Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-19
EXPEDITION UNDER
. PERSH|NG TO MOVE
SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Only Regulars Will Compose
Initial Troops at
Front.
ROOSEVELT VOLUNTEERS
REJECTED BY PRESIDENT
Declares He Acts Under Advice
of Military Experts on Both
Sides Of Water.
SIGNS NEW DRAFT MEASURE
War Department Orders National
Guard Called Into Federal Ser.
vice During July.
ROOSEVELT VOLUNTEERS
REJECTED BY PRESIDENT
SIGNS NEW DRAFT MEASURE
iRv .As.oriatch rrnss.l


WASHINGTON. May ls-Presidcnt
Wilson tonight ordered that a divi-
sion Of regular troops. commanded by
Major G.; cncral john j. .rcrshing. bc
sent To France at the earliest prac-
ticable date.
This is tho answer OF America to i
Frances plea th.,t the Stars and
Stripes bc carried to the lighting front Z.
without delay To hcartcn the soldiers =
battling there with concrete evidence :,
that a powerful ally has come to their
support against German aggression.
Announcement of tho order followed
signing Of the sclcctivc draft war
army bill by the President and tho
issuance Of Statement, that: under =
advice OF military experts on both sides
OF the water, the President could not
employ volunteers nor avail himself
Of the fine viGor and enthusiasm OF
former President Roosevelt for the
expedition
The army law provides for an ulti-
mate force of approximately 2.oQ0,0
men TO back up the first troops to go
to the front. When tho bill had becn
signed the President affixed his name
to proclamation calling upon all
men in the country between the ages
~ lWthtN ono dHn tnITtN. 1nCluSlNG,
Ia register themselves for military
service on June next. The proclama-
ton sets in motion Immediately ma
chinery that will enroll and sift
io.ooo.noo men and pave the way for
The selection of thc->> first 100000
young. efficient soldiers without Grip
plinE tho industries or commerce OF
the nation or bringing hardship to
those at home.
TO RECRUIT REGIMENTS
TO FULL WAR STRENGTH
Even before the bill was signed the
War department announced that the
full strength OF the National Guard
would be drafted into the United
States Army. beginning July Is and
concluding August ). orders to bring
the regiments TO full war strength
Immediately accompanied the notifca-
ton sent to all Governors. a min
imum of $4,000 fighting men Will be
brought to the colors under those
orders. supplemcnting the 100000 reg
ulars who Will be under arms by Juno
10. The Virginia. North Carolina,
South Carolina and Tennessee guards
will be mobilizcd on July rs.
1t is from these forces that the
first armies to join General Pershinc
lowed within few months by recur- s
ring waves from the sclective draft
armies. the first 100000 OF whom will
&c mobiizcd september L.
Following is the text OF the tcrse
announcement of the War Department.
as To General Pcrshing's expeditions:
The president has directed an OK
pediii"nary force of approximately one
DIVISION OF regular troops. under COM
i"and of General John j. PershinE, to
proceed 10 france at Is early duto
as practicable General PershinG and 35s
stan viii prccede the troops abroad
~ is requested that no details or
spccuiations with regard to the mobili-
Hation OF this command. dates OF de-
parture. or other items. be carried by
the press. other than The official bull
'ctiiis given ont by the War Depart
mint relating thereto"
rEnsHING PERSONALLY
81 MMO\ED by BAKER 81
General Icrshin:; has been In Wash
inSton several days. lie was PERSONAL
iN summoned by Secretary Baker from
the southern Department, which VAS
under his comn,ard until to-nights or,
der Was issued
The man who led the expedition into &
MeN''o ana handled his difficult task
VITA such Judgment and skill as to y
WIN TO-. him the complc,e confidence of q
the iresidcht aud his advisers, has
worked hard on piaus tor the expedi-M
t"n TO France He has been in daiiy.FR
"un!cr"ncc With Secretary Rnker
Alalor'tieneral Bliss, acting chief ofsa
Si;'H, with depar,men, officials CO.
operating n inc preparation OF the
'"rccs he viii lead against the Cor
mans. and also with Lieutenant 6 en-. s
erai FridGcs. head OF the military gee. z
ton OF the British mission. and a vet.
eran OF the battle fields of France.
Nothing that either French or Brit
ish officers have been able to furnish ~
in the way of Information has been gsy
hacking. and there is every Indication 4
that the regular forces. which will com. So
pose the cxpcdil:onary Division, arc beI "A
ins selected with greatest care. s
4 No inkiing OF the plans for that di. 81
vision has been allowed to leak. out. ss