The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1917-04-12
GERMANY 0RBUST. "
IS SLOGAN ADOPTED
BY BEMIDJI. MILITIA

The following letter was received
this morning from the Fifth division
Minnesota naval militia, Bemidji, en-
route to Philadelphia. The letter
was mailed at Erie, Pa, April 9:
By EDWIN SIMONS
Special &|oEc;;4s@6SEd}P GoTTssPond6sSnt Pioneer
Editor Pioneer:
Throngs of people with waving
flags and futtering7r~ tear-stained
handkerchiefs have cheered the train
from the time the Fifth division left
Bemidji. Grand Rapids forgot it's
scholastic and athletic rivalry for the
moment to hope the Bemidji jackies
Godspeed Spooner, Wis, was no
less attentive than the cities of Min
nesota in greeting the Bemidji divi-
sion, cheering wildly time after time
for the home boys.
Beginning at Cass Lake, the first
town of any Importance out of Be-
midi, and including Deer River,
Carlton, Cloquet and numerous small
Ltowns enroute to Duluth, people of
every nationality crowded the streets
and station platforms to give cheer
ing word to the Bemidji division.
Most impressive of all was the recep-
tion at Grand Rapids. The train had
no sooner stopped than c. c. Peter
son, standing on a baggage truck,
surrounded by the entire populace of
Grand Rapids, wished the boys a
happy "good bye and victorious
homecoming in the near future" AS
a parting gift on behalf of Grand
Rapids, the speaker gave the division
a huge white lily.
Duluth Rampant.
Duluth was the scene of the larg-
est demonstration yet staged. Long
before the last division had left the
:armory for dinner the crowds began
to congregate in the armory auditor
ium and about the building. Pre-
paration for the departure Sunday
night went on with increasing diff
Guilty as the throngs continued to
gather. A few patriotic selections
and a solemn prayer formed the final
ceremonies at the armory, after
which the separate divisions were
\ given the order to fall in" AS the
eight divisions left their Duluth
quarters to entrain, flags were un-
furled, automobiles honked, hand
kerchiefs waved and pandemonium
reigned. The incessant cheers of the
$4,000 people who lined the streets
and covered the lawns and boule-
wards, and the continuous noise of
the automobiles touched a sad strain
in the hearts of the militiamen Not
until after the train had left Duluth
did the shouting and noise cease and
1uiet was restored among the troop
ers.
Long after dark had settled the
train was greeted with shouting, pa
triotic groups gathered at the sta
tions along the route. Spooner,
Wis. gave separate cheer for Be-
midi.
Meeting of Appreciation.
Carroll c. ("Jim") Hill took the
floor as chairman of meeting of
appreciation" held in the Bemidji
. car Sunday night. One by one the
different members of the division re-
sponded to the call of speech" and
after being introduced by Mr.. Hill
not J. j., just "Jim''-expressed
their appreciation of the departing
welI-wishes and kind deeds of the
citizens of Bemidji. A motion was
unanimously voted upon to send by
a personally signed letter a recogni-
ton of the divisions appreciation for
fhe many favors rendered the boys
during the last few days in Bemidji.
A committee was appointed to draft
the resolution and the meeting re-
solved itself into a song session.
Germany OF Bust"
The division has adopted as its
soax Don't Bite the Hand That's
(Cootinusd on last paSe)