The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-10-04
BATTERY "B"
BOYS GUESTS
OF CITIZENS
Benton County Lads Enjoy Day
at Home with Friends and
~. " Loved Ones >'.
LEAVE FOR The SOUTH SOON
People of Kennewick and PrOsser Act
as Hosts and Foot all the
Expense Bills z

.
The week of October 1-6 will be a
memorable one for the Benton county
boys who are enlisted in Battery B,
Washington Field Artillery. Sunday
they were mustered into federal SER
vice, Monday they received their first
pay check from Uncle Sam, Tuesday
they were entertained by the citizens
of Kennewick and Prosser and some
time this week they will begin pack
ing up for their first journey toward
the battlefelds Of Europe.
The idea that the boys be given a
holiday before leaving for Camp
Greene in North Carolina, originated
with E. M. Sly of this city. A number
of the business men Of Kennewick and
Prosser were interested and permis-
sion for the holiday was obtained from
Major Weyrauch commanding the bat
talon at Fort Walla Walla.
The idea of the holiday was to give
the boys one more opportunity for
spending few hours with friends and
relatives and to give the people an
opportunity of expressing their appre-
citation of the boys.
Altho all plans for the entertain
ment of. the boys were matured last
Friday morning the holiday was sue
cess in every detail. Everyone Of the
enlisted boys thoroly enjoyed himself
as did all those who participated in
any Of the days activities.
The boys were given special car on
the regular O-W. train and their
transportation was paid by the citi-
zens Of Kennewick and Prosser. Thir-
ty-four of the boys whose homes are
in this end of the county came here
under command Of Lieut.. F. r. JEFF
frey and about forty more went on to
Prosser under command of Lieut.. +.
Harrison, of Benton City.
In spite of the short time allowed
for advertising the event the depot
platform was crowded with men, wo-
men and children when the train pull
ed in at noon. AS the boys in khaki
began to file out of the train they were
given o rousing welcome, the boys OF
the high school having improvised
special Battery B yells for the occa-
sion.
Escorted by the G. A. r. veterans,
the Woman's Relief Corps, and the
Richland band, which donated its ser
vices for the day, the boys. were
marched to the M. E. church where
dinner was served by the Ladies' Aid.
Before leaving the depot the boys were
informed that the town was theirs and
that their money would be no good.
Each man was given a coupon book
good for meals, admission at the Prin-
cess and purchases of cigars, cigar
cites, soft drinks, ice cream, candy,
gum and popcorn.
After arriving at the M. E. church
Lieut.. Jeffrey relinquished his COM
mand and from then until the train
left at IL o'clock every man was free
to enjoy himself as best he could. The
people co-operated splendidly and
many of the country people spent the
afternoon in town and many of the
business men left their places of busi-
ness that they might in some way con-
tribute to the entertainment of the
visitors.
A special show was given at the
Princess in the afternoon and the Com
mercial club rooms were we'll stocked
with fruit and placed at the boys dis
posal. In the evening supper was
served at the Congregational church
by the Ladies' Aid and later crowd
assembled at the Commercial club
where Lieut.. Jeffrey thanked the peo-
pie for the favors shown the boys and
in return presented the Commercial
club with two large photographs, one
of Battery B and the other of the en-
tire battalion. A. R. Gardner receiv-
ed the photos on behalf of the club and
promised that they would be framed
and hung on the walls of the club
rooms.
Just before train time Charley Haas