Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-19
ROOSEVELT not
TO Be SENT TO
BATTLEF FRONT
Wilson Will not Avail Him.
self of Authorization to
Send Volunteers. M

washington, May IL. Colonel
Roosevelt v: viii not DO Permitted IT. to
ry the American nag against the Ger
mans in France.
On signing the war army bill last
night PRECEDENT Wilson issued a state
ment saying that, acting under expert
advice from, both sides of the wa.er,
he would be unable to avail himself
at the present stage Of the val Of the
Authorization to. organize volunteer d.
visions.
There was talk in army circles last
night Of the possibility that a way
would be found to . the former
presidents services In another way,
but ofncial comment was hacking.
Tho presidents statement follows:
Il shall not avail myself at any rate
at the present stage Of the war, Of
the authorization conferred ~ the at
to organise volunteer divisions. 70
do so would seriously interfere Nvith
tEa carrying out of the chief ard most
immediate important purpose con-
templated by this legislation, 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.
Intended for Roosevelt.
II understand that the section IT
this act which authorizes The creation
of volunteer divisions in addition to
the draft was added with n view to
providing an Independent command
for Mr.. Roosevelt and giving the
use his lne vigor n enthusiasm in
recruiting the forces now at the west
ern front.
1T would be very agreeable to mo
to pay Mr.. Roosevelt this compliment
and the allies the compliment of send
ing to their aid n Of our most dis
tinRuished public men. an ex-presi-
dent who has rendered many conspic-
nous public services and proved his
gallantry In many striking ways.
Politically. too, It would no doubt
have a very fine effect and make a
profound impression. But this Is not
the time or the occasion for compli-
ment or for any action not calculated
to contribute the immediate success
of the war. Tho business now in
hand is undramatic. practical and OF
scientific defniteness and precision. l
shall act with regard to 1t at every
pert and professional advice from
both sides Of the water.
That advice is that the men most
needed are mon Of the ages contem-
plated in the draft provision of the
present bill, not men Of the age and
sort contemplated In the section which
authorizes h formation Of volunteer
units and that for the preliminary
training Of the men who are to be
drafted we shall need all of our ex-
perienced officers.
Army Officers Much Needed.
mfr. Roosevelt told me, when I had
the pleasure Of seeing him a few
weeks ago that he would wish to have
associated with him some of the most
effective officers of the regular army.
He named many of those whom he
would desire to have designated for
the service, and they were men who
cannot possibly be spared from the
too-small force of officers at our com
mand for the much more pressing
and necessary duty OF training regu-
lar troops to be put into the field n
France and Belgium as fast as they
can be got ready.
Trained Soldiers Only.
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 succsss-
full conduct of our own part in this
great war rests upon me. I could no
escape 1t II I would. I am too much
interested in he aus we are fighting
for to be interested in anything but
success. The issues involved are toe
immense for me to- take into consid-
GRAFTON anything except the best, mos
effective. most immediate means OF
military action.'