New-York tribune., 1916-07-23
Commander of 69th Still
Hopes He'll Again Head
Irish Regiment.
HURRIES TO ARMORY,
THEN PHONES HOME
VIII Report to General Wood
Monday-Men Had Comfort
able Trip to Texas.

Colonel Louis d. Conley, command
ing officer Of tho 69th Regiment, re-
turned TO New York last evening from
the concentration camp at Pharr, Tex,
still cherishing the hope that ho might
again head his troops, in spite Of the
fact that the Secretary Of War has up
held General Wood in the order to
muster him out Of service because of
physical disability.
81 understand that l still have the
right TO appeal my case personally"
Colonel Conley said at the 69th Regi-
mont Armory soon after his arrival.
"As yet have done nothing myself,
and all that has been done in Wash
ington in regard to the order was the
work of my friends, who acted with
out any solicitation on my part. The
regiment left Immediately following
the physical examination by Major
Wadhams, and have had no time even
to think of an appeal"
Asked If he would still continue to
be associated with the regiment IL his
appeal failed, Colonel Conley said: i
don't want to have anything to do with
it In that case. If | cannot be Fed
eral soldier, and go with the regiment,
| don't want to be soldier of the
state"
Reports TO Wood Monday.
In accordance with the order issued
by the hesSqusrters Of the Eastern
Department, Colonel Conley will re-
port his arrival to General Wood on
his return from Plattsburgh Monday
at which time the date for his muster
ing out will be decided. In the mean
time, the personal appeal, TO which ne
has a right, will be made.
Colonel Conley denied the run1or
current recently, that the seth had
received four hours advance notice OF
the Presidents mobilization order, and
in consequence, had been ready to
depart before any Of the other New
York regiments.
"Such q rumor Is silly" he said.
"The boys In the 69th are enthusiastic,
and when the mobilization order was
issued they worked without stopping
until everything was ready for de-
parture. We equipped about 400 men
in the short time before we went to
Whitman. The 6sth is fine lot OF
men, and l hate to think that there
is chance Of my having to give
them up"
Colonel Conley also declared that he
believed the rumor that the transfer
Of Colonel Edwin Glenn, General
Woods chief of staff, came as a sequel
TO the order concerning his own re
noval from service was without founda'
ton.
No Politics In Move, He Says.
Colonel Glenn's transfer followed
the removal of FIVE regular army colo
nels then at the border, and was 8
move to strengthen the line and wa:
quite free of politics" he said.
Captain John w. Zines, Captain W
Clayton Woods, Lieutenant Thomas A
Hickey, Lieutenant Charley Mccarthy
Mrs. Conley and his brother. John Con
ley, met the colonel at the Pennsylvania
Station. His train, due at 2 o'clock
did not arrive until 7, being delayed By
the floods throughout the South. Ht
had been travelling almost without
stopping for eleven days, for he hac
spent but one day at the border, in
specting the detrainment of his regi
ment and visiting General Organ a
McAllen.
From the station Colonel Conley wen
to the armory, where he found enough
unanswered mail to keep him busy foI
week. His first act was to call uI
his house and ask TO speak to his chill
dren, whom he has scarcely seen since
the 69th moved to Camp Whitman
For each one, he had the promise Of
present purchased during his one busy
day at the border.
Colonel Conley said that condition:
in the camps he visited were Dettel
than he expected, from the reports thai
| had come from Texas.
"The nights are cool-cooler than oCl
New York nights, think, and the hes'
in the day is dry" he said. Every
afternoon, about 4 or o'clock, splen'
did breeze begins to blow. The great
est annoyance is the dust, which blows
about in small sandstorms."
The 69th had q comfortable trip, with
plenty Of food and excellent kitchen
arrangements with which to prepare it
Two box cars had been fitted with
ranges, one for the officers mess and
one for the mems, and every man in
the regiment had hot food three times
o day.
Although suppose that the regi.
ments which went first had harder
time than the 69th, | think the report:
In regard to food conditions must have
been much exaggerated" the colonel