The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-09-13
ARTILLERY.
TO TRAIN AT
WALLA WALLA
War Department Reopens Old
Fort and Sends Equipment
for First Washington
NOT TO GO TO CAMP LEWIS
Spokane Battery to Join the Other
Two This Week - Boys Busy
with Rakes and Brooms

The First Battalion Washington
Field Artillery will be stationed at old
Fort Walla Walla for their prelimin-
ary training, definite orders to this
effect having been received this week
by Maj. Weyrauch from Colonel Dent
Ter, of Portland, commanding officer
of this district.
= Battery B, Of the First Battalion.
is made up almost exclusively Of boys
from Benton and Yakima counties,
with F. R. Jeffrey of this city, as first
Lieutenant and Frank Harrison of
Benton City as second lieutenant. Bat
teries A and B are already in Walla
Walla and Battery c will be transfer
red from Spokane this week.
Regarding the orders the Walla Wal
la Union says:
Orders were to mobilize the bat
talon at the fort as soon as possible
after equipment arrives, which will
be in about weeks time and to bring
the Spokane battery here as soon as
practicable. 1t was hoped by Com
mercial club officials that it would be
practicable" to order them here in
time for the Pow-Wow parade Satur-
day, but in any event, the two batter
les already here will make splendid
parade showing.
invoices have now been received for
1000 blankets, heavy tent equipment
and an outfit of steel ranges and other
cooking utensils. This equipment is
coming from American Lake and was
shipped on the 9TH, but owing to a
broken wheel on the car enroute. will
not arrive until Wednesday.
Word was also received that sufic-
lent cots for the battalion were being
shipped from San Francisco by ex-
press. @
With all this equipment soon to ar
rive work of cleaning up the fort bar
racks was rushed yesterday. About
80 men We're busy cutting weeds near
'he quarters, raking the yards, busting
sweeping, and mopping. Some odd
carpentry jobs are also being done.
t is believed that with little crowding
he entire battalion can be accommo-
lated in the two brick barracks.
An inspection. of these buildings yes-
erday showed that they were in fine
condition except for dust. There are
good many army cots left there by
ne last troops moving. The walls and
loors are in good shape, practically
III windows intact and the kitchens
eady for equipment and the baths and
avatories only needing water connec-
ions to be made serviceable.
First Lieutenant jeffrey, of Battery
inspected the officers houses at the
ost yesterday with view of occupy
lg couple of them by married Of
GERS of the battalion.
As there will be big crowds here
ais week for the Pow-Wow, the local
otels which are now housing the ar
llerymen will be overcrowded and
eed every possible space for bed.
is the hope of Major Weyrauch that
nough equipment will be received by
thursday so the men can sleep in the
arracks that night.
Within few days, however, old
ort Walla Walla will be flying the
tars and Stripes again and the big
est military organization ever FORM
in this section will be in training
sre. 1t costs the government about
100 day to maintain the two bat
ries in local hotels and restaurants
I'd this expense has been running
r several weeks, so that there is
lother reason why the fort should be
cupied as soon as possible.