The times., 1898-04-18
ON GEN. LEES STAFF.
Theodore Roosevelt May Resign t
Become n Soldier.

Theodore Roosevelt May Resign to
Become IA Soldier.
President Mckinley has determined. it
is said, to make Fitzhugh Lee brigadier
general of volunteers. but this, which has
been anticipated, is not so remarkable as
the fact, disclosed yesterday. that Assist
ant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt pro-
poses to resign to take place on Gen.
Lees staff
/ It has been understood that when Gen.
4 Lee ceased to be Consul General he
would become brigadier general after
Congress, by its intervention resolution,
had empowered the President to call for
volunteers. But it is not known in
| Washington. outside of the Cabinet circle,
! that Assistant Secretary Roosevelt pur-
| poses to give up his office and go into the
! field yet it has gone so far that Gen. Lee
has accepted his services.
/ President Mckinley and Secretary Long
! hope that Mr.. Roosevelt will reconsider
: his determination. and remain where he
/ is they believe he would be of great
service in assisting Secretary Long in
directing the operations of the Navy De-
partment.
The President and Secretary Long have
! all but commanded Mr.. Roosevelt to re-
main where he is, although they have
confined their persuasion TO argument;
but nothing they have said has affected
1 his purpose. He has listened courteously
| but without the slightest indication that
he would yield.
1t has been known for some time, in
fact, since the day after the Maine was
! blown up in Havana harbor, that Secre-
| tary Roosevelt has been the aggressive
man in the Navy Department. He has
been for action all the time. and has
pleaded. on several occasions, with Sec
retary Long that steps be taken to coun-
teract the moves of the Spanish navy.
! Especially this was the case when the
torpedo fiotilla sailed from Spain, and
later from the Canary Islands. Mr..
Roosevelt was very anxious that fleet
be sent to head off the fiotilla. He was
also in favor of keeping the ViZcaya and
Oquendo bottled up in Havana harbor.
where they could be taken by the Key
West feet whep the time came and
where they could do no damage.
At one time. month ago, Secretary
Long was very much over-worked and
wished to take a few days rest from
his labors He decided to do so on the
! personal request of President Mckinley,
and it was agreed that he should leave
the Navy Department on the Friday
after the Cabinet meeting. and not
return until the following Tuesday.
This was given out publicly. The
next morning much to everybody s
surprise. the Secretary returned, No
statement was made as to his change
! of plans. except that he feel
ing much better. The fact was that
Mr. Roosevelt being in his absence Act
ing Secretary of the Navy, with full
powers had inaugurated several vigor-
: Gus war steps. This so frightened the
Secretary of the Navy. who. as mem
Der of the Peace Society and an ardent
/ admirer of President Mc<inley's peace
policy. as everybody knows, that he de-
cided not 10 be i'll at such an inoppor-
. tune tine
, Secretary Roosevelt has been the cause
of much that has occurred in the Navy
Department and has been of great SER
/. vice in getting the navy into shape fol
war At the same time, he feels that, in
t his present position. he is very much
[ handicapped. He is eminently man OF
! acton.