The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-06-05
ROOSEVELT TOOK
QUIETLY.
Declined To Make a Statement
When Informed Wilson Could
Not Use Him

OYSTER BAY, May 1s-Colonel
Roosevelt was told tonight of rresi-
dent Wilson = decision not to allow the
ex' President to take division Of vol.
unteers to France. He showed acute
interest, but refused to make any com.
ment for publication until he had time
to study the full text Of the Presi'
dents statement
| The decision Of the, President came
with sharply defined force, for this az.
ternoon, after receiving information
that the measure was before the Presi-
dent for final notion, the Colonel sent
telegram offering TO raise division
at once, OF IL it seemed desirable to
him, two divisions. .r
No, no, not tonight" he replied
\ to requests 10 make a statement as to
what his plans for the future would be
with regard TO going to France He
would not say whether he would CON
template any plan for offering his SER
vices In other capacities He had
been offered major generalship in the
New York National Guard by Governor
Whitman. -
Agrees with Petain
Earlier in the day Colonel Roosevelt
expressed hearty approval of the sug-
gestion Of General Petain that France
should have American volunteers at
once TO be trained in France by
French officers. t. g.. "l.I&,
"I, Of course, emphatieally agree
with General Petain that American
volunteers should be sent abroad at
once, and IL l am allowed to take
them over should welcome the
chance to have them given intensive
training by the use of French officers
in whatever ways would most quickly
and efficiently produce results"
Where, of course, remains open TO the
Colonel the chance of service, the
chance to "play part in the game, "
through the acceptance of the commits
sion Governor Whitman has offered
him, which in due course would bring
him, face 10 face with Federal service.
At that, he would have to be accept
able to the general staff before he
could 90 to France to light.
Not Anxious For Rank - ...
Friends of the Colonel say he is not
anxious for rank, but merely wants to
have part in whipping Germany for
the Stars and Stripes. Incidentally,
however, the Colonel is fifty-eight, and
il would have to be comparatively
high rank he would hold to come un-
der the age limit. In reply TO the
point made that IL ne accepted the
major generalship' Governor Whitman
offered him, friends of the Colonel
cite the fact that the Governor has the
power at all times to Oil the gaps in
the militia made by mastering into.
federal service by drafts upon the citi-
zenry of the state, having thus the
power to keep the force always well
above 10000. v& n NJ
Right up to tonight the Colonel con.
tinued to receive offers from we'll
known men to raise forces for his pro-
posed division. He said today that
Adjutant General Barber, of New Jer-
sey, offered to raise for the proposed
Roosevelt division a full regiment in
New Jersey. General Barber is an ex,
army officer and served in the Philip
pines with one Of the volunteer regi.
ments Colonel Roosevelt holds up as a
model o.. ~, s#.H
Soon Be In Shape -, g,lse3 s-r. . ga,s
The Colonel said General Barber in.
formed him, as General Witherspoon
| did, that after one month in the field
these volunteer forces became as good
as regulars. '.s'@ 'n.,.
The Colonel has received In the last
two days offers from members of con.
gress several northwestern States, to
raise regiments for him. Offers of two
regiments have also come from Ten
nessee. @a'. sa. 3.
Colonel Roosevelt was asked to. reply
to statements published this week that
his war army was only an army of
paper,
al say" he replied, "that can
raise four divisions, two of them at
| once r,...
Act On Big Scale, He Says .
The Colonel today held the highest
hopes of being allowed to take his di
vision to France. He regards the state.
ment of Secretary Baker that the SCI.
lective army would not be raised be-
fore September and the semioficial
reports that a big American army
would not be in the field for year
as supporting his contention that a
raised ft once. The factor, mentioned
by Secretary Baker, of lack Of sup
plies, the Colonel regards as mere
detail that could and should have been
expeditiOusly dealt with.