The sun., 1917-04-16
"Let Us Use Volunteer
Forces at Earliest Mo-
ment," He Urges.
FOR NO "DOLLAR WAR"
Troops Could Be Placed on
Firing Line in Four
Months.
TO BE TRAINED IN FRANCE
Wants Wilson Empowered to
Call for 100000
Volunteers.
TO BE TRAINED IN FRANCE


velt. in letters to-day to Senator Cham.
terlain and Representative Dent. chair
men OF the Congressional Military com.
nittees, detailed his plans for raising
snd accompanying a volunteer expedi-
tion to join the Entente Allies on the
western European battle front.
He heartily approved the Administra-
tons compulsory service programme for
providing a war army. but insisted that
volunteers could be put on the hytng
iine In four months and that the Ameri-
can flag should be there at the earliest
possible moment.
n most earnestly and heartily sup
Bort the Administration bill for provid-
Ing an army raised on the principle Of
universal obligatory military training
and SERVICE" said the Coloners letter.
II cannot too strongly emphasize my
support of the Administration in this
natter and my appreciation Of the
need of introducing this principle as a
permanent feature Of our national
policy.
ut Is the really democratic principle.
the only principle fit for n free republic.
in which citizenship should be based on,
euuality Of both rights and duties, so
that universal suffrage and universal
service should go hand in hand.
Period of War CneertaIn.
1T is along the lines proposed by the
Administration that we should inau-
eurate our permanent military policy.
and II is only thus that We can carry
on the war In proper manner II II
should last year, or two or three years
or overland no one can foreteu how
long It will last. But Of course great
system Of this kind. system entirely
new in this country. cannot be tmme-
diately inaugurated.
MANY months, probably at least
year or over. must elapse before the army
thus raised would be available for use
in Europe In the hard. aggressive fight
ing campaigns which It Is honorably In
cumbent on us to undertake now that
vs have entered into the war.
Meanwhile let US use volunteer forces
IN connection with a portion Of the regu-
lar army In order at the earliest pos
sible moment. within O few months. to
put our flag on the firing line. We owe
this TO humanity. We owe 1t to the small
nations who have suffered such dreadful
wrong from Germany. Most of all we
owe 1t to ourselves. to our national honor
and self-respect.
"For the sake OF our own souls. for
the sake Of the memories Of the great
Americans Of the past We must show
that we do not intend to make this
merely dollar war Let us pay with
our bodies for our souls desire. Let US
without one hours unnecessary delay put
the American flag on the battle front i'll
this great world war for democracy and
civilization and for the reign Of Justice
and fair dealing among the nations OF
mankind"
The Colonel said he did not seek to
nave the volunteer system interfere In
any way with or be a substitute for the
obligatory plan. but that except In GER
tain cases the volunteers should be COM
posed Of men who would not be taken
under obligatory service. He proposed
an amendment to the act of March Q.
1893. providing for the raising Of $4,000
volunteers. so as to authorize the Presi-
dent to raise a force of not more than
100000 Cor 100000 to 100000 later) for
three years or the duration Of the war.
Makeup OF His Division.
"Under this act," the letter continued.
7 should ask leave to raise for imme-
0'ate service overseas with the drst ex-
peditionary force an infantry division Of
three three regiment brigades and one
divisional brigade Of cavalry, together
With an artillery brigade. regiment Of
engineers. q motorcycle machine gun
fesiment. an aero squadron, q signal
corps, the supply service. &C.
u should request the War Department
Tor the detail Of. say. two officers for
every 1000 men. believe that acting
under the direction and with the aid Of
the Department could raise the divi-
sion and have 1t ready to begin ship
ment to France In two or three months
NY idea would be to have the intensive
training in gas work. bomb throwing.
bayonet fighting and trench work given
IN France. They would then be sent into
the trenches when they were thoroughly
prepared
AS for my fitness to command troops
IN the field respectfully refer you to my
three immediate field commanders In the
cuban campa aign--Lieut.-Gen s. b. NJ.
Young (retired). Major-Gen. Samuel
eumner tretircd) and MaJor-Gen. Leon
ard Wood"