Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-01-21
SOLDIERS NOW
GUARD ARSENAL
Raritan Depot is Now Being
Patrolled by Army Men, in
Place of Civilian Guards.
BIZ star Correspondent.

BY star Correspondent.
NEW BRUNSWICK. Jan. 21:-
Raritan arsenal is now patrolled,
guarded and protected against fire
by a corps of army men, in compli-
ance with an order issued from the
war department and effective yes
terday, which displaces the civilian
police and firefghting organization
there. This matter vas the subject
of objections raised by the county
board of freeholders last week, who
named a committee to oppose the
change on the ground hal the ex-
service men who have so efficiently
guarded the plant during the last
two years would be replaced by en-
listed men having no experience in
that line of work.
Freeholders Clarence NJ. Haight
and j. Fred Orpen, the committee
named, visited the arsenal yesterday
and took the matter up with the
commanding officer, Major r. w.
Case, who fully explained to them
the details under which the new or
ganization will function. The major
also prepared a letter setting forth
the policy of the government in
making the change, which together
with the report of the committee
were presented to the freeholders
uurinS the dIteTuOUn SESSION yeSleE-
day.
the letter from Major Case which
fHTy explains the matter is as fol-
lows:
January 20. 1921.
aAfr. F. w. Hilker,
sCounty T~reasurer's Office.
rCounty Record Building,
New Brunswick, N. j.
eEir:-In response to the request
o. a committee of the Board Of
Freeholders, who visited me this af-
fernoon. the following facts are
Etven in respect to the organization
o. a police and fire protection COM
pany, composed of enlisted men.
which is to place in part the civilian
police and fire departments hereto
TIRE doing duty at Raritan Arsenal.
s-This company is to be composed
~ thirteen non-commissioned off,
6ers and sixty privates in command
6f q commissioned officer. The per-
scnnel mas been very carefully Sc
kcted from the enlisted personnel
of the post and those men only who
have been stationed at the arsenal
for at least six months assigned to
this duty. OF the non-commissioned
oficers, eight hold the highest war
rant grades that the ordnance de-
bartment is empowered to grant.
Several are married and have their
Families living with them OF the
Roet.
1.-THE guard company has been
Very carefully trained in anticipa-
ton of taking over their new du-
ties, and those men assigned to the
fire department details have been
by the former chief of the
a~A cnorfp1ar A md haua a IN GuCrnd |
calls and have shown
themselves to be very proficient. 1t
ia intended to continue these drills
every day and have at least n fire
alarm drill for each detail in order
10 p2fe them as familiar as posi-
with their duties I'M the event
hire.
sAlI former members of the po-
lice and fire departments have been
given an opportunity to secure po-
in other departments on the
Arsenal and 1t is my desire hat
these men avail themselves of this
opportunity. Several members of
the personnel of the fire department
been retained to act as a nu-
cleus around which the fire details
far fire protection have been built.
men are familiar with the
driving, maintenance and operation
Of the fire trucks and other fire
equipment on the post and will have
general supervision over the meth
DDS of fire fighting.
Several members of the former
police department have been retain
ed to patrol the magazine area, our
greatest fire hazard. These men are
to do night duty. during which per-
iod the magazine area is practically
vacant.
'9The necessity of the formation of
a guard company replacing the for
mer police and fire department was
brought about by the general policy
OF the war department of retrench-
ment and economy. 1t was found
that these Departments were costing
the taxpayers approximately $780,
600 a year, therefore, their replace
ment by selected and trained en-
ffsted personnel seemed imperative.
Respectfully.
"R. W. CASE,
Major. Ord. Dept, U. S. A. Com
banding.
Ey1a eo. NDx- , 7