Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-04-23
Oregon Troops May
Be Called Out

Apropos the present Mexican situa-
ton there has been considerable spec
ulation in Ashland regarding the dis
position of the local militia boys in
case the Oregon state troops should
be called out. The local boys are
part of the Coast Artillery Reserves
and ordinarily would be sent for duty
at some coast defense fort. But in
rthe present trouble Mexico has no
navy to speak of and there could be
no probability of an invasion of this
country and consequently little de-
mand for increasing the fighting
strength in the coast forts and it
would be quite likely that if there
was a demand for an extra strong
showing of infantry troops in the
field the coast artillery would be sent
into the field in that capacity as they
are all trained infantrymen. This in
fact is the opinion of Colonel Martin
of the Oregon regiment.
Another disposition that could be
made of the artillery reserves, states
/ Colonel Martin, and one that is not at
all improbable, would be the distribu-
ton of the artillery boys among the
ranks of the third regiment of in
fantry. In time of peace it is rarely
ever that military organization is
recruited up to it's full strength, and
before moving the Oregon regiment
to the front it would be necessary to
bring the regiment up to wartime
footing This could be done to a
much better advantage by using the
artillery reserves than by putting in
raw recruits.
Nothing has been received by Cap
tain Spencer from state headquarters
yet and Monday evening at the regu-
lar weekly meeting the boys were
drilling and making preparations for
squad Of five men to attend the
military school at Fort Stevens early
in May-and talking over general
matters regarding the approaching
summer encampment. Many new en-
| listments have been made since the
boys moved into the new Armory
and the company is now almost up to
its full quota in time of peace. Many
of the recruits have not yet graduated
| out of the awkward squad and they
are being given much work in infan-
try drill and with the manual of
arms.
When approached for a statement
regarding the present situation Cap
tain Spencer stated that he knew
nothing at all of the plans of the men
in charge of the state troops but that
his command could be moved into
service in very short time.
Captain Collins, United States
Army officer detailed to instruct the
| Ora0nn Coocf Artillary rzrnc ,,,bo &c,
now at Eugene, declared yesterday
that if the American fleet attempts
to seize Tampico or Vera Cruz, the
Oregon undoubtedly will be sent to
| Mexico. He expects call at any
moment and says that his companies
can be modified in Clackamas in
forty hours.
| ''It is inevitable that the artillery
companies in Oregon will go if any
J move is made in Mexico. believe
that If any attempt is made to occupy
any Mexican port, the United States
troops will be attacked, and that ac-
tive operations will be opened. 1t is
my belief that it is a deliberate plan
on the part of Huerta to save his
face in the approach of the consti
tutionalists.
THE Oregon Coast Artillery Corps
can be ready to start within forty
hours"
A troop train bearing Company F
of the Second Battalion, U. S. En-
gineers, passed through Ashland yes
terday morning en- route from Van
couver barracks to Gilroy, California,
where they will take part in the en-
campment of California state troops.
In their train were three gondolas
loaded with wagons, three carloads
of horses and mules, three coaches
loaded with men and officers and a
baggage car. There were three of
ficers and 10S men on the train.
They belong to the battalion now
scattered along the Mexican border.
In case of hostilities these men
would be used for guarding railroads
and for rebuilding bridges and roads.
Their'train carried full field equip
ment. although they are merely on
their way to Gilroy to make some
maps"