIA
HERE READY IN
ABOUT q HOURS
Bridgeport Organizations
Well Prepared to Meet
Any Call For Service.

News that diplomatic relations have
been broken with Germany and the
possibility that war may be declared
created much interest here today,
among members of the Naval Re-
serves, or National Naval Volunteers
as they are now known. Those who
first received the news were quick to
spread it and by noon today the SIT
uatlon was known to practically every
omcer and man. Of the Third Division
stationed here.
Lieut.. A. j. Merritt, the ranking Off
Ger Of the Naval Volunteers in Bridge
port, said the Third division, which
mas 65 men and two commissioned Of
ncers, could be assembled ready for
duty at about four hours notice
The division drilled last night under
command Of Lieut.. William A. Ander-
son. Each man has his uniform dun
mage bag, rifle and all equipment
ready at an instant's notice to march
out of the State Armory prepared to
BOARD ship. This preparation is in
accordance with recent order of the
naval department that such prepara-
ton be made SO that the various units
ready for instant service Similar
preparations were made by the Second
division In Hartford last night.
In the event Of serious trouble with
Germany it is the belief of militia Of
fcers here that the Naval Volunteers
and the Coast Artillery companies will
be called first into service. The Ma
val Volunteers are stationed in Hart
ford, New Haven, Bridgeport and
Norwalk.
Three of the Coast Artillery compa-
MES, the Second, Fourth, Eleventh.
are stationed here, as well as the
medical section of the corps and the
band. Leut.-Col Vincent M. king.
ranking officer of the corps here,
could not be located today but other
officers declared their companions are
ready for quick response to- any call
for duty.
The enrolment in the Bridgeport
companies is lower than it has been
in many years but the officers at
tribute this to the fact that the en-
llstments of a large number Of the
men have recently expired. Due to
the uncertainty about the Federal paw
bill and the lack of information re-
garding the Federal control of the
militia, many of the guardsmen are
quitting the service as fast as their
enlistments expire. .Officers and men
in the Naval Volunteers and the
Coast Artillery have all taken the
Federal oath and are subject to call
by either the Navy or the War de-
partment. Ef
In the spring months officers of the
Coast Artillery are always able to OBJ
tain many recruits because of the
join manoeuvers with the regular
army which follow in June.
Like the Naval Volunteers each
man in the Coast Artillery has his full
equipment. In the event OF a call
each commissioned officer would mott
fly by telephone a number Of nom
commissioned officers, they in turn
passing the word for assembly to the
corpora1s Of squads, each squad lead
er calling to the armory the members
of his squad.
Blankets and overcoats are all
packed ready for shipment to what
ever destination the companies might
be assigned and squad boxes are also
ready with the exception Of placing in
them the few personal belongings
which beach soldier is allowed to
carry outside Of his Official equipment
Despite the cold weather it is ex-
pected that the Saturday night gath
erings in the company parlors at the
Armory will be much larger than
usual tonight