The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-10-11
Thousands at Station in Walla
Walla to Say Goodbye to Boys
of the First Battalion
BOYS MAKE A FINE SHOWING
Battalion Said to be Finest Military
Organization Ever Raised in
y State of Washington

ands of friends and relatives, most Of
whom had waited patiently for hours,
the First Battalion of Washington
Field Artillery, said to be the finest
military organization ever raised in
the state, boarded their spcial train
at the O-W. depot in Walla Walla
about $3.50 Tuesday evening. The last
khah-colored man was hardly aboard
when the long train, of 18 coaches and
three engines pulled out and the boys
were On their way to Camp Greene,
Charlotte, North Carolina, where they
will be given further preliminary
training before being transported to
France where they will take their
places with others of Uncle Sans
fighting forces.
The boys made a fine showing as
they marched, in battery formation,
down Main street to the station, and
of course in the eyes Of the few Ken
newick spectators in the big crowd,
Battery B, recruited from Benton and
Yakima counties, was the pick of the
lot. The battery was in command Of
Captain Fred We'll and Lieutenants
Frank Harrison and Walter Tuesley,
First Lieutenant F. r. Jeffrey being
busy with the big task of seeing that
everything was properly loaded and
provisioning the train. Every one Of
the Benton county boys looked every
inch soldier who would give good
account of himself on the firing line.
There were several new recruits in
line, among them being James Shep-
ard of White Bluffs. 575n
The farewell was sad one, nearly
every eye being dimmed with tears,
and it was evident that the departure
of the Battalion had awakened the
people to the grim realities of war.
Many of the city's most prominent
men were heard to comment favorably
upon the splendid appearance of the
battalion and to say that it was up
to those who remained at home to
dedicate their efforts to those tasks
which will make Americas fighting
men more efficient.
The train which bore the battalion
out of Walla Walla was the largest
ever to leave that city. It consisted
of four baggage cars, IL tourist sleep
ers and two standard pullmans. The
regular field kitchens will be used in
three of the baggage cars and the men
will be served their meals by passing
thru the car and each receiving his
rations on plate which he will take
to his car. The men will receive their
own mattresses and blankets in the
berths.
Officers state that three stops will
be made each morning and three each
afternoon, about Is minutes each, dur
ing which time the men will be march
ed on the double quick in the open, to
exercise their legs and lungs. Stops
will be made at most all of the ter
minals and more important towns, and
if-xhe men receive the same reception
in those places as has been accorded
other troops passing thru, reports of
which have been published frequently
in Northwest papers, they will have a
great time. Three men from Portland
received 90 letters from girls they
met along the route and many boxes
of candies and delicacies, after ar
rival at Camp Greene.
The battalion will be quartered with
the Oregon national guardsmen, who
are already at Camp Greene, and it is
believed the Washington national
guard will also soon be there. Reports
from the Oregon guardsmen are that
the people of Charlotte are most hos
pitable and are giving them dinners,
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