New Britain herald., 1917-08-29
SOLDIERS OF lO2ND
ARE HELD in CAMP
No Passes ITO Town" Issued in
New Haven Last Night

! New Haven, Aug. 2o.-Orders we're
issued at Camp Yale yesterday keep
ing the men of the 1920 regiment in
| camp last night and curtailing. for
the time being at least, the privilege
which they have been enjoying Of
coming into the city especially during
the evening hours. AS a result, few
men in uniform were visible about the
city last night and many rumors were
spread about that the men were to
break camp during the night and be
transferred to some other camp not
designated. Such, however, did not
| happen for at q late hour last night
all was quiet and peaceful at the
| camp and following the celebrt1ons
held during the early part of the eve
ming by the men who were held by
| the new orders in camp no unwonted
| activities were in evidence. The SOL
! diers were not permitted to pass the
| bridge across West river on DerDy
avenue where armed guards had peen
stationed and were patroling the ave-
nue. beyond the bridge The guards
received strict orders not to pass any
man in a soldiers uniform.
When official information was
asked as to the reason for the boys
being keut in camp last night 1T was
stated that they were being held be-
cause the offers wished to keep full
track of the boys.
Some Overstayed leave.
Explanation was made that some OF
the men have been overstaytng their
leaves and action has been taken to
keep better track of the men.
The order to keep the men in camp
probably gave rise to the rumOrS that
spread about the city that the troopss
were going to break camp last night
and the camp itself was beseiged with
queries as to the truth of this report.
People began to notice early IN the
evening that there were few men IN
uniforms in sight on the streets where
such throngs of khaki clad men have
become an accepted part or the eve
ming throngs. The idea spread that
the camp was to be abandoned during
the night and reports even went so
far as to declare that tents were be-
ing struck at the camp. Meanwhile
the hour for taps came at Camp Yale
and passed and instead of a busting
hive of preparation the camp lay, a
quiet place of repose under the calm
August moon.
The men celebrated Hartford night
last night at the Yale field Recreation
tents 1t was certainly great time
for the big gathering that attended
the concert While the dancing WAS
being conducted a group OF about
hundred merry, soldiers formed in
line and paraded about the camp
ground without disturbance. lhe
men were headed by selected
band" Of soldiers playing tin cans and
barrel drums with the flies. And not
once did the dancers get out of step
from the irregu1arity of the music
produced by the bandmen Of the jolly
bunch that marched around the field.
The officers did not interrupt the
marchers but rather Joined in their
fun and merriment, which seemed
spontaneous result of their en-
forced presence in camp for the eve
ming. The Hartford reception was
held under the direction of Miss Kath-
crime Mullen, of the Y. w. c. A. The
program consisted of singing by a few
of the soldiers, and dances, and one
soldier gave an exhibition of fancy
rope swinging. The entire perform
ance kept the attendants on their feet
all the time and the affair proved
a great success.
The 1920 has been considerably aug
mented by the transfer to 1t of 3S re-
serves from the First regiment. All of
them have been temporarily attached
to headquarters company, although
they may be assigned elsewhere later.
Their status has been a matter or
doubt ever since they came into the
First regiment on Aug. 5. but this
step clears the situation to some ex-
tent. The 1920 also profits greatly by
the move, because every one of the re-
serves is a seasoned man with at least
three years experience.