Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-05-24
ROOSEVELT WILL
NOT GO TO FRANCE
President Says Business in
Hand Is Undramatic, Prac.
tical and Scientific"

Washington. May l2--Colonel Roosevelt
VIII not be permitted to raise his volun-
teer expedition To carry thc American rag
against tho Germans In france.
On signing the war army bill tonight.
President Wilson issued a statement say.
Ing that acting under expert advice from
both sides Of the water. he would be
unable to avail himself at the present
stage OF the war Of the authorization to
organize volunteer divisions.
There was talk In army circles tonight
Of the possibility that a way would be
found to use the former presidents serv-
Ices In another way; but official COM
ment on the subject was lacking.
The Presidents statement follows:
Il 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 car
rying out Of the chief and most impor-
tant purpose contem dated by this leg
islation. the prompt creation and early
use Of an effective army. and would
contribute practically nothing to the
effective strength OF the armies now
engaged against Germany.
Il 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 pro-
viding an Independent command for
Mr.. Roosevelt and giving the military
authority an opportunity to use his nne
vigor and enthusiasm in recruiting the
forces now at the western front
1T 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 distinguished
public men, an ex-president, who has rem
dered many conspicuous public services
and proved his gallantry in many strik-
ing ways. Politically. too. 1t would no
doubt have q very fine effect and make q
profound impression. But this IL not the
time or the occasion for compliment or
for any action not calculated to con-
tribute to the immediate success Of the
war. The business now in hand IL un-
dramatic. practical and Of scientific
defnteness and precision. shall act
with regard to 1t at every step and In
every particular under expert and profess
sional advice from both sides of the water
That advice is that the men most
needed are men Of the ages contemplated
in tho draft provision Of the present bill
both men Of the age and sort contemplate
ed in the section which authorizes the
formation Of volunteer units. and that
for the preliminary training OF the mer
who are to be drafted We shall need all
Of our experienced Officers Mr.. Roose'
welt told me. when had tho pleasure OF
seeing him a few weeks ago that HI
would wish to have associated with hin
some Of the most effective officers Of thu
regular army. He named many Of those
whom he would desire to have designated
| for the service, and they were men who
cannot possibly he spared from the to-
, small force Of ofncers at our command fol
the much more pressing and necessary
duty Of training regular troops to be pu
into the neld In France and Belgium q
fast as they can be got ready"