River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-05-24


day Of patriotic devotion and obliga
ton when the duty shall lie upon ev-
cry man, whether he is himself to be
registered or not, to see to it that
the name Of every male person of the
designated ages is written on these
lists of honor.
"By the president:
ROBERT LANSING,
Secretary of State"
President Wilson directed that an
expeditionary force of approximately
a division of regular troops, under
command of Maj. Gen. John J. Perish
ing, proceed to France at as early a
date as practicable. General Pershing
and staff will precede the troops.
A division contains approximately
$4,000 men. It is understood that at
least 10000 will be infantry.
The war bill was carefully gone over
during the day by Brigadier General
CrOwder, judge advocate general and
provost marshal general.
1t was announced that all existing
regiments of the guard will be called
into service by August 8, and officials
estimate that with from a month to six
weeks intensive training these troops
will be ready to go forward for final
preparation behind the fighting lines in
Europe for the fighting that is before
them.
After the army bill had been per-
fected in both houses of congress and
sent to President Wilson for sigma
ture the senate adopted an amendment
to the war budget bill to put cOnscrip-
ton out of force four months after the
end of the war.
Presidents Statement.
The president issued the following
statement at the White House:
II shall not avail myself, at any
rate, at the present stage of the war,
of the authorization conferred by the
act to organize volunteer divisions.
''To do so would seriously interfere
with the carrying out of the chief and
most Immediately important purpose
contemplated by this legislation:
''The prompt creation and early use
of an effective army would contribute
practically nothing to the effective
strength of the armies now engaged
against Germany.
ST understand that the section of
this act which authorizes the creation
of volunteer divisions in addition to
the draft was added with a view to
providing an independent command for
Mr.. Roosevelt and giving the military
authorities an opportunity to use his
fine vigor and enthusiasm recruiting
the forces now at the western front.
''It would be very agreeable to me to
pay Mr.. Roosevelt this compliment and
the allies the compliment of sending
to their aid one of our most diStin-
guished public men, an ex-president,
who has rendered many conspicuous
public services and proved his gallant
try in many striking ways.
POLITICALLY, too, it would no doubt
have very fine effect and make a
profound impression. But this is not
the time or the occasion for compli-
ments or for any action not calculated
to contribute to the immediate success
of the war.
Seeks Advice From Both Sides.
s"The business now in hand is un-
dramatic, practical and of scientific
definiteness and precision.
''I shall act with regard to it at
every step and in every particular un-
or
from both sides of the water.
Says He Is Responsible.
sHe named many of those whom he
desired to have designated for the
service and they were men who cannot
possibly be spared from the too small
force of officers at our command for
the much more pressing and necessary
duties of training regular troops to be
mt into the field in France and Bel
gium as fast as they can be got ready.
"The first troops sent to France will
be taken from the present force Of the
regular army and will be under the
command of trained soldiers only.
'sThe responsibility for the success
full conduct of our part in this great
war rests upon me. could not escape
it if / would. I am too much inter-
ested in the cause we are fighting for
TO be interested in anything but sue
cess.
"The issues involved are too inn
mense for me to take into considera-
t;cn anything whatever except the
best, most effective, most immediate
means of military action. What these
means are I know from the mouths of
| men who have seen war as it is con-
Quoted. who have no illusions and TO
whom the whole grim matter is a mat
ter Of business. I shall center my
attention upon those matters and let
everything else wait. l should be deep
| ly to blame should I do otherwise,
whatever the argument of policy or of
personal qualification Of advantage"