The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-09-06
PHILIPPINES FOR
\, D, TROOPS IS
LATEST REPORT
Rn,nor Generally Current in Cap
ital City Cannot Be Traced
to Its Source
PALO ALTO REGARDED AS
CERTAIN CAMP LOCATION
Equipment for Two Regiments
Said to Be l-ow En- Route
ThitEer-Gvns Arrive

That the First and Second North
Dakota will not 60 to France at all
but will be assigned 70 Philippine
posts to relieve regular army units
now stationed there IS the latest
dope story on the National guard
situation.
Local staff officers of the Second de.
clare it dope pure and simple. They
have heard nothing of it. Anything
is possible, of course said Regimen.
tai Adjutant H. T. Murphy when ques.
toned regarding the rumor, "but we
have had absolutely no advice to that
effect; not even hint that we are to
go anywhere other than to Palo Alto -
1t has been difficult to trace the
rumOr to it's source. 1t was current
OH the streets last night, and was Civ
en- serious consideration by a number
that discussed it. There argument
was that North Dakota regiments had
been chosen for Philippine service be-
cause they are otlicered almost entire
ly by veterans of the Philippine war
who are familiar with the situation
there and will give as good service
in the islands as regulars can, while
detailing them to insular service
would relieve two regiments of regu-
lars which will be badly needed for
the offlcering and training OF national
army divisions.
North Dakota officers who have SER
""d in the Philippines, and these in
clude Colonels J. II. Frame of tho First
and Frank White ana Lieut.. Colonels
,Tharalson and Grafton of the Second !;
Majors Frank S. Henry and Dana
Wright of the First and Majors G.: J..
Mudgett and C. Il. Geary of the Sec.
ond, with Captains H. T.. and j. w.
Murphy, Tom Lonnevik, r. S. Henry
and others, "tOo numerous to men.
tiOn," a number of whom held com.
missions in tho North Dakota vOlun-
teers at that time. Major Hanley is
a Spanish.American war veteran, but
he served with Minnesota regiment,
at Chickamauga.
81 have heard the report from vari-
Gus sources,' said Major Wright of the
Second battalion when interviewed at
Fort Lincoln today, "but can find no
basis for it. The only end which
would be gained be sending us to the
Philippines would be the releasing of
two trained regiments of regulars, for
which the war department might have
use elsewhere"
Stuff at Palo Alto.
While there still seems to be some
certainty as to the mobilization camp
for North Dakota troops, it is known
fact that all of the camp equipment
for these regiments is going to Palo
Alto. There is some trouble locally
with regard to the Palo alto camp,
some questions of sewerage and sani-
tary conditions which the war depart
ment demands be brought to standard,
but local military authorities do not
believe there is any probability of the
camp site Icing abandoned entirely.
Rolling stock is being mObilized in
the Mandan yards for the handling of
the North Dakota troops. A number
of baggage cars and some tourist
,sleepers are assembled, and orders to
move are expected daily. The only
thing which now holds up the mobili-
zation is delay in completing the can
tonments, which are proving a bigger
task than anticipated.
MORE EQUIPMENT.
When the Second battalion marched
through the city this afternoon en-
route to Mandan every man, for the
first t,Hle, carried a regulation Spring
field rifle. Sufficient arms to supply
every man reached Fort Lincoln this
morning, and the guns were immedi-
ately distributed to the several score
soldiers who had not formerly been
provided for. The battalion. which
now numbers 900 men, with the mcdi-
cal corps. still lacks some cartridge
belts, bayonets and minor bits OF or
danance. watch it is anticipated will
come through within a few days. The
battalion has plenty of bedding, cloth.
ing and othe. equipment. and will
leave for camp alnosr completely &C