Connecticut western news., 1917-10-11
GUARD AT WATERBURY
2200 Hundred Strong Are Reviewed
 by Governor.

Gov. Marcus H. Holcomb and members of the emergency board. as we'll as thousands of interested spectators.
 The North Canaan guard left here about ten o'clock in autos which were furnished by members of the guard and others being hired for the day. They arrived at Waterbury about noon, where they had dinner and then marched to the golf lots, where they took up their position with the other companies. Captain J. Clinton Rora. back was appointed major of Battalion A, which comprises North Canaan, Norfolk, Winsted and New Hartford companies, in place of Maj. Saunders of Norfolk. The North Canaan guard was in charge of Second Lieutenant Peirce and Sergeant Ostrout. Company Sergeant Schmidt who ordinarily have had charge of the company. was de- tailed as adjutant to Major Roraback.
 lhe following is a partial report given by the Waterbury Republican:
 AS early as l o'clock thousands on foot and hundreds in autos approached the lots from all directions. The 600 members of the city guard policed the field and all along the line of march. They frightened the work of the police sothat it was military function from start to finish both as to the spectacle and it's regulation.
 The governor said:
 "Col. Geddes and officers and men of the 9th regiment, Connecticut home hnu Sv,s ferment for three years. Now it is going on the fourth year, but the year 1917 has been the year in which our country has got into this world war, and we have commenced to make prep arations. Our relations with Germany were severed in February and then we started in this state to make prepara- tions and we look military census. The next thing we did was to begin and form the home guard, that is, we formed the military emergency board to plan the way. We realized that the state needed protection as all our troops had been taken away. On the 9th day of March the legislature of this state past the military emergency bill and. on the same day, called upon one of your citizens.-a colonel of the 2d regiment, and judge of the superior court-to be chairman of the military emergency board and he and two others assumed the task of organizing and forming the home guard. That was on the 18th day of March.
 "On the 6rst day of June, there had been enrolled in the home guard of the state of Connecticut, IA, 146 men of whom 9,500 were armed and equipt. We have formed force in the state of Connecticut. for the protection of the people of the United States and of the state that has not been equalled in any state in the union. We have larger numerical force, proportionately, than has any other state in the union and the personnel of the home guard has not been exceeded, if it has been equalled by any that has been formed. ment. was down at the border last year and went to see the quarters of the Connecticut guardsmen who had been called into service and mobilized there.
 CT saw 8 good deal of Troop B and the captain in command of that troop is a member of the Connecticut home guard, and large propol tion great many of the Connecticut home guard has seen military service. ventured to say that there are not any troops any where who can present more military exhibition than has been presented by the 5th regiment of the home guard here today. I understand there are some. 3, 300 men in this regiment which has paraded before us and when you consider that this is only one of the five-we have four others in the state of nearly equal numbers, $500 in all you have reason to feel proud of the protection given to the state and to the United States and to the city by the existence of the home guard.
 ''It is not an organization that has been formed for child's play. It is not an organization that has been formed personnel of these men is not such as would take them to be in it for making display. They are organized for busi. ness. Every man here knows that had it not been for the home guard, we would have had very great deal of trouble in the state. But the home guard got on top of it, and kept it down, and it is a matter of great con graduation that they will keep it in hand in these times, and as long as American liberty in this country and liberty throughout the world is threatened, they will be active and az. g1essive and will see to it that anyone in the state of Connecticut is not allowed to express any disloyalty to the state or government Now, gentle men, I have been present. and made speeches on number of such occa