Norwich bulletin., 1919-09-06
Special to The Bulletin

| New Lodon, September 3.-JuSt one hundred and thirty-eight years ago l today Saturday, ocurred the battle of Groton Heights and the burning Of New London. It does not seem so l long: but it was. That it is hardly
 seems to be thirty eight years ago I since the big sixth of September Centennial ceIebra ton. which was so
 big that it covered two days. one Of | which has passed into history as l Yellow Day, yellowish hue prevailing from a cause never fully explained 1 Before and since then there have been 1 many celebrations and observances l of the day in various degrees of inn l portance. The sixth of September has l often been selected a time for eel ebratins in New London and Groton; 1 too. It was on that date that the big l celebration of dedica ting the Soldiers
 and Sailors monument, and the l F'iremen's and John Winthrop statues | took place. So far as, can be learn l ed there~is no plan for celebrating this year. unless it be Lafayette Day i observance outlined in the govern l or's proclamation. which happens to | fall On the sixth of September, and also the fifth anniversary of the battle i of the Marne. The governor advo- l cates the entwining of the stars and stripes and the tTi-color of France on ! that day. Not a real bad idea
 Just why the sixth of September has always been days Of celebration m New London and Groton has never
  old fogies On that date in 1f81 the British massacred the little body of men that guarded Fort Griswold in Groton and cowardly killed Colonel arch traitor. supervised the burning of New London. These were English triumphs. but they have been cele- hrated just the same.
 For many years, the only observance of the day was the reading Of the dec Iaration of the independence in the old government reservation by John Danforth then about the only resident in what is now known as the Post Hill section. John was an eccentric character and that was one of his ec- centricitieS In the long ago school children in New London were escorted 10 the scene of the massacre by the teachers and the story of the massa- ere and the murder of Ledyard were instilIed into the young minds. As these school children became adults, some of the real thick ones could not understand where the celebrations came in But they came. and perhaps will continue on to the end of time.
 There nave been many changes in the poice department since the big ! force that Dr. Potter headed as chief 1, during tire civil war was reduced to !, Heze!liah 5. smith, who was the whole 1 police department. and Mr. smith Is ! among the living and can verify that at ] q, time in inc citys career he was rhe ! Wfioie uniformed police force. There 1 has been changes. but none 50 marked !! as in the past year and a half, or since i the rhforced retirement of General i George Hareil as captain Of police. ana ] later on tie forced retirement of Lieu ] been reached by any police officer Of l the city. and retired at time when he 1 was in excellent health and without q l bIemish on lis official personal l T " T n worked these changes through the l court of common council declared that l the changes were made to increase the ! efficiency of the department. Has this ! been done?
 With thousands of transients in New London, more than at any time since | the incorporation of the city, the police prot tcction was given satisfactorily without an increase in the number of the force under the direction rs Cap tain Haven and Lieutenant jeffers. As the floating population hoated away. there came the change in police heads and a gradual increase in the force and greatly increased pay. Not too much. but enough to have the force inteiligently directed, the men intelIisently directed, the men satisfied by receiving fair treatment and the highest degree of efficiency attained. Today the janitor at the police sta- ion is receiving $1I0 a month. the same pay Captain Haven was receiv ng the time of his retirement, and since then the force has been doubled il number and the pay has been ma eriaHy increased.
 Before Mayors Rogers and Morgan md the police committeeman cOmpleJ- I d the work of bouncng the tried and rue officers without provocatiOn to ' he retired list, with perhaps an ex- e option, CT two, the force was satis- 7 actOry to the people and were doing f ully as good police duty as the pres f mt enlarged fore But the power r hat-be wanted change and they ra tified their ambition. and what is .a he result. The only increase has been \ n membership and pay, not in general r miciency. The police force of the \ resent time is composed of a captain yith pay of s150 a month a lieutenant e | $140. six sergeants at $135 each, if hirty- one patrolmen at $130, two :, upernumeraries at $110, and the jan $ ors pay is S110.' VI Besides there four on the retired b st at haf-paY Among this number