Evening star., 1917-05-13
ROOSEVELT ARMY
NOW SEEMS LIKELY
House, by Reversing Stand
Against Scheme, Opens Way
fox Volunteer Legion.
T. R. .'DEEPLY GRATEFUL"

VIII Roosevelt lead an army to France?
This question took precedence last night
in Washington over all the other topics.
following the action of the House In re-
versing itself and voting by a great mar
infantry divisions under a volunteer sys-
| tenn, with the understanding that Theo-
dore Roosevelt will be one OF the COM
manders Of the force.
men from technical and professional
angle; whether it would be proper to
raise an Independent force outside the
proposed conscription plan. It was dis
thing but politics in the move to put the
former rough rider in the limelight again.
The thought Of Theodore Roosevelt, the
fmpetuous, the man whose very name
can start near riot at any American
political meeting, helping to lead $4,000
adventures and soldiers Of fortune to
war, has given the war subject more
exciting tinge than anything else and
of the Atlantic to flesh and blood basis,
rather than counting-house talk.
Situation Now.
The situation created yesterday, when
two score democrats lined up with the
republicans and reversed the previous
House decision. which was not to allow
The conferees Of the House have been
instructed to insist upon an amendment
which will permit the President to Gre
ate, by volunteer enlistment, these
four proposed infantry divisions.
Senator Chamberlain, chairman OF the
Senate committee on military affairs,
has obtained permission to withdraw
the conference report from the Senate
and resume conferences on the bill.
Capitol prophets agree that the
House has pointed the way, which will
now be followed by the Senate, as the
upper body originally favored the
Roosevelt plan.
Colonel's Name Not Mentioned.
It should be understood, however,
with the four volunteer infantry divt-
sfons provided for, he Is not directed
to raise such a force-he Is merely
authorized to do 50; and nowhere in
velt appear. He has received formal
application from Col Roosevelt TO lead
such a force; and at the same time
there has been much discussion OF just
how the President stands on the sub
ject Of sending Col. Roosevelt abroad.
In this connection dispatches from
Oyster Bay state that Col. Roosevelt
was delighted at what the House did
House has DONE" Col Roosevelt said.
II feel they have taken q step which -
emtnentIy wise ana pGff tsMafns
enabling Us to ufilizs an
utilize at all. This will enable mixed
force of regulars and volunteers to be
put to the front during the time nee
essary for training the great army
raised under the selective draft.
u am particularly pleased with the
support of Jimmy Ga1livan. the demo-
cratic representative from Boston and
the old Harvard second baseman."
Presidents Attitude.
Attempts made in some circles in
Congress to create the impression that
President Wilson is opposed to the
idea of sending to the trenches in Eu-
rope an American volunteer force, in
which Col Roosevelt would have a
command. are not based on the record
of what happened when Col. Roosevelt
recently came to Washington to ex-
plain his plan to the President.
Col Roosevelt received the Washing
ton newspaper correspondents In audi
ence within FIVE minutes of the time
he left the President, and the colonel
obviously was highly pleased with the
results of his conference. He carefully
to general staf officers of the army
here, that he does not desire to have
sole command Of any expedition Of
volunteers going abroad, and that his
ages specified in the conscription act.
In other words, his proposed expedi-
tion is a supplementary force, and will
consist of men less than twenty-one
Roosevelt indicated that he would be
willing to be one of several officers
commanding such an expedition. It
would be manifest injustice. he said,
to deny the country the services of
trained. hardy men who would enlist
under his banner, by the volunteer
system, men who are eager to yoIun-
teer and most Of whom would not be
! taken by the government or could not
serve the government in the field be-
cause they would not be conscripted.
Army Staff Opinion Changed.
| There is no means of knowing Just
what the expert advice to the Presi-
| dent of the army staff will finally be.
| 1t was recalled last night that the first
| advice Of the general STAFF was against
| sending any expedition to France. but
that opinion was changed by develop
| ments, notably the arguments of the
! British and French war commissions.
| 1t was also recalled that Col Roose-
| welt, believing in the principle of con-
| scriptlon for the big army. had offered
PRESIDENT Wilson his services in Great
ing support of that idea throughout the
| country. and 1t was said upon high
authority that the offer had been
thankfully received by the President,
fuence back of the conscription mea-
| sure.
There have been good grounds for the
belief that Col. Roosevelt has felt as
| sured ever since he saw President Will
| son that once the cOnscription bill was
passed, il there were opportunity for
him to lead volunteer army to
France. as supplementary force, no
|, obstacle would be placed in his way
by the administration.
|