The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-21
Advises His Volunteers to De-
vote Energies to Countrys
Cause
VIGOROUS REPLY MADE
TO PRESIDENTS NOTE
Declares That He Never Ask
ed to Be Placed In Com
mand of the Divisions to Go
to France

/. Ssw York. May 7o.--Ccionst Tneo-
Core Roosevelt. in a long statement
issued tonight. called upon tho men
VINO mad volunteered for hts proposed
division to disbAnd Immediately. He
advised them to get to the front in
ths best way they could. II they wore
unable 20 secure places in service
abroad. he suggested that they de-
vote their energies to aiding tho coun-
try ~ homA.
A vigorous reply was made to the
snote President Wilson .sSued on Fri
day denying tho Roosevelt request for
service abroad. II is understood to-
night that the colonel Will decide not
to accept tho position At tho head OF
the national guard OF New York Of
fersd to him by Governor Whitman
Colonel Roosevelt's statement fob
lows;
ITO thu mon who have volunteered
for immediate service on the firing
line IN tho divisions which con-
gress authorized:
The president has announced that
! he will decline TO permit these divts-
ions 20 be organized or to permit me
10 have @ command In connection with
such force. After consultation yes
terday personally Or by wire. with
rome OF the men who had volunteered
TO raise units-regimsnts and hattal-
iona--for the division. including John
c. GrcomA. OF Pennsyivania. Seth Bull
leek, ~ South Dakota; John C. Green :
way. of Arizona; John HI. Parker. OF
louisiana: Robert Carey, ex-governor
OF Wyoming: J. r. ponnelly. of Ne
yaas: Sloane Simpson. OF Texas: ID.
G. Collier and r. II. Burnhan. OF Cali
.fornia; I. T. Reeves and II. Nelson
Jackson. Of Vermont; Henry L. slim
son former secretary of war: William
L. SchieHalin Hamilton Fish and VIII
liam II Donovan. OF New iorK; r.
III Claiming David II. Goodrich. VIII
liam f Dame, and various others
who were accessible. Il was decided
unanimously that IN view OF the de-
cis,cn OF the president, tha only course
open to us il forthwith 70 eisband and
ia abandon ali further effort In con-
nection with the division.
t~> VIII Obey pecasfop.
''As good American citizens we 10y
elix obey the decision OF the COM
ranaer-ir- chief of the American army
and navy
row consider themselves ubsoived
from all further connection with this
movement The funds that have been
7 promised will be treated as Withdrawn
ard spplied to other purposes
therefore direct that this statement
bs sent TO the leaders IN various states
who have been raising troops and that
II be published. Our sole aim Ia to
halo in every way In the successful
prosecution OF the war and we most
heartily feel that no individuals per
rrr-ti interest should for one moment
be considered save as Il can serve the
general public interest.
I'VE rejoice that division COM
raxsd Of our fine regular soldiers and
marines under so gallant and efficient
leader as General Pershing Is 10 be
sent abroad We have right to a
certain satisfaction in connection
Herewith The Brooklyn Eagle last
eyentng stated authoritatively that the
landing of this expedition was n COM
Drornise between the original plans or
+ha general staff which favored no
earlv expedition and the request OF
Colonel Roosevelt for authority for an
Immediate expedition. The Roosevelt
Crttation. backed by the expressed de-
sire of such distinguished leaders as
General Joffre and General Petain.
,,,onestionably had its effect IN bring
~ about the Pershing expedition,
The com promise is that France gets
AMERICAN soldiers in the trenches, but
roosevelt will not lead or accompany
them. 1t is believed IN Washington
MAT anv criticism for turning down
RO0geNeIt WALL 10 Aahy ~
the fact that American soiuie1s arc
going over
"If this gives the explanation of the
natter I gladly say that we are all
unselfshly pleased to have served this
use. although naturally we regret not
- have been allowed ourselves to rem
tSer active service. 1t is due to the
wen who have come forward IN this
manner during the three and one-half
r,onths since February 2, when be-
r.n the work of raising one or more
Il ss;yisions. that the following facts
should be known:
would Have Started Today.
IF Yesterday my offer TO raise four
a,,isions Immediately 70 the front had
~ frst division would tomorrow be-
80 IN assemble at whatever points
t,n war department indicated and
they would have assembled in nun
torea and withoat an hours delay and
- RI nidly as the war department di-
racted them to go and as soon as IT
nrovided them with tents. blankets
Pa camping places: and we were pre-
nared BY the use of private funds
ppart1y to make good any immediate
ianls Of any such supplies as regards
n,anx, of the units. Fifteen days af-
.arwards the second division would
haye been mobilized in similar fashion
| and then at intervals OF tnirty days
tha other divisions, in accordance with
nsha+ had found to be the wish Of
ar allies, would have been ready to
al, for France for intensive training
Sark of the theater Of war II the war
Ienartment were able to furnish sup
rIies. and we would have asked per-
ynission 20 use the rifles ard ammuni-
4ioni now in ase IN the French and
rrit,sh armies. All four div.sions
-c,,Id have sailed ard two would have
CONTINUED on Second Paxe.)