Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 263, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1919 — RIOT BATTALIONS ORDERED TO VIRGINIA COAL FIELDS. [ARTICLE]

RIOT BATTALIONS ORDERED TO VIRGINIA COAL FIELDS.

Louisville, Ky., Oct. 30.—A provisional battalion, 800 strong, composed of veterans of the first division, tonight had orders, to proceed immediately to the coal fields of West Virginia in anticipation of possible disorder attending the strike of miners there. The troops would be on their way before morning, Col._C. W. Peabody, acting chief of staff, announced and said that the instructions had come from the headquarters of the central department, Chicago. • Infantry and machine gunners .make, up the riot battalion, it was announced, along with the necessary medicaT detachment and staff officers. The provisional battalion’s destination was announced as Huntington, W. Va., where they were to detrain and scatter in various towns, according to Col. W. R. Scott, intelligence officer. Col. W. S. Harrell, commander of the sixteenth infantry and acting commander of the first infantry brigade, was in command of the battalion.