Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-19

act which authorizes She creation Of vol
unteer divisions In addition to the draft,
was added with n view 20 providing an
independent command for Mr.. Roosevelt
and giving the military authority an OPP
portunlty 10 use his fine vigor and en-
thusiasm In recruiting the forces now at
the western front
GRIM WAR BUSINESS AHEAD
II would be very agreeable to me to
pay MIR. Roosevelt this compliment and
the Allies the compliment OF sending 10
their aid one Of our most distinguished
public men, an eX-President who has
rendered many conspicuous public serv-
ices and proved his gallantry In many
striking ways Politically too, II would
no doubt have very fine effect and
make profound impression. But this
is not the time or the occasion for COM
pllment or for any action not calculated
20 contribute 60 the immediate success
OF the war The business now in hand
Is undramatc, practical and OF scen-
tl1c denniteness and precision. I shall
act with regard TO II at every step and
In every particular under expert and pro-
fessional advice from both sides Of the
water.
That advice Is that the men most
needed are men OF the ages contefn-
plated I'm the draft provision OF the pres.
ent bill not men Of the age and sort
contemplated IN the section which author
lies the formation OF volunteer units. and
that for the preliminary training OF the
men who are to be drafted we shall need
all Of our experienced officers Mr.
Roosevelt told me when ! had the pleas
ure Of seeing him a few weeks ago that
he would wish 10 have associated with
him some OF the most effective officers OF
IN lie nnmpd Of
those whom he would desire to have
designated for the service. and they wee
men who cannot possibly be spared from
the too small force Of officers at our
command for the much more pressing and
necessary duty Of training regular troops
to be put into the field In France and
Belgium az fast as they can be got ready.
The first troops sent To France will
be taken from the present forces Of the
regular army, and will be under the
command Of trained soldiers only.
The responsibility for the successful
conduct Of our own part In this great
war rests upon me ! could not escape
II II | would I am too much interested
In the cause we are fighting for to be
interested In anything but success. The
issues involved are too immense for me
to take into consideration anything OK
cept the best most effective most i'm
mediate means OF military action What
these means are ! know from the mouths
Of men who have seen war as II ls now
conducted, who have 10 illusions and to
whom the whole grim matter is n matter
Of business. | shall center my attention
upon those means and let everything
else wait.
should be deeply to blame should
do otherwise. whatever the argument OF
policy for a personal qualification or ad-
vantage.
ANNOUNCEMENT or EXPEDITIONS
The official announcement that an ex-
peditlonary force of regular troops would
be sent TO France was handed to news
papermen at the War Department by
Major Douglas Macarthur, of the General
staff The statement containing this I'M
portant announcement follows
Secretary Baker issued this announce
ment at 10 o'clock last night:
The President has declared an eXped-
tonary force Of approximately one divi-
sion Of regular troops, under command Of
General John j. Pershlng to proceed to
France at as early date as practicable.
General Pershing and staff will precedc
the troops abroad. 1t Is requested that
no details or speculations with regard to
the mobilization Of this command dates
Of departure composition or other iters
be carried by the press, other than the
official bulletin given out by the War De-
partment relating thereto
Sending Colonel Roosevelt or any expe-
force Of volunteers to France was
strongly even bitterly. opposed by the army
General Staff and II is supposed that its
views were communicated TO President will
son by Secretary Bakor. The definite dec-
sion not TO send Colonel Roosevelt to France
or exercise the authority conferred in the
President by the army bin TO raise from one
10 four divisions of volunteers Is believed to
have been reached yesterday afternoon.