Middletown transcript., 1917-05-26

shane and train loi -
lion To this end our peopie ,hust
draw close in one compac. iron'
a ,na,nst common foe. But this can
no+ ho If each man pursues a private
nurnose All must pursue one pur-
pose. ~ ~ ,,t -
.,oods oocb man. not in the field that
will most Measure him, but In the en-
1oovor that will best serve the COM
mon good. .. -
"I+ 10 in no sense a conscription OF
the unwilling-it is rather seiec'ioll
from a nation which has volunteered
in mass.
"The day here named is the time
unon which all shall present them
selves for assignment to their tasks.
"It is essential that the day be ap-
preached in thoughtful apprehension
Of its significance and that we accord
TO II the honor and the meaning that
n deserves. Our industrial need pre-
scribes that it be not made a technl-
cal holiday, but the stern sacrlhce
that is before US urges that II De
carried in all our hearts as great
day of patriotic devotion and obllga-
lion when the duty shall lie upon ev-
cry man, whether he is himself to be
registered or not, to see to 1t that
the name of every male person OF the
designated ages is written on these
lists of honor.
"By the president:
ROBERT LANSING,
Secretary of State"
President Wilson directed that an
expeditionary force Of approximately
division of regular troops. under
command of Maj. Gen. John j. Perish
ing, proceed to France at as early
date as practicable. General Pershing
and staff will precede the troops.
A division contains approximately
2S,OOO men. 1t is understood that at
least 10000 will be infantry.
The war bill was carefully gone over
during the day by Brigadier General
Crowder, Judge advocate general and
provost marshal general.
1t was announced that all existing
regiments of the guard will be called
into service by August 5, and othclals
estimate that with from month to SIX
weeks intensive training these troops
will be ready to go forward for final
preparation behind the fighting lines IN
Europe for the fighting that is before
them.
After the army bill had been per-
fected in both houses of congress and
sent to President Wilson for sigma
ture the senate adopted an amendment
to the war budget bill to put cOnscrip-
ton out of force four months after the
end Of the war.
Presidents Statement.
The president issued the following
statement at the White House:
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.
ITO do so would seriously interfere
with the carrying out of the chief and
most Immediately important purpose
contemplated by this legislation:
"The prompt creation and early use
of an effective 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
providing an independent command for
Mr.. Roosevelt and giving the military
authorities an opportunity to use his
fine vigor and enthusiasm recruiting
the forces now at the western front.
''It would be very agreeable t0 me to
pay Mr.. Roosevelt this compliment and
the allies the compliment of sending
to their aid one of our most distin-
guished public men, an ex-president,
who has rendered many conspicuous
public services and proved his gallant
try in many striking ways.
POLITICALLY, too it would no doubt
have very fine effect and make a
profound impression. But this is not
the time or the occasion for compli-
ments or for any action not calculated
to contribute to the immediate success
of the war;
Seeks Advice From Both Sides.
''The business now in hand is un-
dramatic, practical and of scientific
defniteness and precision.
II shall act with regard to it at
every step and in every particular un-
der expert and profession advice,
from both sides of the water.
Says He Is Responsible.
"He named many of those Whom he
desired 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 pressing and necessary
duties of training regular troops to be
nut into the field in France and Bel
GUM as fast as they can be got ready.
1.-THE first troops sent to France will
be taken from the present force of the
regular army and will be under the
command of trained soldiers only.
"The responsibility for the success
full conduct of our part in this great
war rests upon Inc. could not escape
it If l would. l am too much inter-
ested in the cause we are fighting for
to be interested in anything but sue
cess.
"The issues involved are too i'm
mcpse for me to take into considera-
t,on ANYTHING Whatever eXceDt the