New Britain herald., 1918-02-27

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 Led by Division Captains Harry Vessels, former member of the High school faculty, and George c. Ellin- ger former member of the regular police force, both of whom gave up their positions to join the National . Army from the first and second dis tricts respectively 72 New Britain men entrained at the local passenger # station at 10:45 o'clock this morning for the great cantonment at Camp Devens. As the special train, carry ing other troops from Naugatuck, Waterbury, Bristol, Soutbington, Pennington and Plainville, puffed out of the station the crowd on the plat form, estimated at 0,000, gave vent to a long cheer, while the citizens sol - diers leaned from the car windows and cheered lustily as they cast final .glances at their friends and the we'll known sights of their home town. The train was scheduled to arrive at Aver, . Mass, shortly after o'clock this af- ternoon. -.-.-a ~ Two Fail to Appear
 Only two men failed to appear when the National Army men left this morning. One has been classed as @ deserter and the authorities are on /, the lookout for him. The other is given the benefit of the doubt pend ing investigation by the authorities. Santa Sella of 155 Washington street, among the first district selectives, is the man named as a deserter and queries at his home showed that he has not been seen since yesterday noon. The other absentee is Merle H. Benson, a second district man. Benson was discharged from the navy only a few weeks ago and it is re- ported that in the interim he has en- listed in the merchant marine service ' Tn addition to the selectives scheduled to go this morning, two others were permitted to leave as well. They were second district alternates and when they asked to be sent just the same the board took advantage of the rule 7 which permits the sending of two more than the quota and permitted them to go. These men were Ajanasi Ludco and Emery c. Peterson.
 Woman Becomes Hysterical.
 All of those who left this morning assembled early at City Hall where they were given final instructions and were presented with sweaters, hel- nets, mufflers, wristlets and socks by *, the Red Cross, smoking materials by the members of the board and cigar E cites by Mrs. Elise Traut All of the F men seemed in excellent spirits, both at City Hall and at the depot, and although there were a number of sad scenes at the departure, today's going was net anywhere near as pathetic as that of the first two contingents that left. One group of men that attract cd considerable attention was com -- posed of Portuguese. These men came here from the Cape Verde Islands and two of their number were in- cluded in today's draft With the ex- ception of their few countrymen, they had no friends this side of the Atlantic and the parting was rather sad. Mothers, a few wives, and other relatives and friends were at the - station to see the men go and, while there were many tears shed, there was a noticeable lack of hysteria, tht people being apparently steelee against such a demonstration. On, woman did faint, however, and a sec
 ond woman caused @ scene just be
 fore the train pulled out. She wa: saying goodbye to a stalwart youns man who was either her husband ol her brother and, as the order wa. given to climb aboard she chung des
 perateiy to his neck, weeping bitter
 ly. The new soldier was practically helpless in her hysterical grasp anc it was finally necessary for three DO. licemen to separate the two and they were compelled to hold the woman forcibly as the train pulled out.
 Millionaire Judd "Comes Through
 But while there were these sat scenes, there was also an atmospher of democratic good fellowship ana