From the AP archive:
April 6, 1917

Congress declares war against Germany

(By A.P. Night Wire)

Washington, April 6. - The resolution declaring that a state of war exists between the United States and Germany, already passed by the Senate, passed the House shortly after 3 o'clock this morning by a vote of 373 to 50.

President Wilson will sign the resolution as soon as Vice-President Marshall has attached his signature in the Senate. It formally accepts the state of belligerency forced by German aggressions and authorizes and directs the President to employ the military and naval forces and all the resources of the nation to bring war against Germany to a successful termination.

Without roll calls the House rejected all amendments, including proposals to prohibit the sending of any troops overseas without Congressional authority.

Passage of the resolution followed seventeen hours of debate. There was no attempt to filibuster, but the pacifist group under the leadership of Democratic Leader Kitchin prolonged the discussion with impassioned speeches. Kitchin declared his conscience would not permit him to support the President's recommendation that a state of war be declared.

Miss Rankin of Montana, the only woman member of Congress, sat through the first roll call with bowed head, failing to answer to her name, twice called by the clerk.

On the second roll call Miss Rankin rose and said in a sobbing voice, "I want to stand by my country, but I cannot vote for war."

For a moment then she remained standing, supporting herself against a desk and as cries of "Vote, vote, " came from several ports of the House, she sank back into her seat without voting audibly. She was recorded in the negative.

EDITOR'S NOTE -- Jeannette Rankin paid for her vote; she was defeated for re-election. But eventually, she returned to Congress -- in time to vote against the declaration of World War II.

July 4, 1917

Paris Greets Doughboys

(By Atlantic Cable and A.P.)

Paris, July 4. - All France celebrated the Fourth of July. Paris turned out a crowd that no American city ever surpassed for size, enthusiasm and profusion of the Stars and Stripes.

A battalion of the first American expeditionary force about to leave for training behind the battle front, had its first official review in France and was the center of the celebration.

Everywhere the American flag was flying from public buildings, hotels and residences, and from automobiles, cabs and carts. Horse bridles and the lapels of pedestrians carried them.

The crowds began to gather early at vantage points. Rue da Varenno was choked long before 8 o'clock this morning when the Republican Gurards band executed a field reveille under Gen. Pershing's windows and all routes toward the Invalids were thronged even before Pershing's men turned out.

About the Court of Honor, where the Americans were drawn up with a detachment of French territorials, the buildings overflowed with crowds of humanity to the roofs. All round the khaki-clad men from the United States were trophies and souvenirs of war -- German cannon, airplanes, machine guns and many appliances for burning suffocating gun. Behind them in the chapel separating the Court of Honor from Napoleon's tomb, were German battle flags, trophies of the Marne and Alsace, behind Prussian banners of 1870.

There in the chapel, before the tomb of Napoleon, Gen. Pershing received American flags and banners from the hands of President Poincare. Almost the entire history of the struggles of the French against the Germans looked down upon the scene of paintings portraying heroic incidents in French battles from Charlemagne to Napoleon. There was a sharp contrast between the khaki and plain, wide-brimmed hats of Pershing's men and the gay dress of d'Artagnan's plumed musketeers and Napoleon's grenadiers.

The enthusiasm of the vast crowd reached its highest pitch when Gen Pershing, escorted by President Poincare, Marshal Joffre and other high French dignitaries, passed along reviewing the lines of the Americans drawn up in square formations. Cheering broke out anew when the American band struck up the "Marseillaise" and again when the French band played the "Star Spangled Banner" and Gen. Pershing received the flags from the President.

"Vive les Americans; vive Pershing; vive les Etats Unis," shouted over and over by the crowd, greeted the American standard-bearers as they advanced.

When American-troops arrived at their barracks they were greatly pleased by their assignment to quarters in a five-story building mainly constructed of stone, which they will occupy exclusively. The French government had supplied individual beds with mattresses and a supply of bed linen. The sleeping quarters take the three upper stories and are light and well ventilated. On the ground floor are shower baths and washrooms.

After arms were stacked and supplies properly stored, the French soldiers served an excellent luncheon at noon. The menu consisted of roast beef and cold bologna sausage, baked potatoes, cucumber and lettuce salad, cream cheese, bread and butter, coffee and cherries and oranges for dessert. The French will supply all rations used in the barracks.

During the afternoon the Army Young Men's Christian Association took the soldiers on a sight-seeing tour through Paris, using motor trucks as conveyances.

The American officers are greatly pleased with their quarters, and the arrangements for the troops. Many of the American troopers speak enough French to get on with the French troops and all fraternize whether they understand the same language or not.