Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-19
ROOSEVELT BARRED.
FROM RAISING ARMY
President Decides Against His
Proposed Volunteer Expedi-
ton to France.
FRIENDS EXPRESS REGRET

FRIENDS EXPRESS REGRET
Col. Roosevelt will not be permitted
to raise his volunteer expedition to
carry the American flag against the
Germans in France.
On signing the war army bill last
night, President Wilson issued a state
, ment saying that acting under expert
advice from both sides of the water, he
would be unable to avail himself at the
present stage Of the war of the author
ization to organize volunteer divisions
There was talk in army circles last
night of the possibility that a way
would be found to use the former Pres
idents services In another way, but Of
fetal comment on tho subject was Lack
ing.
Senator johnson every Sorry"
Col Roosevelts friends in Congress-
who fought hard for tho provision In
the army bill which made it possible
for him to lead a division to France If
the President had authorized it,express-
ed deep regret today that President
Wilson had decided not to avail him
self of the coloners offer.
Senator Johnson of California, the
Coloners running mate in the cele-
brated progressive presidential cam
paign, only said:
Il am very sorry; very sorry"
Calls It "Regrettable Mistake"
Senator Harding, who wrote the
amendment to the army bill authorizing
sending the colonePs division. issued a
formal statement, saying he thought it
"a regrettable mistake" to refuse the
offer.
.The intent was not political" said
Senator Harding; there was no pur-
pose to glorify Col. Roosevelt. Frank
ly. we were trying to popularize the
war. to do something to awaken the
American spirit and mollify the hostil-
ity to the conscription plan.
"But we are enlisted for the war, and
a good soldier salutes the commander
in chief"
Senator Harding predicted the Colonel
would see service at the front as
major general in the New York Ma
tional Guard Such a commission has
been offered by Gov. Whitman.
The Presidents Statement.
The Presidents statement rejecting
Col. Roosevelt's offer follows:
"I shall not avail myself. at any rate
at the present stage of the war. of the
authorization conferred by the act to
organize volunteer divisions. To do so
would seriously interfere with the car
rying cut of the chief and most tmma-
dtately important purpose contemplated
by this legislation, the prompt creation
and early use of an affective army. and
would contribute practically nothing to
the effective strength of the armies now
engaged against Germany.
Il understand that the section Of this
act which authorizes the creation of
volunteer divisions in addition to the
draft was added with view to provid-
ing an independent command for Mr..
Roosevelt and giving the military au-
thority an opportunity to use his hne
v1gor and enthusiasm in recruiting the
forces now at the western front.
tIt 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 many conspicuous public serv-
ices and proved his gallantry in many
striking ways. Politically, too. 1t
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
success of the war. The business now in
hand Is undramatic. practical and of
scientific definiteness and precision.
shall act with regard to 1t at every step
and in every particular under expert
and professional advice from both sides
of the water.
Experienced Officers Needed.
THAT advice is that the men most
needed are men of the ages contem-
plated in the draft provision of the
present bill, not men of the age and
sort contemplated in the section which
authorizes the formation of volunteer
units, and that for the preliminary
training Of the men who are to be
drafted we shall need all of our ex-
perienced officers. Mr.. Roosevelt told
me when had the pleasure of seeing
him q few weeks ago that he would
wish to have associated with him
some of the most effective officers of
the regular army. He named many of
those whom he would desire to have
designated for the service, and they
were men who cannot possibly be spared
from the too small force of officers at
our command for the much more press
ing and necessary duty of training reg
ular troops to be put in the field in
France and Belgium as fast as they
can be got ready
1.-THE first troops sent to France will be
taken from the present forces of the
regular army and will be under the conf
nland Of trained soldiers only.
Feels the Responsibility.
"The responsibility for the successful
conduct of our own part in this great
war rests upon me. could not escape it
if would. ] am too much interested in
the cause we are fighting for to be in
terested in anything but success. The
issues involved are too immense for me
to take into consideration anything what
ever except the best, most effective. most
immediate means of military action.
What these means are l 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 matter is
matter of business. l shall center my at
tention upon those means and let every
thing else wait
81 should be deeply to blame should
do otherwise, whatever the argument of
policy for personal qualification or ad-
vantage"
SAYS HIS TROOPS WOULD
| HAVE BEEN IN READINESS
Col. Roosevelt Comments on Action
of President-0ffer Made Three
and One-Half Months Ago.