The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-17
WAR WEDDINGS
 NO BARRIER TO
 STATE SERVICE
Adjt.- Gen. Cole makes Rul: ing Defined Status of
 Recent Benedicts.

] War time weddings will not be a
 bar to service in the National Guard according to a ruling just made by
 Adjutant- General George M. Cole. l According to the ruling the adju- tant- general, as to what constituted a dependent, no soldier having any out
 side income, such as partial pay from his civilian employers, was to be con- | sidered a dependent and be discharg-
 ed from the federal service
 | Also Adjutant-General Cole said | that no man who had been married 1 since July 15 1916. was entitled to benefits under the dependents ac. passed by Congress last August, and consequently such men did not come under the ruling af discharge from service.
 Thus, the easy method of wedding bells for nailitiamen who desire to get out of the service or for those not yet 1 called is not available to ''slackers' wishing to avoid active service. A strict Interpretation of the law con cerning dependents is expected by Col. M. J. Goodman of the First regi- l ment, from the war department It is not believed that the ranks of the First will be so depleted as was first thought would be the case, although undoubtedly many experienced and valuable men will be lost.
 In another order General Cole said without Investigation to determine fully the facts in the case
 Capt. A. C.. Bennett, commanding a I1 <rowS the adtutant general on the subject and will also ask for a ruling from the war department on the subject of discharging married men,
 Most of the non-commissioned off, cers of the Fourth company are mar rted men but the majority have so ar ranged their affairs that their families will be provided for. If Capt Bennett Is obliged to discharge these men the ranks of his command will be sadly depleted.
 The armed guards have been taken from the exterior of the armorv and are doing duty with their companies elsewhere in the city. Only the inte- f1or guard which has been at the ar- mory since the indication of hostilities remains there now. None Of the men called into federal service here have married since the can came but if is said there may be several weddings a1ter the boys are mustered out of the service
 About 28 recruits are needed a+ present to fill the. ranks of the Sec- ond and the Fourth companies, Coast Artillery, and recruits who desire to Join either company will be accepted Dy either Capt Bennett or Ldeuten- ant Camille Mazeau. Mai A. q. Bartlett. U. s. A, will be in Bridge port, Thursday, to examine recruits. Those who pass the physical examin- ' at1on will be retained here with the ourtn company or forwarded to the second company as they prefer.
 According to orders from the war department men in the Coast Artillery service who are employed on govern ment contracts which cannot be fin- ished without their aid. may be dis charged. There are none who are known, who may take advantage of this order. Officers have also been cautioned against enlisting men who are working on government work or
 Tor contractors who are producing government work.
 IL mas been proposed to issue but tons or badges of some sort which will distinguished men who are serving the country in industrial pursuits and who are of more value in this service man fsfey would be in donning a uni- form. Governor Holcomb has taken the matter under consid eratit,n ana ;+ IS expected he will shortly make a recommendation on the matter. There are hundreds of men in Bridgeport who will render greater service to inc nation at this period by remaininp oy their jobs than they would by enlist ing. =