Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-05-24
DRAFT AGE MEN
REGISTER June )
President Signs Draft Bill, and
Denies Roosevelt's Plea
To Draft Entire
Guard.

Washington. d. c.. May 21-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. The
presidents signature set in motion i'm
mediately machinery designed to pro-
duce within a years time a national
army of more thar 1000, 900 trained and
equipped men. backed by adequate re-
serves of men n supplies and by an
additional 500. 900 soldiers under train
ing.
The proclamation by the president
calls approximately 10, 900, 900 men from
~ to 80 years of & to register for mil
itary service and setting the date for
registration.
Indications are that registration will
begin o June 5. to be completed
within five days. The first 500, 900 men
will be called to the colors about Sep
TENDER /.
All existing regiments of the national
guard will be called into service by
August 5, and officials estimate that
with from a month to six weeks inten-
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
VI llllo AilS GaC al SSL ~ - ~
increments on July Is. July Is and
August 8. AS a general order is issued
by the president drafting specific regi-
ments. the force will cease to be militia
and become part Of the armies Of the
United States.
Colonel Roosevelt will not be per-
mitted to raise his expedition
to carry the American flag against the
Germans in France.
On signing the war army bill Prest-
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 the pres
ent stage of the war of the authorize
ton to raise a volunteer division.
There was talk in army circles OF the
possibility that a way will be found
to use the former presidents services
in another way, but OFFICIAL
on the subject was lacking.
Can't Use Roosevelt.
TIL presidents statement follows:
II 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 out Of h chief and most imme-
diately important purpos contemplated
by this legislation, h prompt creation
and early use of an extensive army,
would contribute practically nothing to
the effective strength of the armies
now engaged against Germany.
II 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-
rruitinc tho forces now at thn western
ron
He'd Like to Do II.
ut would be very agreeable to me to
pay Mr.. Roosevelt this compliment n
the allies the compliment Of sending to
their aid n Of our most distinguished
public men, an ex-president who has
rendered many conspicuous public
services and proved his gallantry in
many striking ways. Politically. too, it
would no doubt have a very fine effect
and make Il profound impression. But
this is not the time or the occasion for
compliment o. 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 n precision.
/ shall act with regard to 1t at every
step and in every particular under ex-
pert and professional advice from both
sides of the water.
'l1laI auNlce is tIaL tIS men most
needed are mel Of the ages contem-
plated in the draft provision of the pres
ent bill, not men of the age and sort
contemplated in the section which auth
orizes the formation of volunteer units,
and that for the preliminary training of
men who are to be drafted we shall
need all of our experienced officers. Mr..
Roosevelt told me. when had the
pleasure of seeing him a few weeks ago,
that he would wish to have associated
with him some of the most effective Of
ficers of the regular army. He named
many of those whom he would desire
to ave designated for the service, and
they were men who cannot possibly be
spared from the too small force Of Of
fcers at our command for the much
more pressing and necessary duty Of
training regular troops to be put into
the field in France and Belgium as fast
as they can be got ready.
Troops to Be Regular.
"The first troops sent to France will
be taken from the present forces of the
regular army n will be under the
command of trained soldiers only.
The responsibiiit- for the successful
conduct of u own part in this great
war rests upon me. ] could not escape
it if / would. I I'M too much Interested
in the cause we are fighting for to be
interested in anything but success.
The issues 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 h 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.
i should be deeply to blame should
l 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-