The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-18


international Photo)
Brig. Gen. Lucien G. Berry, who COM
manded the 6Oth field artillery bril-
gadc during the world war.
Okla. Pyramidal and sibly tents were
pitched, later to be reinforced by
wooden frames to make them more
livable in the stormy winter.
Fort Sill is near the Wichita noun
tains, small range devoid of any
scenic beauty The camp was on
dreary plain, where the dust blew at
will over the prairie waste. In win
ter Camp Doniphan is bitter cold
the cold accentuated by the biting
wind, and in the summer it is even
more disa greeably hot.
Lawton Profiteering Town.
Perhaps the principal objection to
Fort Sill as the site for large di-
visional camp was the character of
the town near which 1t lay. LaWton,
a few miles away, with popula-
ton Of 1900, elected the contempt OF
the 35th division, of which the both
field artillery was an integral part,
because IF profiteering.
The 13Oth was in the Goth field
artillery brigade, commanded by Brig.
Gen Lucien G. Berry, who had been
an army officer all his life, and
skilled artillerist
The regiment early was scheduled
to fire heavy guns, while the other
two units in the brigade, the 12Sth
and the 129th, were given the lighter
| 3-inch pieces Inasmuch as there
were no 6-inch pieces at Camp Don't
! phan, the artillery training of the
130th was largely with the smaller
! cannon, and ON paper. Also to make
/ up for this deficit in practical firing,
! q great deal of time was wasted IN
| the infantry foot movements, which
aided the soldier physically, but aided
| little to his mentality or spirituality.
The winter of 1878 was a hard
| one for the Doniphan troops. Con-
tracts for bath house heaters had been
| let, it was understood, but the heat
ers were not installed until spring.
| Tents were crowded and convenienceS
were few. Then came epid emlc dis
seases and the camp hospital, made
| uuateiy equipped and inefficiently ad-
! T1inistered, was flooded with cases
that called for careful handling.
Regimental commanders, mean
while. came and went. Colonel means
was sent to q school in Texas, and
Majors Pattison and Waring had their
fling at running the 130th. Finally
during the blizzard which reached Its
peak on January 10, 1918. Lieut.. Col.
r. r Ellis, of the regular army as
sumed command.
Colonel Ellis was an efficient Off
Ger, a strict disciplinarian and won the
respect of his officers and men be-
cause of his fairness and ability. He
did much to build up the both to d
state of efficiency which later was
evidenced in France on the range and
at the front. Thru the efforts of Col
Ellis, every officer and man OF the
13Oth took out the maximum $40, 900
of war risk insurance. This was the
best insurance record of the division,
a., ..,f, nrfn NJ
Early in March, 1918, the overseas
detail was formed. This was a de-
tachment composed largely or ar
tillerymen, but with few engineers
and perhaps 100 infantrymen. Major
Warning was given command of the ar
tinery troops, and under him Lieut..
Frank T Priest, of Wichita who took
charge of the unit from the 130th,
known on paper as Company d. This
detachment left Camp Doniphan on
March 20 going direct to Camp Mer-
rift. n. j.. and sailing on the George
washington from Hoboken on March
80.
Advance Detail Lands.
The advance detachment landed at
Brest, France, on April IS, and spent
several days at Pontanezen Barracks, a
> miserable place officially termed a
crest camp" which showed that some
one on General Pershing's staff had a
sense of humor.
From Pontanezen, the unit en-
{ trained for Camp -du Coetquidan, there
to be divided into two detachments.
Most of the officers and about loo
of the enlisted men took an intensi-
= fled course a the Second Corps school
t at Montigny. The remainder, ESQ III
2 number, formed a battalion under
Lieut. Paul T. Mcfarland and at
= tended the French artillery school al
/ Valdahon, near Besancon, in the foot
r hills of the Alps. The officers and
men in these schools were detailed as
instructors when the regiment landed
{ a short time later.
!, While the overseas detachment wa:
forgetting the Danford and Marett
course crammed down its throat al
Camp Doniphan and learning to fire
by the improved French methods, tbs
S5th Division made preparations to de-
part from Oklahoma. The artillery
and the sanitary train were the las
to leave.
The 1SOth babe the camp good
quite cheerfully on May .. arriving a
Camp Mills May IA. The regimen
sailed on the Ceramic. British "tripe
infested" boat. May 19. The steamer
locked at Liverpool on May 81, after
an eventful voyage in which J-boat
were sighted and one was sunk.
The men of the 130th saw England
at its most beautiful season, June
and the trip from Liverpool to Rom
sey was an interesting one At Rom
sey the men were placed on Englisl
rations, which they detested, for gooC
reasons. One cannot please an Amer
lean, particularly a red-blooded cnt
from the West. with tea several time
a day.
One incident of the brief stay il
England is W orthy of special mention
| because 1t proves that ivory domes'
are sometimes found in high officia
circles. The regiment was ordered II
| away, and board a channel scow TO
:, France. Under fun pack, beneath
|. blazing English sun. the artillerymel
trod the long, paved highway. Arriv