Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-10
NEWS CHEERS
THOSE ALONG LINE
CANADIANS GO WILD WITH EN-
THUSlASM; PLAN TO INFORM
GERMAN SOLDIERS.
From a Staff Correspondent OF
The Associated PreSS.l

The Associated Press.l
With the British Armies in France,
April 6 (Via London) April Tho
news Of the action Of the United States
senate in voting for war with Germany
reached the far flung western battle
line today and was hailed with cheers
Nowhere was the qualification greater
than along the section of the front held
by the Canadians, with whom many
thousands of Americans are serving.
Many Canadian and British companies
were busy today preparing signs to
hold up over the trenches, telling the
Germans the ttdings from washington.
This is the favorite plan Of the Tom.
mics to convey all sorts Of bad news
to their enemies across No Mans land.
Against Government.
German prisoners taken today a
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 vas en-
tering the lists against the German
government and not against the Ger
mar people. Others included the latest
slogan:
mo peace with the Hohenzollerns,"
while still others 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 best news which had reached the
trenches for many months. The presi.
dents address was just reaching the
front trenches today In IT'S entirety,
The gist of the speech had been sent
out by wireless and also by telegraph
and telephone. but the soldiers gener-
ally preferred to wait for congression-
al action before spreading the news to
Fritz"
On their way back from the front
trenches today the troops. who had
been relieved, eagerly bought two days
old London papers from the French
newsboys. in order to read the Ameri-
can news and the text Of the presi-
dents speech. In the little French esta.
minets, cafes and villages behind the
lines there was great excitement
among the old civilians and the poilns
on leave. One old gray haired French
man, waving a bit Of writing paper.
said he was sending the good news to
his son in the trenches so Is to be sure
that he would not miss 1t.
Renews Confidence.
The weight Of America thrown into
the scales just at this iuncture, in what
is regarded as the critical year Of the
struggle, has sent a renewed thrill OF
confidence all along the front. One
could sense it everywhere today. Visit
ing Canadian headquarters and the
Canadian trenches the correspondent
was greeted everywhere with outbursts
of congratulations. One young captain,
whose mother is an American, said:
Il feel like hugging everybody in
sight. Everywhere ] have been today
/ wanted to call out the soldiers and
ask them if they had heard the good
news. We Canadians now feel that our
American family has been reunited.
This will mean wonders for the future
relationship Of Canada and the United
States. We feel more like brothers than
eve before"
There was much speculation along
the front as to the manner Of Ameri.
can participation and al almost univer-
wish that the Unlten states SnOuld
be represented on the fighting line at
the earliest possible moment, il only
by a brigade or division.
Apart from the purely military view
the soldiers keenly appreciated the
moral weight of Americas decision
1--WE know how delishted we are and
help feeling that the rews will
equally depress the Germans was the
expression. not Of II British officer
but Of scores.
While the Canadians are loathe to
lose the services of any Of the thous-
Of Americans in their ranks. 1t
was stated at headquarters today that
1t was realized that, with an American
in the field. many Of these splen.
soldiers would desire to be released
as to serve under their own flag. )