Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-21
ROOSEVELT URGES
MEN TO D|SbAND
teered to Serve With Him
From Their Promise.
POINTS OUT PATH OF DUTY
Thinks Movement Led to Presi-
dents Decision to Send
Pershing Abroad.
POINTS OUT PATH OF DUTY

had volunteered for his proposed di-
vision to France to disband immedi-
ateiy He advised them TO get TO the
front in the best way they could. II
they were unable to secure places in
service abroad. he suggested that they
devote their energies to aiding the
| country at home.
:, vigorous reply was made TO tho
note President Wilson issued on Fri
day denying the Roosevelt request for
service abroad. II is understood to-
night that the Colonel viii decide not
To accept the position at the head OF
the National Guard of New York Of
fered to him by Governor Whitman
STATEMENT TO MEN
WHO HAD Volunteered
Colonel Roosevclts statement is as
follows:
TO the men who have volunteered
for immediate service on the iiring line
in the divisions which Congress au-
thorized:
The President has announced tina,
he will decline TO permit these divisions
TO be organized or TO permit me to
have Il command in connection with
! such a force. After consultation yes
terday. personally or by wire. with
some of the men who had volunteered
to raise units-reg imcnts and battalions
/ for the division. including John &.
| Groomc. OF Pennsylvania; Seth Bullock.
| or South Dakota: John G. Cireenway of
Arizona; John NJ. Parker. of louisiana:
Robert Carey, eX-Govcrnor of wvom-
ing: j. +. Donnelly, OF Nevada: Sloane
simpson. of Texas; d. c. Collier and T.
X. Burnham, Of California: /. l.. Reeves
and IL. Nelson jackson, OF Vermont:
Henry l.. Stimson, former Secretary of
War; William l.. Schieffclin. Hamilton
Fish and William II. Donovan, OF New
YORK: X IL. Charming. David NJ. Good
rich, William +. Dame and various
| others who were accessible. IL was de-
cided unanimously that in view OF the
decision of the President the only
course open TO US is forthwith to dis
band. and 10 abandon all further ef-
fort in connection With the division
AS good American citizens. we 10y
ally obey the decision Of the command
er-in-chief of the American army and
navy.
The men who have volunteered will
now consider themselves absolved from
all further connection with this move
ment The funds that have been prom
| tsed will be treated as withdrawn.
and applied TO other purposes. |. there
fore, direct that this statement be
sent TO the leaders in various States
who have been raising troops and that
IL be published. Our sole aim is TO
help in every way in the successful
prosecution of the war. and we most
heartily feel that no individuals per-
sonal interest should for one momen,
be considered, save as it can serve
the general public interest.
REJOICE THAT DIVISION
Is TO HE SENT ABROAD
we rejoice that a division composed
OF our fine regular soldiers and ma
! rines, under so gallant and efficient a
leader as General Pershing. is to be
! sent abroad. We have Il right TO a
certain satisfaction in connection
| Herewith. The Brooklyn Eagle last
evening stated authoritatively that the
sending OF this expedition was a COM
promise between the original plans OF
| the general staff, which favored no
early expedition and the request of
Colonel Roosevelt for authority for an
I, immediate expedition. The Roosevelt
agitation backed by the expressed de-
| sire Of such distinguished leaders as
General Joffre and General Pctain. un-
questionably had its effect in bringing
about the Pershing expedition. The
compromise Is that Franco gets Ameri-
! can soldiers in the trenches, but Roosc-
welt will not lead or accompany them.
| 1t is believed in Washington that any
criticism for turning down Roosevelt,
viii be fully answered by the fact that
American soldiers are going over
"tf this gives the explanation Of the
| matter, ] gladly say that we are all
| unselfishly pleased to have served this
use, although naturally we regret not
| to have been allowed ourselves TO rem
der active service. 1t is due to the
men who have come forward in this
manner during the three and one half
months since February ., when be-
gan the work OF raising one or more
divisions. that the following facts
should be known:
.if yesterday my offer immediatcly
to raise four divisions for the front
had been accepted, the various units
OF the first division would tomorrow
begin to assemble at whatever points
the War Department indicated. and
they would have assembled i'm fun
force and without an hours delay and
as rapidly as the War Department d.
rccted them TO go and as soon as it
provided them with tents. blankets and
camping places; and we were prepared
by the use Of private funds partly TO
make good any immediate lack of any
such supplies as regards many of tho
units. Fifteen days afterwards the
second division would have been
| mobilizcd in similar fashion. and then.
at intervals of thirty days. the other
divisions. in accordance with what
had found to he the wish of our allies.
would have been ready to sail for
France for intensive training back Of
the thcatcr Of war. IL tho War De-
partmcnt were able to furnish SUP
plies; and we would have asked per-
mission to use tho rifles and ammuni-
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