The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1917-02-21


lent authority that Colonel Theodore
Roosevelt is planning to raise an ex.
peditionary force in the event Of
war with Germany and to sail tt
Europe with it just as soon as posi-
BILE. 1t is his intention to place this
force at the disposal of the Entente
generals who have charge of the fight
ing scheme and to lead it in accord
ance with their ideas.
Those who are acquainted with the
Coloners plans say that he is making
them with the idea of joining direct
ly with those who are fighting Ger
many now, any idea which the army
and navy officials of the United States
may have for conducting a distinctive
ly American campaign to the contrary
Notwithstanding. 1t is declared that
Col. Roosevelt feels that the sending
of an expeditionary force to Europe
would give additional zest to the
struggle of the allies and convince
them as nothing else could that Amer
lea is intellectually devoted to the
cause for which they are fighting.
Size of Force Uncertain.
How large a force he would raise
would depend entirely upon the condi-
tons obtaining at the particular time
at which the United States entered
the war. He is known to have obtain
ed pledges from a sufficient number of
trained men at the time the Mexican
situation was critical to make the for
nation of aedivision possible within
very shortTtfme. His present plans
are known toscover the possible rails
ing Of corps, or even of an army of
100000 men.
One of the matters which Col Roose-
welt has under consideration, accord
ing to The Worlds informant, is to 90
to Canada and organize his force there
in the event that his plans would in
terfere with those of the general staff
to such an extent as to make the or
ganization of his command here too
difficult. It is said that he would not
do this except with the tacit consent
of the president and the army chiefs,
but that he feels that Canada's ex-
perience during the last two years in
organizing and training esSz,ssts ssFsnss-rz
forces within a short time would be
of invaluable assistance to him.
Plan Depends on Wilson's Consent.
In the first instance the fulfilment
of these plans depends upon the con-
sent of the president and his advis-
ers. Should war come, Col. Roose-.
welt would do nothicg to embarrass
the administration, but those who are
acquainted with his scheme believe
he would not have much difficulty in
convincing Washington that he should
be permitted to go ahead. What rep
reservations, if any, have already
been made to the authorities on this
point have not been divulged
1t would be necessary for Colonel
Roosevelt to be commissioned by the
president to head his expeditionary
force, the rank to be given him de-
pending upon the character of the
organization which he will form. 1t
is known that upon the announcement
of his intention to form brigade for
Mexican service his plans contemplat-
ed asking for commission as briga-
der general.
Should this expeditionary force be
raised the colonel will seek the aid of
the navy department in conveying it
to Europe. Should the plans of that
department for war with Germany
not make it possible to detach a suffi-
cient number of fighting vessels from
the squadron which would be patrol
ling the Atlantic coast for the trip to
Europe it is understood that Great
Britain stands ready to do the convoy
ing. She has fleet already engaged
in that work and the sea lane from
Halifax to England has up to date
been swept clear of submarines, not
a man of the thousands transported
since the war began having been lost.
In Communication With Friends.
Col. Roosevelt, according to The
Worlds information, has been in
communication since the German sit
uation became tense with hundreds of
his friends throughout the country.
They have approved his suggestion of
an expeditionary force and have as
sured him that men in any number
can be secured within few days after
war is declared. The men with whom
Col. Roosevelt has been in touch are
for the most part men of military
training, many of them having served
with the famous Rough Riders of 1913.
It is said that he has merely enlarg-
ed upon his idea of a brigade to fight
Villa or Carranza or anybody else in
spite of Americas. neglect to make
Mexico: thas wants t9 fight sEsnd, iitthtiaas