Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-17

to its knees, lends new signihcance~to the cry,'
"On to the Rhine" for it is headed in that di-
rection and beyond with as much speed as
weary limbs and crippled transport can muster
who shields thee, my beloved Kline:
The victorious armies of the allies and the
United States.
By the terms of the armistice signed last
Monday the allies will occupy and garrison all
crossings on the west bank of the river, and
guard the bridgeheads on the east bank, from
Switzerland to Holland. To guard against a
possible comeback a neutral zone is created on
miles in depth. Within these limits are EN-
braced the major portion of the industrial life
and war-making impulses of the defeated en-
pire West of the river, principally in the re-
conquered provinces of AlsaceLorraine lie the
coal and iron mines, tor possession OF when
Prussia made war on France in 1901 and ad-
vanced the empire from the fourth to the second
rank in steel production. Manufacturing mil
ionaires as a result developed in the Rhineland
as rapidly as in the oil regions of the United
States, hourishing-and waxing arrogant on the
increment of stolen goods.
The territory neutralized and occupied EN-
brace practically all important cities and towns
on the Rhine. Excluding Strassburg, which
reverts to France, the list embraces ESSEN Dus-
seldorf and Cologne on the North and Bonn
Karlsruhe OH the south. Inclusion Of Essen
is particularly happy arrangement Essen is
the municipal name for the Krupp works. the
principal cannon shop of the world and the
greatest war, promoter among the ratters
of Germany. Next to Essen as war profteer
steel fabricating plants. West of the river are
many great munition plants and steel plants
,of the empire the makers of poison gas and the
I plutocrats born of the rape of>France in 1871.
To the allied army of occupation, partcu-
larly the American section, a camp on the
Rhine possesses unusual interest. Scarcely any
other region of Europe equals the Rhine valley
in historic interest, legendary lore and scenic
charms 1t is a stream of varied aspects, and
in normal times carries a huge traffic. Victor
Hugo, who wrote perhaps what was the finest
article ever written about it, said The Rhine
is unique; it combines the qualities of every
river. Like the Rhone, 1t is rapid; broad, like
the Loire; encased like the Meuse; serpentine,
like the Seine; limpid and green like the
Somme; historical, like the Tiber; royal like the
with gold like an American river; and, like
river in Asia, Astounding in phantoms and
fables"
In the destinies of Europe the Rhine says
Hugo, has sort of providential signifcation
1t is the great moat which divides the north
1
seen the forms and reflected the shadows of
almost all the warriors who have titled the old
continent with that share which they called the
sword. Caeser crossed the Rhine in going to
the SOUTH Attila crossed it when descending
from the north. 1t was here that Clovis gained
the battle Of Tolb:ac, and that Charemagnne and
Napoleon figured For the thinker
who is conversant with history two great eagles
are perpetually lowering over the Rhine-that
of the Roman 1egions and that of the French
regiments. The Rhine bore at one
time upon its surface bridges of boats. over
which the armies of Italy, Spain and France
poured into Germany"
As late as July, 1914, two bridges of boats
were in use on the river-one at Coblence and
one at Cologne.
Rising in the highest Alps, the Rhine
traverses some of the richest country in Europe
for distance of 900 miles 1t is navigabe for
large steamers to Mayence and for small boats
almost to the Swiss line. Like mighty tree
in form, it gathers its waters from countless
streams, courses through mountainous rocks
and plains and reaches the North Sea through
the WAL Yssel, Leck and Vecht rivers in Hol-
land Majestic as the Rhine is in commerce
and history, it loses its greatness, and almost
its identity, in Holland, reaching the ocean as
small stream bordered by sand dunes.
For the visitor the Rhine from Mayence to
Cologne possesses the chief interest. Before
the war that section rarely missed the globe
trotter. 1t was featured by touring agencies
and in travel literature, and usually fulfilled ex-
pectations On both sides of the gorge through
which it flows experimentation, are vine-clad
hills some gently sloping and terraced, others
of rugged rock rising "a height of 700 feet
Castle aruins on crests and slopes lend pic
turesque variety to the scenery and grip the
seeker for baronial lore. A swift-fowng
stream between rock-lined banks, railroad on
each, and cities, towns and villages at short in
tervals, maintain interest from start to finish
Bingen-"Fair Bingen on the Rhine"-awak
ems memories of recitation days at school and
emphasizes the superior value of a poet as a
publicity agent. Across the river on the east
rises the great national monument of Germania
GROWING the rocky crest of Neiderwald, 700
feet above the water Another gigantic national
river front at Coblence on neck of land formed
by the junction of the Moselle Coblence was
the favorite retreat of Empress Augusta the
first empress of Germany, and the monument is
largely an expression of municipal gratitude for
royal favors. The city is ringed with forts and
conquerors. Overlooking Coblence on the east
bank stands the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein, re-
puted to be the largest in the Rhine valley if
not in Germany. The name signifies The
broad stone of honor" derived from the level
rock sheNe on which the castle of Ehrenbreit-
stein STANDS. o the lOurlSl on the river the
fort looks like huge rambling structure, of
brick, and was said in pre-war days to carry
provisions for siege of six years.
Between Bingen and Coblence rises the
tabled rock of Lorle, $50 feet high, jutting into
and forming a sharp corner of the river. In
tourist times the steamer ballyhoos point out
the rock and rehearse the legend with varia-
tons. Lorlei the sweet singer Of the legend,
haa, -ta
the years and yarns, is pictured seated on the
crest of the rock, strngng harp with one
hand and the other brushing back flowing
tresses as long as hair restorative ad. AT other