The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-04-11
!. R. AND THE FLAG
ON FIRING LINE
IN FRANCE
Colonel C0nferS with President on
LlVISlOn for Foreign Service
fAV0RS UNIVER AL TRAINING
Proposed Plans Will Not Interfere
Administration Policy or Army
Regulations.

yelt, full of his old-time vigor and en-
thusiasm, began at Washington yesteI
day a personal campaign to result 'aI
the earliest possible moment" in the
| appearance of the American flag and
American soldiers. including himself
upon the firing line in France.
The former president placed his
plans for recruiting a division OF
troops before President Wilson at a
half-hour conference at the White
! House and during the remainder OF
the day and evening was busy with cal
| lers at the home of his daughter. Mrs.
| Nicholas Longworth. He talked about
! his project to the chairmen and mi
nority members of the House and Sen
ate military committees and made ar
rangements to write them letters Civ
| ing more specific details. He con-
ferred with Secretary Baker and with
Howard Coffin, Daniel Willard and
julius Rosenwald, members of the
advisory commission of the council
OF national defense
The colonel apparently enjoyed him
self thoroughly. He did not spend
a quiet moment from early morning
until late at night. At all of his
conferences he spoke of not only his
own plans, but made it clear that he
stood sduarely behind President Will
son in the proposal 10 raise war
army on the principle of universal
military service. He emphasized that
his plans were not intended to inter
fere in any way with the policy of
the administration and that he was
anxious to place himself and the di-
vision he proposes raising under the
orders of whatever regular army Of
ficer may be given command of an
American expeditionary force.
At noon MFR. Roosevelt went to the
White House where he was ilpmedi-
ately received by President Wilson in
the green room. Just what hap.
pened during the conference no one
would tell After a half.hour news
paper correspondents. gathered under
the high portico at the front door OF
the executive mansion, saw its for
mer occupant appear inside a window
with Secretary Tumulty. There was
an animated conversation and then
WI. INOOSchtll CiilNi SNhi .'SNA oN"AJ ,
Tumulty at his side To the CORE
spondents Mr. Roosevelt said: Il
guess | know the kind Of questions
you want to ask me, so I'll just die
tate a statement and we viii see
whether that will answer the purpose
Il came on, desiring to see the
president personally, to reiterate what
| had already said about his message
to Congress and TO lay before Inn in
detail and explain just what / desired
to have him do in connection with my
division, and why it was my earnest
hope and belief that it would be well
that should have the authorization
to raise such a division to he sent
as part of an expeditionary force TO
France at an early moment. The
president received me with the utmost
courtesy and consideration and doubt
less in his own due time Will come TO
q decision in connection With the diyi-
sion"
THE division that ask permission
to raise would be made up of men who
would not be taken under conscrip-
ton They would be over 25 years of
age or of the excepted classes under
25 who would eagerly enlist to go to
the front, but who could not be eX-
pected to leave those dependent upon
them unless they expected active
service"
In the midst of his statement Col.
Roosevelt turned to Secretary Tumul
ty and said: IF | say anything |
should not, be sure to censor it. I'm
already under orders" Col. Roose-
welt slapped Tumulty on the back and
remarked he might get him. He talk
ed informally for several minutes
about his plans and the readiness OF
men to respond to a call for service.
but would not add to his dictated
statement.
Attracted by the presence of the
former president, a crowd of several
hundred people gathered outside the
White House gates and cheered Col.
Roosevelt as he left.
Later in the afternoon Secretary
Baker called. He and Mr.. Roosevelt
were in conference for more than an
hour. At the conclusion Mr. Baker
said he had spent a very pleasant
hour. but would not go into details.