New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-21
Roosevelt Disbands Army
OF 285,OOO Volunteers
In Letter of Dismissal Colonel Denies Desire for Personal
Qualification and Says He Would Have Had -Four Divisions
in France by the Time the President Starts Drafting Men

and if not, then to serve his country
in civil life as he best can.
Obey, as Good Americans
"As good American citizens, we 10y
ally obey the decision of the Com
mander in Chief of the American army
and navy.
"The men who have volunteered will
now consider themselves absolved from
all further connection with the move
ment. The funds that have been prom
ised will be treated as withdrawn and
applied to other purposes. ! therefore
direct that this statement be sent to
the leaders in the various states who
have been raising troops and that it be
published.
"Our sole aim is to help in every way
in the successful prosecution OF the
war. and we most heartily feel that no
individuals personal interest should
for one moment be considered, save as
it serves the general public interest.
"We rejoice that division COM
, posed of our fine regular soldiers and
marines, under so gallant and efficient
leader as General Pershing is to be
sent abroad. We have right to GER
tain satisfaction in connection there
with. Tine Brooklyn Eagle last even
ing stated zuthoritatively that the
, sending Of this expedition was a COM
the General Staff, which favored no
early expedition. and the request of
Colonel Roosevelt for authority for an
immediate expedition
Pleased at Having Served
"If this correctly gives the explana-
tion Of the matter gladly say that we
are all unselhshly pleased TO have
served this use, although naturally we
regret not TO have been allowed our
selves TO render active service"
at is due to the men who have come
forward in this matter during the three
and one-half months since February 2,
when | began the work of raising one
or more divisions that the full facts
should he known.
"If yesterday my offer Immediately
to raise four divisions for immediate
use at the front had been accepted. the
various units of the first division would
tomorrow have begun to assemble at
whatever points the War Department
had designated and would assemble in
full force and without an hours delay
as rapidly as the War Department di.
rected them where to 60 and as soon
as it provided them camping places,
tents. blankets, etc. and We were pre-
pared to use private funds to partly
make good any immediate lack in such
supplies as regards many Of the units.
Four Divisions in Is Days
Fifteen days afterward the second
division would have been modified in
similar form. and then at thirty-day
intervals the two other divisions.
"In accordance with what had found
to be the wish Of the military authori-
ties among our allies. the divisions
would have been ready to sail for
France for intensive training behind
the theatre Of war at intervals of thirty
DAYS il the War Department was able
10 furnish the supplies, and We would
have asked permission TO use the rifles
and ammunition in use in the French
or British armies. All four divisions
would have sailed, and two would have
been on the firing line by September /,
the time at which the Secretary Of War
has announced that the assembling OF
the selective draft army is to begin. :
about one-half Of our men. at least