The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1917-05-24
DRAFT Ae| '|E| MEN
REGISTER IUNf ]
President Signs Draft Bill. and
Denies Roosevelt's Plea
TO Draft Entire
Guard.

Guard.
-
Washington, D. C.. May 1.-THE war
army bill as passed by congress and
finally reviewed by the war department
Went back to the White House and
was signed by President Wilson. Tho
presidents signature set In motion irn-
mediately machinery designed to pros
duce within a years time a national
army of more than 1000. 900 trained and
equipped men, backed by adequate re-:
serves of men and supplies and by an
additional 100000 soldiers under train
ing.
The proclamation by the president
calls approximately 10.000,000 men from
II to 30 years Of age to register for mill
itary service and setting h date fol
registration.
Indications are that registration wilt
begin about June 5. to be completed
within five days. The first 500, 600 men
will be called to the colors about Sep
TENDER 1.
All existing regiments Of the national
guard will be called into service BY
August S. and officials estimate thai
sive training these troops will be ready
to go forward for final preparation be-
hind the fighting lines in Europe.
Draft Entire Guard.
The national guardsmen will be
drafted into the federal service in three
increments on July Is. July rs and
August s. AS a general order is issued
ments, the force will cease to be militia
n become part Of the armies of the
United States.
Colonel Roosevelt will not be per-
mitted to raise his volunteer expedition
to carry the American flag against the
Germans in rance.
On signing h war army bill Presi-
dent Wilson issued a statement say,
ing that acting under expert advice
from both sides Of the water he would
be unable to avail himself at h pres
ent stage OF the war of the
ton to raise a volunteer division.
There was talk in army circles OF ths
possibility that a way will be found
to use the former presidents services
in another way, but OFFICIAL comment
on the subject was lacking.
Can't Use Roosevelt.
The presidents statement follows:
II shall not avail myself, at m rate
at h present stage OF the wal, OF the
authorization conferred by the act to
organize volunteer divisions. To do so
would seriously interfere with h car
rying out of the chief and most imme5
diately important purpose contemplated
by this legislation, the prompt creation
ana early use OIL an extensive Amy aA.u
would contribute practically nothing to
the effective strength of b armies
now engaged against Germany.
IT understand that the section Of this
act which authorizes the creation OF
volunteer divisions in addition to the
draft was added with a view to pro-
viding an independent command for
Mr.. Roosevelt and giving him the mill
tary authority and opportunity to use
his fine vigor and enthusiasm in re-
cruiting the forces now at the western
front.
He'd Like to Do Il.
1T would be very agreeable to me to
| pay Mr.. Roosevelt this compliment and
the allies the compliment of sending to
their aid one of our most distinguished
public men, an ex-president who has
rendered man conspicuous public
services and proved his ~gallantry in
many striking ways. Politically, too, it
would no doubt have a very fine effect
and make a profound impression. But
this is not the time or the occasion for
compliment or for any action not cal
/ culated to contribute to the immediate
| successes OF the war. The business in
hand now is undramatic. practical and
of scientific definiteness and precision.
I shall act with regard to It at every
step n in every particular under ex-
pert and professional advice from both
sides OF the water.
That advice is that the me- most
needed are men OF the ages contem-
plated in tho draft provision Of the pres
ent Bill. net men ef the age and sort
contemplated IN the section which auth
erizes the formation OF volunteer units.
n that fer the preliminary training Of
men who are to be drafted we shall
need all OF eur experienced officers. Mr..
Roosevelt feld me. when ha5 the
pleasure OF seeing him a few weeKs ago,
that he would wish to have associated
with him some of the most effeeti4e Of
ncers of no regular army. Hs named
many OF those whom he would desire
to have designated for the SERVES, and
they were men who cannot possibly be
spared from the too small force Df Of
ficers at our command for the much
more pressing and necessary duty OF
training regular troops to be put into
the field in rance n Belgium as fast
as they a be got ready.
Troops to Be Regular.
THE first troops sent to Frame will
be taken from b present forces of the
regular army and will be under the
command of trained soldiers only.
The Responsible for the successful
conduct Of our part in this great
it if / would. ] am - much interested
in the cause we are fighting for to be
Interested IN anything hut success.
Ths issue involved are too immense
for me to take into consideration any
thing whatever except the best, most
effective, most Immediate means of mil
itary action. What these mans ar I
know from the mouths OF men who have
seen war as it is now conducted: who
have no Illusions and to whom the
whole grim affair is a matter of bust
ness l shan center my attention upon
those means and let everything else
wait.
Il should be deeply to blame should
] do otherwise, whatever the argument
of policy for a personal qualification or
advantage"
ROOSEVELT SILENT.
Oyster Bay. N. Y. May 21-Col
Theodore Roosevelt declined last night
to comment on President Wilson'S re-