Successive steps followed rapidly during the summer and autumn of 1916 to render effective the process of federalization. By order of Gov. Samuel W. McCall on July 17, the title “Massachusetts Volunteer Militia” was discontinued, and the force redesignated “National Guard, Massachusetts.” In October the War Department authorized the companies to increase their strength from seventy-eight to one hundred twelve officers and men; new regulations established standards of drill and instruction with which organizations must comply in order to qualify for pay; a National Guard reserve was created by transfer of men who had completed their three years of active service; promotion requirements were established for officers; and an assistant Inspector-instructor was detailed to the Corps, Capt. Hugh S. Brown taking his place beside Capt. Wilson. While the new National Guard regulations raised the standard and “tightened the reins,” it is a tribute to the high grade of efficiency already attained by the Corps that Federal control caused no revolutionary changes of method in the organization. As part of the federalizing process, on Dec. 9, 1916, the Militia Bureau of the War Department redesignated the command, and abolished the word Corps from its title. Thereafter it was the “Massachusetts Coast Artillery, National Guard.” On January 16, 1917, the organization received back its old and well-loved designation, and became the 1st Coast Defense Command, Massachusetts Coast Artillery, N. G.; once more Massachusetts could speak about her senior regiment as “The Old First.” George F. Quinby, a former Lieutenant of the 7th Company and Captain of the 2d Company, and Major during the Spanish War, became Colonel, January 20, 1917. The events of Col. Quinby’s administration,--our break with Germany on February 3, the “armed neutrality,” the 5th Company’s good fortune in being first of all the command to engage in active service when, for twenty-four hours they guarded the electric power-system of Chelsea against hostile interference, the declaration of war on Good Friday, April 6, and the Old First’s service in the war, the revival and establishment of compulsory universal military service--must form the subject-matter of another chapter to be written at some later day. CHAPTER X FINALLY If it is a long time from 1784 to 1917, it is also a long way from the independent companies of artillery and light infantry of the earlier time to the present Coast Artillery; the militia of one hundred thirty years ago could not recognize itself in the National Guard of today. When in 1792 Congress passed the first militia law, it commenced a process of federalization which was to progress by successive stages until its completion in the National Defence Act of 1916; with federalization came efficiency.