Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-04-19
TONNES RUSH TO
TELL NEWS TO "FR|TT
Get Rid of Your Kaiser"
Signs Displayed Above
Trenches Say.

With the British Armies in France.
Special, (via London. by maiD-The
news of the action of the United States
Senate in voting for war Xith Germany
reached the far-flung western battle
line today N was hailed with cheers.
Nowhere is the qualification greater
tina along the section of the front held
by the Canadians, with whom many
thousands of Americans are serving.
Many Canadian n British companies
were busy today preparing signs to hold
up over the trenches telling the Ger
mans the tidings from Washington.
This is the fayorite plan of the Tom
mics to convey all sorts of bad news
to their enemies across the mo mans
land
get Rid of Kaiser"
German prisoners taken today had
not heard of President Wilson'S ad-
dress and knew only in a vague way Of
the breaking Of diplomatic relations in
February. Some of the trench signs
which were prepared included a brief
translation into German of the presi-
dents statement that America was en-
terlng the war against the German
government and not against the Ger
man people. Others included the latest
slogan, mo peace with the Hohenzol-
%lerns," while other read Get rid OF
your kaiser
The British ARMY as a whole has re-
garded America as practically in the
war ever since the severance of rela-
tons, the news of which was greeted
as the best news which had reached
the trenches for many months. 1t was
said then that active participation was
only a matter of time. The presidents
address was just reaching the front
trenche today in its entirety. The gist
of the speech had been sent out by
wireless and also by telegraph and tele-
phone, but the soldiers generally pre-
ferred to wait for congressional action
before spreading the news to Fritz"
On their way back from the ron
trenches today, the troops who had
been relieved eagerly bought w days
old london papers from the French
inewsboys. in order to read the Ameri-
can news and the text of the presidents
speech. In the little French cafes and
villages behind the lines there was
great excitement among the old civili-
ans n the poilus on leave. One old
gray headed F%renchman. waving a bit
of writing paper, said he was sending
the good news to his son in the
trenches so as to be sure he would not
miss it.
The weight of America thrown into
the scales at this iuncture, which is
regarded as the critical time of III
struggle, has sent a renewed thrill of
iAoiiL. Vic oIl
sense it everywhere today. Visiting
Canadian headquarters and the Cana
dian trenches, the correspondent was
greeted everywhere with outbursts OF
congratulations. n young captain,
whose mother is American, said:
Wanted to Hug Every One.
II feel like hugging everybody in
sight. Everywhere / have beer today
j want them to call out the soldiers and
ask them If they had heard the good
news. This will mean wonders for the
future relationship of Canada and the
United States. We feel more like broth
ers than ever before"
There was much speaking along the
front as to the matter of American par
tlcipatlon and an almost unanimous
wish that the United States be repre-
sented on the fighting line at the earli-
est possible moment. if only by a bril-
gade or division. Mingled with the
universal desire that the war should
soon be ended was the generally eX-
pressed hope that it would last long
enough to give the Americans a chance
at the Germans.
Apart from the purely military view,
the soldiers keenly appreciated the
moral weight of Americas decision,
We know how delighted we are and
cannot help feeling h a the news will
equally depress the Germans was the
explanation not of one British officer
but OF scores.
OF course, some Of the British Off
GERS reiterated the view expressed to
the correspondent when diplomatic re-
,lations were severed, that American
participation might first consist Of
sending of special detach1nents. such
as aviators-
May Release Americans.
While the Canadians are loath to lose
the services of any Of the thousands Of
Americans in their ranks it was stated
Mt headquarters today thai it was real
,'ized that with an American force in the
field many of these splendid soldiers
would desire to be released SO as to
serve under their own flag. Their long
training and experience under most
desperate battle conditions would prove
an Invaluable aid, is was conceded, to
an American eXpeditionary corps.
Many men may be made available for
return to America to help in training. 1t
is also expected that America will ask
that a large number of its officers be
attached to the British for observation
and experience under the actual condi-
tons of European warfare.
Toasts We're drank to America at
many front line dugouts last night. The
British look forward eagerly to the
participation Of America, thus helping
to completely outlaw German mlitar-
ism. The khaki clad army faces the foe
today with renewed determination to
bring about a quick and decisive result.
Future Of the West Indies.
The possibility that Crest Britain and
France might reimburse the United
the war of some of their possessions neal
our shores is said by the New York Sun
TO be the subject: Of discussion at Wash