The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-04
Mighty Enthusiasm Stirs House
Of Commons When Probable
Action Is Learned
WHOLE BRITISH NATION
THRILLED BY TIDINCS
While Americas Participation
In War is Telegfaphed to the
'Tommies' at Front to Nerve
Them Anew for Their Task

tBy International News service
London, April 3.--No gladdcr
news has come to the people Of
Great Britain since they have
.tccn cngulfcd In thn world war
than that OF Hrcsidcnt Wilson's
specci, In congress yesterday.
In tho house Of commons carly
today mighty cheer went up
from The Representatives Of the
people when the chancellor Of the
cxcheqncf announced tho receipt
Of IL cablc2 ram from Sir Cecil
Spring RtCc. British ambassador
ut Washington. expressing SIR &C.
ellis belief that the Americau
congress would comply with
President wilson's recommended
tons
From one end Of the United
Kingdom 10 the other America
is tonight hailed - an aIis---saot.
however, as some new acquisition
To the entenfc. but as THE fac
tor that seals tho central powers
doom and spells certain and early
victory for the allies.
Cheering Crowds Buy Extras"
The morning ia peers had only brief
excerpts OF the presidents speech
enough. however 10 show that Amer
ica's die was cas-. Cheering crowds
throughout the ds3 bcS.eged the news
paper Offices Every additional 'bn!'
'ettn' from Washingtcn correspou
dents was good for new extra" II
is sare TO say that few times since
the ~ar began has the street sale OF
newspa pers thrived a. It did today.
II IS also. ssfs guess that the pres
dents speech uas not any more care
fully and ca gerry studied IN the United
States than Il was BY the people OF
England. To these il brought the
fuiallment Of their fondest hopes.
..Ionnnies" Are Cheering. Too.
The effect upon public opinion was
electric, II must not be forgotten that
America entrance comes AT a mo-
ment. W hen the T-boat warfare Is i'm
posing real sacrifices upon every man,
" oman and child III the United
Kingdom The speech, in full, was
promptly teIegraphed to the front
aud there tonight thousands OF
]. Tommies' c.leered the Stare and
stripes as most welcome newcomer
among the entente colors.
U-ubounded enthusiasm marked the
! Comment OF the press. The few ira
siitionaliy anti-American organs edi-
!, oriaiize the presidents speech in a
decidedly apoiogetic manner. Their
glowing tribute to the American
executive and nation today seemed
like atonement for every nnkind and
unjust word previously Written. \
characteristic sentence is this from
the Evening standard;
Every Englishman viii now hold
President Wilson in higher estima-
ton.
What cheers the soul of Britain
most is MIR. Wilson's emphasis on a
nnion OF democracies as against the
"Prussian autocracy." All newspapers
also emphasize that the president
made ii clear Americas participation
will not be OF the half hearted sort.
The press Ii unanimous in seeing
gloom and despair among the German
masses as result OF President Will
sons assertion that America has no
quarrel with them; that 1t is only
their government against which the
war for mankind is launched
brothers In Arms
Under Brothers in Arms" the Fall
Mall Gazette SAYS today Of President
wilson's speech: The president
frames the issue in "a setting calcu-
lated to stir the deepest emotions OF
the American people The Russian
revolution enables him 20 commend Il
10 them as a conflict between the vir-
tues of democracy and the crimes of
autocracy.
America enters the war without
Her action will be well
coined both for the substantial aid
which sha will bring and for the COM
munity OF spirit which she will fur
Their among the free nations OF the
world. 1t Is great satisfaction to he
Joined this sFiti the nation carrying
20 much o. our blood in Il crusade
worthy Of its best traditions and ours' -
The Globe says: German states
men have scornfully affected to re-
,srd the entrance of the United States
as negiiblc. We can safely leave them
10 and out their mistake In the
meantime we are content 10 stand
shoulder to shoulder with the land
Of the free in the greatest battle for
Freedom the world hos ever seen"
1htnks Germany VIII srrrcac-r.
The Evening Standard says: The
German government has done very
mad thing In forcing the United states
into tho ranks of it's enemies.
1T argues that until yestcrday Ger
many could. hava obtained peace by
. ba ndoning submarine warfare, mas
;nuch as tho strong nacifist element t.,
The United States would have ovcrruiel
tho wiser party which recognizes
Prussia as the enemy Of mankind who
must be disabled IL the world is TO en-
10y peace
FThc Standard then says that Ger
frnnf{uaaA ~ carao5 na~. ~