Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-11-18

En- Route with the American Army
Of Occupation. Nov. lI.-Hailed as
heroes and liberators of the people,
the American army of occupation, led
by General Joseph Hickman, is NOV
ing toward the Rhine today in three
mighty columns.
The Yankees made nine miles to-
day and then halted. The march will |
be resumed tomorrow.
Gen. Dickman's host is known as
the Third American army and is ad- /
vancing in battle formation, supported |
by airmen and artillery and ready for I
any emergency. 1t is the most his /
toric hike" that the Stars and Stripes |
have ever seen.
Everywhere the YANKEES were re-
ceiyed by the civilian population with
open arms, and in towns that the Ger
mans left only twenty -four hours be-
fore the United States flag blossomed
forth on the buildings.
1t was heart-touching ovation that
the doughboys received from men,
women and children as they entered
evacuated villages. Tagging German
soldiers who traied behind their own
forces saluted the American flag and
American army officers with profound
respect and tried to fraternize with
the doughboys.
The olive drab of Uncle Sans ma
rines was novelty everywhere. Men
politely dotted their hats. Women and
little girls smiled and bowed in their
prettiest manner. Grandmothers at
windows nodded their bonneted heads.
Children looked or in amazement
at the victorious brown army that fo!-
lowed 50 closely upon the heels of the
German soldiers, the only type of
troops they had known since the Hun
invasion over four years ago.
The Americans are ready for che
slightest violation Of the armistice,
Signal corps men are stringing tele-
phone wires along the poles set up by
the Germans. The artillerymen at
every halt plant their common in the
fields along the roadside and at the
crossroads, with neat piles of deadly
shells piled behind the guns, ready to
protect the infantrymen with bar
rage on a seconds notice.
The weather was bitter cold and
cloudy when the doughboys sci out
this morning The landscape, thick
with shell holes, was covered an inch
thick with frost
But the doughboys did not mind the
weather nor their heavy packs. All
were eager to invade the enemy lands
and to see the village people.
Thousands of Italian, Russian and
Polish prisoners, released from Ger
man prison cages, flocked in the OPP
poste direction in quest Of rest,
warmth and food in the American
lines.
The influx of prisoner is raising
one Of the biggest problems confront
ing our army Of occupation They
must be fed. The hungry, ragged sol
diers are given every consideration
and are invited to a seat at the hun
dreds Of bondres that lighted up the
landscape. When chow was dished
up the refugees were invited to par
ticipatc.
The march is being marked by some
Of the most striking scenes of The
war and they are being stamped in.
dCibly upon the minds of the dough-
boys.
Some of the Ianks complained that
their jaws were getting sore trying
to pronounce the names of some of
tho places they were passing, but the
soreness passed away 1t Chow" time
The Americans are great souvenir
hunters, and at rest periods they were
busy picking up all sorts of discarded
German equipment.
Some of them carried signboards
ana others posters that they had pried
from the sides Of buildings.
What surprised the doughboys most
was the number Of American flags
fluttering in villages the Germans had
left just the day before
Along late in the day, when the
men began to tire after the strenu.
Gus movement Of the day, the soldiers
began throwing away their souvenirs,
promising themselves to get more at
the end OF the march
During halts the bands gathered at
crossroads and in the fields and
played strenuously, but there was no
music while the troops were on the
march.
Liberated prisoners gathered around
the musicians and in pauses of music
they surrounded the bonfires and the
kitchen "chow guns" All the liber.
ated prisoners are headed for Nerdun.