The Detroit times., 1917-05-21
COLONEL
REPLIES To
PRESIDENT
Denies VOlun t e e r
Move Was Political
In Aspect
DISBANDS HIS
FOUR DIVISIONS
Protests Reasons Will
son Gave For Re-
iecting Services

OYSTER BAY. N. Y, May 81
In statement issued last night dis
banding his volunteer army. Col
Roosevelt. while declaring that LAS
good American citizens we Loyalty
obey the orders OF the commander
in-chief OF the army and navy" new
ertheless took vigorous exception 10
the reasons advanced by the presi-
dent in rejecting his offer of vol.
unteer force.
The colonel advised all his men
10 seek service with the established
branches OF the military and naval
forces and. failing in that. 10 enter
the civil service OF the nation.
Referring TO the announcement
that force OF regular soldiers will
be sent abroad az once. the colonel,
on behalf OF himself and mis- asso-
ciates. said:
we rejoice that a division com
posed OF our fine regular soldiers
and marines under so gallant and
efficient a leader as Gen. Pershing
is TO be sent abroad We have "A
right TO a certain satisfaction in
connection herewith
The colonel further declared that
the men behind the volunteer move
ment were responsible for the crea-
ton of a body of public lopinion
which had forced the adlninistra-
tion 10 provide for immediate repre-
sentation OF America on the firing
line.
- Replying 20 President Wilson's
statement declining his services. the
colonel said in part
wish respectfully 10 point out
certain errors IN which tho president
ha been led Nv his announcement.
he states that the purpose was 20
give me an Independent command. -
In my last letter 20 the secretary OF
wSr I cNpli0irly stated that II was
given permission 10 raise an army
corps ~ two divisions 10 be put un-
der the command OF some general
or HUM. desired for myself only
the position OF Junior among the
eight brigade commanders
would not have" been "independ-
emit" ] would have been In precise
~ the same position as the other
brigade commanders. except that ]
would have ranked after and been
subordinate 10 the rest OF them.
The president allude. 70 our pro-
posed action a g one that would have
an effect politically" but as not con-
Irritating 20 the success ~ the war
and as renregenting policy - per-
sonal qualification on advantage
wish respectfully bur cmp.ait-
cally 60 deny that any political cun-
sheraton whatever or any desire
perSunat qualification ur adNUpta.
entered into our celculat.ons.
uudividcd purpose Was o. c"niI' lni
effectively tc tho success Of ~ 1850
know nothing ~ the politics o..
tho immense majority ~ the rlff
who came forward and those whose
polttirs ! lo ltno~ numbered q many
Democrats "a EtpuPl cans Ms
pose WAS 90 crarie tn gov Nor
10 use ms an invaluable m'ltnrt
set the men who would not % rfn'' -
cd under tho s"lcctitc dr. UN.
were ~ fer immediate g'ri .c" pr
tho great majority 10 whom Woui A.
not otherWffn hnvo boon q --d 40 1'
The president saws ~ effect thnt
10 corplt With our onor would ne
nj schicyous from p military stand
potnt and ne adds that the regular
ciated with me are some 81 the most
effective officers Of the regular
army" who "can@ot posSblN he
spared" from the duty OF training
troops.
ono ~ the chief qualities FOR MILL
tary command 10 20 choose from one 8
associates and subordinate the most
effective officers. and this qualiaca-
ton the president thus states that ]
possess Az for my Withdrawing
them from the much more pressing
and necessary duty OF training" the
troops ! wish TO point out that !
had asked for about so regular Off
GERS from lieutenant colonels 20 sec
ond lieutenants for the first division
This would be only about tenth
OF the number who will go with Cen
erai rershines division, which the
president announces ~ 10 be com
posed exclusively Of regulars. There
fore tho present plan Will take IRON
the most pressing and necesssrA
duty" about 10 times as many regu-
lar officers az would have been taken
under our proposal.
~ has been stated that reEula-
army officers are opposed 20 our
As q matter 81 fact. the "most e.
fective" lighting officers have been
eager 20 be connected with or have
under them the troops we proposed
70 raise. The president condemns
So IN fh~ ~roupN