New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-01
Ex-Army and Navy Men
Asked to Enrol in
American Legion.
ROOSEVELT AND SONS
READY TO FIGHT
Colonel Promises to Take
Charge of Cavalry Division
on Battle Line.

OF HISi reserves, known a inc amer
lean Legion and composed OF former
army, navy and marine corps men.
Major General Leonard Wood has
given the plan his unofficial indorse-
ment and permitted the organization
TO open headquarters on Governors
Island. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt
has accepted tho Craftsmanship Of the
executive committee, which will be
composed Of five former Secretaries, o..
the War and Navy departments. Not only
that. but he and his four sons will
join the legion. Three cx-Cabinet mem
bers have accepted appointments.
Official announcement Of the Ameri-
can Lcgion's formation was made last
night by Captain Gordon Johnston, aid
to Major General Wood. Captain
Johnston is the spokesman for group
Of army and navy men, who. in an un-
official capacity. are acting with CIVIL
ians IN promoting the movement.
To Establish Reserve.
II is planned to establish within
year a first reserve Of between 25O,OOO
and 300. 900 men. ready for instant
mobilization in time Of emergency.
"I and my four sons will gladly be
come members" writes Colonel Roose-
volt TO tho organizers. 81 earnestly
hope and pray that there viii be no
war. but the Surest way TO avert war ~
to be prepared for it, and the only way
to avert disaster and disgrace IN war
is by PREPARATION both military and
naval, i'm advance
"In tho event Of war ! should ask
permission Of Congress 20 raise a divi-
siou OF cavalry that Is, nine regi-
ments such as the regiment ] COM
mandcd in cuba and un1uestonaoiy
/ the ranks of these regiments would
largely he filled from the mon OF the
legion and would in their entirety be
filled BY mon such as those IN the
/ legion. for i'm the event Of war there
will be 10 time TO train the men HrSO
-~Ilod upou ia such duties as shooting.
riding and taking care OF themselves
IN the opoH.
"Wc should as a nation have begun
to prepare ourselves the minute THIS
war broke out. seven months ago. IL iS
absolutely impossible, to be sure. when
there Is such a great war, that we shall
not be drawn into it against our Will
Tn people Of this country are only
beginning 10 rcalize the extent OF our
military and naval unpreparedness.'
Prepare for War, Says I. r.
Al the ond Of the letter Colonel
Poo.evalt saws: "It Is idle for us TO
trust to arbitration and neutrality
treaties unbacked by force. Let us act
Justly toward others and let US also o.
prepared with stout heart ana strong
hand TO defend our rights against IN
Justice from others
In addition to men trained Tor IN
..tant service the American Legion
seeks 10 enroll patriotic citizens. es-
ucciallv those who have been unable 20
serve in the army. navy or mIlitla' oul
whose special qualifications make thein
immediately valuable. Iechnlc%I eHgl
reers and motor boat, airShlp, balloon,
automobile and motorcycle owners;
generators and mechanics are mentioned
on the application blank in list or
.ixty-ono trades necessary to the car
rying on Of war Railroad employees
are asked TO state the exact nature OF
their service.
The legion will make no effort to
enroll citizens who are not engaged IN
the specified occupations and VINO nav"
had no prey ious training.
Every member whose application IS
accented promises TO report 10 the SOC
lctary by letter or postcard. on me
first days of January. April, July and
October, giving his serial number IN
the legion and his permanent address.
He must notify the secretary promptly
q any change Of address between
those dates. and in time of war he
must obey implicitly the instructions
Of the legion's executive committee.
Annual dues Of % cents is the only
financial obligation.
Button Badge Planned
Right over his name on the appli-
cation blank is this pledge:
81 promise. il accepted, to wear the
red white and blue button Of the
American Legion. 20 hold It in respect
and to do my best TO bring INTO the ie-
gion every man who can be OF service
10 IL and to our country
CAPTAIN Johnston, Commander X. X.
Crank. Of the local recruiting branch
Of the United States Navy, and a mem
Der of the marine corps yet TO be Sc
lected will act as an advisory board
until the organization is well estab-
Iished. They have applied, on behalf of
the organizers, 10 the Legislature at
Albany for a charter.
Before incorporation can be arranged
the legion will have 300 members. ana
there are 800 applications m the Gov
ernor's Island Office.
"It is safe TO predict that We will
have 250.000 men enrClle within a
year" said Captain Johnston last night,
supplementing formal statement
,,i,.er IN the press I'VE discharge
from our army Of $4,000 One-thlrd OF
that number every year. The navy an
marine corps discharges lo,OOo more.
In ten years between 3OO,OOO and 4OO,-
600 trained men have drlfted back INTO
our population, scattered Throughout
the states The American Legion gives
us our first opportunity 10 take an ~
ventory Of these assets Tor natlonaI
defence. Under our plan telegram
will reach each reserve IN the event OF
mobilization
Alternating criticism from anti
uiIitarists. the official statement says:
ave do not believe i'm militarlsm. But
we do believe in being able 10 defend
ourselves If we are attacked. There IS
a vast difference. We plan for only the
Immediate and crying need. The move
meut We advocate involves no increase
in the standing army. navy or milltia,
no national expenditures, nothing but
the intelligent use OF already existing
material already on hand
Members of the militia are not IN
cluded in the Legion. Captain Johnston
said. because they 90 20 the front WITH
the first line of troops In time or war.