Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1917-05-25
Friday, May 10

iiiu"Si HA"S 4"
President Wilson directed that an eX- |
peditionary force Of approximately a
division of regulars under command OF
Maior.General John j, Pershlng pro-
coed to France at as early date as
practicable, Gen, Pershlng and his
staff will proceed the troops officials
declined to comment on the possibility
that way NAV be found for using
Rooseyelts services as the result OF the
presidents announcement last hlght
that he regretted he could not employ
Rooseyets fine vigor and enthusiasm
in volunteer expedition to France, Inc
president issued u statement, declining
the Roosevelt request, together with
the order for sending approximately
5000 regulars to France and Mt the
same time issued a proclamation Tor
registration of draft eligibles on June
B. The drafted army will not be called
to the colors until about September !,
but by that time the regular troops are
expected TO be in action against Ger
many,
The executive committee of the
Vermont public safety committee and
protection sub committees held a
lengthy conference. An attempt will
be made TO have Vermont send a com
plete saw-mil outfit and mill to
England, as one of the 300 which that
country has asked the United States
to send her. A special committee with
Martin A. Brown, of Wilmington, as
chairman and of which C.. H. Darling
of Burlington and Mr.. Stacey of White
River Junction, are members, was APP
pointed to have charge of the matter.
Such an outfit as that contemplated by
the committee would cost $4,000.
The committee voted to request the
governor to take steps towards form
ing a state home guard organization,
which would take the place of the
National Guard when the latter or
ganization is in service. Members of
the home guard will be recruited from
men not subject to the seIective draft
and will serve without pay
Saturday, May 10
The Russian provisional government
declared it was united in the rejection OF
separate peace and that it adopts as its
aim the re-estabi hment Of general
peace which will not tend either TO dom-
nation over other nations or to the
seizure Of their national possessions-a
peace without annexation orindemnitles.
The government expresses its convlc-
ton that the Russian army will not
suffer the Germans to destroy Russia $
western allies. Evidences are multi
plying that the most energetic efforts
are about to be made to rehabiltate
Russia great army and to make 1t
again an effective, aggressive fighting
force. The recent intensive fighting on
the British front in France has sub
sided and the activities along the
French lines in the Aisne region are
confined mainly to counter attacks by
the Germans, The Italian offensive,
with Trieste for its objective is there
fore being watched with perhaps more
activity in interest than any of the
other vast military operations in
progress.
Colonel Roosevelt's friends in Con-
gress, who fought hard for the pro-
visional army bill which made it pos
sible for him to lead a division into
France if the president had authorized
it, expressed deep regret today that
President Wilson had decided not to
avail himself of the colonel's offer.
Senator johnson Of California, the
colonel's running mate in the cele-
brated Progressive presidential cam
paign, only said: 81 am very sorry;
very sorry" Senator Harding, who
wrote the amendment to the army bill
authorizing sending the colonel's di-
vision, issued a formal statement say
ing he thought it "regretable mistake
to refuse the offer "
The merchants committee of the gen
eral Liberty Loan committee is con-
sidering the proposal of appealing to the
secretary of the treasury to issue loan
certificates in denominations of S., $40
and $40. Louis Stewart, chairman of
the committee, said that small denomi-
nation certificates would be more at
tractve to department store patrons
and to small investors in general than
deposting an amount on account and
making other deposits until the total
would purchase bond.
Roosevelt announced that all men
who had volunteered to serve with
him under the American flag in France
had been absolved from all further con-
nection with the movement and that
the only course open to them now is to
enter the military service in some other
way if they are able to do so and if not
to serve the country in civil life.
Formal announcement of the govern
ment's policy as to all types of aircraft,
except Zeppelins, was made by the
council of national defence through
Howard E. Coffin, head of the aircraft