The sun., 1917-05-21
7. R. DISBANDS
DIVISIONS; SAYS
PRESIDENT ERRS
Points Out He Didn't Seek
'1ndependent Command"
as Represented.
NO POLITICS IN OFFER
Takes Issue Also With Will
son on Depriving Army
OF Needed Officers.
SELFISH AIMS DENIED
Colonel Will Not Accept
MajOrrGeneralship From
Gov. Whitman. y
SELFISH AIMS DENIED

Atop Sycamore Hill. out at Oyster
Bay. where the Colonel. in his various
capacities. has welcomed with unshaded
hospitality SO many Of the earth's
naughty and humble. the robins. happy
robins, marshalled by a chief of noble
girth, chirped happily at their spring
hunting. From all the copses birds whis-
tied gayly. A delightful sunshine lay
over the Coloners estate Now and then
one heard the laughter Of children.
There was no merrier. brighter spot any
where upon the globe. surely. than these
fragrant and newly greea grounds.
Then one entered the Coloners house.
shut the door against all this cheerful
ness. passed to the trophy room and be-
came conscious the little gloomy spirits
which plague all men in their season
had come there, too. and were squatting
under the priceless souvenirs Of world
venturing-great curving tusks from Zu-
Euland. grinning idols from the South
Sea Islands, a tribal gong from Borneo.
skins Of great beasts fallen to the Colo
neIs spear. And there they squatted
and therc they peered while . company
OF gentlemen all forlorn. gentlemen OF
the Coloners own Old Guard. sat ds-
mally in a circle. Of which the Colonel
himself was the centre.
They smiled not a smile. they laughed
not laugh. Their glance was hxed
immutably upon the tawny or striped
pelts at their feet. Through the open
windows came the hunting chorus OF the
robins, the liquid calls OF the little birds
whose names the Colonel might have
called offhand. tho bright chatter Of chill
dren. But these evidences Of nature.
awake and gay, fell blunted against the
gloomy company. Only the Colonel
spoke--rapid, emphatic sentences:F sen
tences that beat hard upon every ear
and still held silent every tongue.
Diabanding the Divisions.
1t was an occasion which called Tor
no comment 1t was q sort Of funeral
service. It was q kind of requiem Col
Roosevelt, the most cheerful Of the whole
gathering Of twenty men. was disband-
ing with formal words the divisions
which he had recruited with such high
hopes and which the President will have
none OF.
The men who sat all about were the
men that had followed Col. Roosevelt
through many hard fouEht pontcai
battle, In many a dangerous hunt aheid.
or. as Rough Riders. in the campaign
against the Spaniards. They were the
picked men who had searched their
parts of the country for kindred spirits,
who had pledged their word that more
thousands had been obtained than could
actually be used. and who had yearned
for the chance to back up the Colonel
upon the battlefelds OF France.
Jack Greenway. the old Yale pitcher.
now a mining man of Bisbee, Arix.. was
.lk~ ell IA.
stmson. former Secretary Of War. and
James r. Garfield. former Secretary OF
the Interior. Alto in the circle were
Seth Bullock, the mighty hunter or Souti.
Dakota; Col. William j. Schienelin OF
this city: Col. Ira L. Reeves OF vermont:
Col D. C. Collier. who made such \ 80
Of the San Diego Exposition; former
Governor Robert d. Carey Of wyoming
Rock c. Channing Of Salt Lake City. an
other Rough Rider; Major F. r.. Burn
ham Of Three Rivers. Cal: Capt. ]. p.
Donnelly Of Nevada; Capt. w. Il. Dame
and II. A. Ely of this city: DR.. H. Nell
son Jackson OF Vermont and few
others They were there to hear read
the last will and testament Of the Roose-
Welt divisions and to hear their names
mentioned as executors Of the departed
organization.
The Colonel-as has been said-wai
the most cheerful of the lot. In the
mere reading Of the mastering out order
he found some exercise for his unQuench'
able energy. lie told them that they
were free to 60 their ways, absoived ol
would have 1t SO.
Roosevelt's Advice.
He advised them to try for whatever
military service offered upon their hori
IONS, and to seek some civil life way o.
helping their country II they couldn't &c
into the army. He left no doubt In ans
mans mind that he is through. He hsi
had enough. 1t Is stating fact to "a!
that Col. Roosevelt cannot help feelini
that the Administration was Mt SOM
pains to eliminate him personally. HI
cannot escape the conclusion that he
Roosevelt, was not to be permitted Il
fight.
He cannot escape the conclusion tina
they don't intend TO give him a chane
to serve the nati.m as he would like L
aside. He will not accept Gov. Whit
mans offer Of Major -0eneralship. be
cause he sees that the Adminlstratio
does not want him to lead troops.
He included in his directions for dis
handment a summary OF the results tha
could have been--counted upon II N
President had permitted him to mobillz
his divisions. and finally he conclude
his statement or address .%sth direc
challenge of the o~1snents made b
President Wilson = <efusins the offer.
There was >5sose Of indignation tha
anger In ~ Colcnsrs choice OF word
and iR ms manner Of reading them. TO
as his friends said yesterday. he bsliev1
that he has been misundsrstood. delil
erately or otherwise. A. he puts
there are certain errors into which q
President has been led" ~
One Of these had to do with the stat
ment that Roosevelt was to have an I'll
dependent" command. Col Roossvs
points out that he asked ID 20 ~
junior Brigadier. ninth. tenth or ele'
enth In command. Another had 10 4
cestssssd on Fourth Psss.