The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-21
ANSWERS WILSON
Colonel Roosevelt Defends His
Army Plan.
No Political or Dramatic Effect
Was Desired.

absolVed from all further connection
with the movement and that the only
course open to them now is to enter
the military service in some ether way
| if they are able to do so, and, if not,
to serve the country in civil life.
LAS good american citizens" said
| Colonel Roosevelt, in a formal state
ment, I'VE Loyalty obey the decision of
the comnnander-1n-c chief of the Ameri-
can army and navy. The men who
have volunteered will now consider
themselves absolved from all further
connection with this movement. The
| funds promised will be treated as
withdrawn and applied to other pur-
poses
| 4. therefore. direct that this state
ment be sent to the leaders IN the
various states who have been raising
troops
| Colonel Roosevelt said that after
conferences, personally or by wire with
some of the men who had volunteered
/ to raise units, regiments and battalions
| it had been decided unanimously that
the only course open was to disband in
/ view of the decision of President Will
! son not to permit the organization of
the divisions authorized by congress.
No Personal Interest
| Our sole aim the statement con-
tinued, is to help in every way in the
successful prosecution of the war and
we most heartily feel that no individ-
uaIS personal interest should for one
moment be considered save as it serves
the general public interest.
we rejoice that a decision, COM
posed of our fine regular soldiers and
marines. under so gallant and efficient
leader as General Pershing. is to be
! sent abroad. We have right to a
certain satisfaction IN connection
| herewith -
| Inc statement then quotes a news
paper report to the effect that the de-
| cls1on to send General Pershine was
compromise between the original
| plans of the general staff which ia
Vored no early expedition and the re-
| quest of Colonel Roosevelt for auth
GRITTY for an immediate expedition"
| II this gives the explanation of the
matter" Colonel Roosevelt added, Il
! pleased to have served this use, altho
we regret not to have been allowed
ourselves to render active service
Colonel 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
line by September l.
Wilson's Errors
Il WISH" said Colonel Roosevelt,
respectfully to point out certain err
rors into which the president has been
led in his announcement He states
that the purpose was to give me an
Independent command In my last
letter to the secretary of war, 1 ex-
| plicitly stated that if 1 were given per-
mission to raise an army corps of two
| divisions to be put under the command
of some general, like Wood Pershing,
! Barry or Kuhn, 1 desired for myself
only the position of junior among the
eight brigade commanders. I would
not have been independent 1 would
have been in precisely the position of
all the other brigade commanders, eX-
cept that 1 would have ranked after
and been subordinate to the rest of
| them. The president aIludes to our
proposed action as one that would
have an effect politically but no con-
tributing to the success of the war
and so representing a policy of per-
sonal qualification or advantage
No Political Intent
Il wish respectfully but emphatical-
ly to deny that any political considera-
tions whatever, or any desire for per-
sonal qualification or advantage en-
tered into our calculations. Our I'M
divided purpose was to contribute eff
fectively to the success of the war.
know nothing whatever of the politics
of the immense majority of the men
who came forward and those whose
politics 1 do know include as many
Democrats as Republicans
My purpose was to enable the gov
eminent to use invaluab Bile the men
who would not be represented in the
seIective draft who were fit for i'm
mediate service and the great major
ity of whom would not otherwise be
used at all.
The president says in effect that to
comply with our offer would be MIS-
kar1 RI I'M
and he adds that the regular OFFICERS
. whom l had asked to have associated
with me are some of the most effec-
tive officers of the regular army who
cannot possibly be spared from the
duty of training regular troops
"One of the chief qualifications for
military command is to choose 1or
ones associates and subordinates the
most effective officers, and this quail
ification the president has stated
possess. AS for my withdrawing them
from the much more pressing ana
| necessary duty of training the troops
| wish to point out that 1 have asked
for about fifty regular officers from
lieutenant colonies to second heuten-
ants for the first division.
: Regulars Wanted In.
..-This would be only about one-tenth
of the number who would go with
General Pershing's division, hich the
| nresident announced is to be composed
exclusively of regulars. Therefore, the
recent plan will take from pressing
and necessary duty about ten times
as many regular officers as would
have been taken under our proposals
| II has been stated that the regular Of
ficers are opposed to the plan. AS a
matter of fact the most effective Of
ficers have been eager to be connect
ed with or to have under them the
| troops we proposed to raise
/ condemns
posal on the ground that 'undramatic
action is needed action that is practi-
cal and of scientific definiteness and
precision There was nothing 'dra-