Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-21


fore, direct that this statement be sent to
: the leaders in various states who have
been raising troops"
Only Course to Disband.
Col. Roosevelt said that after confer
ences personally or by wire with some
of~the men who had volunteered to raise
units, regiments and battaiions, il had
been decided unanimously that the only
course open was to disband in view OF
the decision of President Wilson not to
permit the organization of the divisions
authorized by Congress.
Our sole aim, the statement con-
tinued. lis to help in every way in the
successfud prosecution of the war, and
we most heartily feel that no indi-
! viduals personal interest should for
ore moment be considered save as it
serves the general public interest.
we rejoice that a division composed
Of our fine regular soldiers and ma
nes, under so gallant and efficient a
Sader as Gen. Pershing. is to be sent
EaToad. We have a right to a certain
6atisfaction in connection herewith.
The statement then quoted a news
paper report to the effect that the de-
cision to send Gen. Pershing was "a
compromise between the original plans
Of the general staff, which favored no
early expedition. and the request of
Col. Roosevelt for authority for an i'm
mediate expedition" drawing the con-
clusion that France thereby will get
-
tonce, although Col. Roosevelt will not
lead them.
"If this gives the explanation of the
matter" Col Roosevelt added, 4 gladly
say We are all unselfishly pleased to
have served this use. although we re-
greet not to have been allowed ourselves
to render executive service.
Ready Before Draft Army.
Col Roosevelt declared that had his
offer been accepted all four of his
proposed divisions would have sailed,
and two would have been on the firing
lirfe by September l, the time at which
the Secretary of War has announced that
the assembly of the selective draft
armySis to begin"
IT WISH" said Col Roosevelt. re
spectfully to point out certain errors
into which the President has been led
in his announcement. He states that
the purpose was to give me an indie
pendent command In my last letter to
the Secretary of War / explicitly stated
that il I were given permission TO raise
an army corps of two divisions to be
put under the command of some gen.
Kuhn. desired for myself only the .po-
sition of junior among the eight bril-
gaIle commanders. l would not have
been independent I would have been
in sprecisely the position of all the other
brigade commanders except that l
would have ranked after and been sub
ordinate to the rest of them.
Denies Personal Interests.
'sI,he President alludes to our pro-
posed action as one that would have an
effect politically but. not contributing
to sthe success of the war and so rep
resenting a policy of personal gratifi-
cation or advantage. / wish respect
fully. but emphatieally. to deny that
or. any desire for personal qualification
or advantage entered into our calcula-
tidns. Our undivided purpose was to
the war. i know nothing whatever OF
the politics of the immense majority OF
the men who came forward. and those
whose politics I do know include as
purpose was to enable the government
to. use as invaluable the men who
would- not be reached under the selec-
tive draft, who were mt for immediate
would not otherwise be used at all"
ssrhe President" continued Col
Roosevelt. says in effect that to com
My with our offer would be mischievous
from the military standpoint, and he
adds that the regular officers whom
have asked to have associated with me
are some of the most effective officers
Of the regular army -. who D., cannot mot pos,
training regular troops One Of the
chief qualifications for military com
mand is to choose for ones associates
and subordinates the most effective
dent has stated that l possess. AS fol
my withdrawing them from the 'mucf
more pressing and necessary duty o.
training the troops. | wish to point
out that i have asked for about fit,
regular officers. lieutenant colonies Il
second lieutenants. for the first divi
sion.
Only one-Tenth Of Regular Plan.
This would be only about one-tentl
the number who would go with Gen
Pershing's division. which. the Presi
dent announced. is to be composed ex
= clusively of regulars Therefore thu
and necessary duty about ten time!
sas many regular officers as would hav,
been taken under our proposal. 1t hal
been stated that the regular officer.
are opposed to the plan As matter
of fact. the most effective fightins
officers have been eager to be connect
ed with or to have under them tn,
troops we proposed to raise.
The President condemns our pro
posal on the ground that. .undramat III
action is needed-action that is prac
teal and of scientific definiteness an,
precision
There was nothing dramatic in on
proposal, save as all proposals indicat
ing eagerness or willingness to sac
rifice life for an idea are dramatic
ii IS true tnat our DIVISION would hay
contained the sons and grandsons O
men who in the civil war wore tn
blue or the gray; for instance, tn
sons or grandsons of Phil Sheridan
Fitzhugh Lee. Stonewall Jackson, jaime
A. Garfield. Simeon B. Buckner. Adm
r. Chaffee. Nathan Bedford Forces
But these men would have serve
whether with command or in tn
ranks. precisely like the rest of us
and all alike would have been Judge
ssolely by the efficiency, including IN
scientific dehniteness.' with which the
did their work and served the flag. q
their loyal devotion"