ALL SORTS AND CONDITIONS 115 



my services to him, which he was good enough to 

 accept. The progress of this movement was taken 

 up with enthusiasm by all his old comrades, but 

 when America saw that she would have to introduce 

 compulsory service to raise a sufficient army, a veto 

 was placed upon all Volunteers. With regret at the 

 collapse of his scheme Roosevelt thus writes : 



"783 Fifth Avenue, 



"New York, 

 "June 22nd, 1917. 

 " MY DEAR MlLLAIS, 



" You have doubtless seen the President's 

 announcement wherein he refused to make use of 

 the Volunteer Forces which Congress had authorised 

 him to permit me to raise. 



" Prior to this announcement by the President, 

 I had sent him a telegram as follows 



" ' I respectfully ask permission immediately 

 to raise two divisions for immediate service at the 

 front under the bill which has just become law, 

 and hold myself ready to raise four divisions if 

 you so direct. I respectfully refer for details to 

 my last letters to the Secretary of War. If 

 granted permission, I earnestly ask that Cap- 

 tain Frank McCoy be directed to report to me 

 at once. Minister Fletcher has written me that 

 he is willing. Also, if permission to raise the 

 divisions is granted, I would like to come to 

 Washington as soon as the War Department is 

 willing, so that I may find what supplies are 

 available, and at once direct the regular officers 

 who are chosen for brigade and regimental 

 commands how and where to get to work.' 



