Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-15
Civilian Modelling With War

N/ HlLE the country has been considering
W the Roosevelt army" solely scheme
for transporting Colonel Roosevelt and various
other amateur soldiers to France, and APP
proving or condemning the enterprise on this
account alone, the truth goes deeper. Even
Colonel Roosevelt understands that such an
expedition would be farce rather than n
force, and so. one of its protagonists OK
plains, Colonel Roosevelt's command would
be but part OF an eXpeditionary force com
posed partly of regular troops with the
supreme command and administration con-
hded 10 officers OF the regular csta blishment."
In other words, what Roosevelt wants TO
do and what Congress apparently is on the
verge of authorizing him to do. is to take
over, ut this critical stage OF the war for
humanity and democracy. the functions of
the commander-n-chief and the general staff
of tho army Of the United States. The judg-
ment of men who have given their lives to
the study Of military science is to be put aside.
their carefully laid plans are to be ignored
or disarranged, their whole offensive and
defensive campaign is to be throttled, in order
that Theodore Roosevelt Of Oyster Bay who
had a few months soldering in a petty war
twenty years ago, may have his head
strong way.
Transportation, at this stage of the conflict,
is even more important than armies. Ger
tany there are no ships to be wasted When
we send men to France they ought to be those
capable of rendering the most efficient ser
vice. in the shortest possible time. to our
gallant allies. In this view of the matter
there would be tragedy enough in the dis
patch of unframed levies who would have
to endure protracted period of training be-
hind tho lines. or else be offered TO make a
German holiday.
But when we consider that Colonel Roose-
welt has coolly proposed the entire organiza-
ton of his army" including demand for
the services of division Of regulars and of
some scores or hundreds of additional regular
officers, unwillingness to permit the sacrifice
he certainly would be ready to make is re-
placed by indignant resentment of his colossal
efrontery and unblushing self-estcem
For such performances as this. the world
has paid heavy price in this very war
Britan's war annals contain dozen ilustra-
tions Of the folly of substituting civilian
theories for the ripened products OF military
experience. Discussing some time ago the plan
then agitated in Congress for joint congress
sional committee on the conduct of the war
the Army and Navy Journal said
mites II IS ,9 96YISu so that s,t such joint
such conditions existed in the Civil
from tn, hsy Held oi at ne Wire Of snsh
enee With s0 mafy a GyS Mas GeefsT
a M W and costly coz ", as it viii be- again il
modern instance Of this is to be POUND FOUND
III me recent report the beginning
or the Dardanelles campaign that shows
now the. civilian desire Interfere
WIN WIN military affairs brought Great
blunder in the present war and her
costliest campaign from the viewpoint
OF losses Of ships and men.
Congress now is about to go even further
1t is true that the whole Roosevelt plan is
not included in the amendment under con-
sideration. but the plan. as both its friends
and enemies insist. must be regarded in it's
totaiity Congress, in reality. is undertaking
TO say OF Just what troops the first American
expedition to France shall consist, lust how
these troops shall be divided among the
several arms of the service, and to a very
large extent. just how they shall he com
manded. When the bill becomes law nres-
sure will be exerted to cram the entire project
down the Threats Of the President and the
general staff.
The shades Of those heroic dead. who ey-
plated on Gallipoli the folly of another
civilian dream should rise with live Ameri-
cans in resolute and unyielding protest
against the whole mad scheme
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Because of the shortage of SOAP, parisians
are planning to let their whiskers grow