Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-04-23
WEST WILL ENLIST
IN REGIMENT Of
OREGON CAVALRY
Governor Says His Office Will
Not Prevent His Going to
War.
LIEUT.. HENNESSEY
MAY BE COLONEL
Several Towns in State Have
Signified Intention to
Raise Troops.


Governor West announced this morn.
ing that in case war was declared he
would go to the front with the regi-
ment of cavalry now being raised. "I
hope to see regiment of cavalry
raised" said the governor, "and steps
are now being taken to accomplish
this.
Lieutenant Henessey who has been
detailed to train the cadets at o. A. c.,
is cavalry officer, and he has taken
hold of the matter. 1t is desired that
the regiment should go to the front
thoroughly equipped and trained anil
as it would naturally be composed Of
unframed and inexperienced men it is
intended to have q liberal sprinkling
of regular army officers among its
leaders,
At Pendleton steps are already un.
derway to equip troop and another
can be raised in a short time at Cor.
wallis, as enough cadets have ex.
pressed desire to go to make up q
troop Other places are waiting foI
the word and it is probable that the
trouble will be to hold the number
down to one regiment rather than to
get enough. 1t is suggested by the
governor that each person wanting to
enlist get his eyes on a suitable mount
so that the officer detailed to purchase
the animals can act quickly il. making
his selections.
Both the Third regiment and the
Coast Artillery are differed by men
who have seen service but the new
regiment would have to get some aid
in the way Of trained cavalry officers
One such, who had seen service foi
six years in the cavalry as sergeant
both along the Mexican border and in
the Philippines, offered his services to
the governor this morning, but his
name could not be learned.
The governor was asked if he would
resign in case he became cavalry
man, and replied that he had not given
that matter much thought but that
the office would rot stand in his
way. want to CO. said he, "and
the only thing that can prevent it is
to be stopped by force. If l can get
in | am going in some capacity what
does not matter, so l can CO.
1t seems that war is now a certainty,
not only with the Huerta branch of the
Mexican government, but with the
Carranza part as well. This being the
case it is practically certain that a
regiment Of Oregon cavalry will be
accepted, and it is therefore equally
certain that Oregon's governor will
be with it,
Announcing that Oregon should pro-
vide cavalry regiment second to none
for service in Mexico, Governor West,
after conference last night with
Lieutenant p. j. Henessey, United
States Cavalry, issued call for vOlun-
I teers. The plan is to recruit the regi-
ment as soon as possible and mobilize
it, probably in Portland for training,
so as to be in readiness to 90 to the
front when called.
Under the rules at the United States
Army, Lieutenant Henessey, who is
now training the cadets at the Oregon
Agricultural College, if he organized
the regiment, would become the Colonel
and so act until the regiment was mus
tered out when he would be returned
to HIS original status with the United
States Army. He announced that young
meD who desired to Join the regiment
should communicate at once with Gov