New-York tribune., 1918-12-20
New York Major Is
First to Lead His
Troops TO the Rhine
Fred w. Ha ckett's Battalion
Has the Honor of Being
Vanguard Of American
Army of Occupation
By Wilbur Forrest
ilcw forha Tribune
Special Cable Serrice

DDeCfut 1 tuOte ioeTclCG
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY OF
OCCUPATION, Dec. s Delayed -
American soldiers to-day made possible
the most historic move in our national
war history, and tonight "Die Wacht
am Rheir" is theirs.
rosy-checked, clean -shaven New
York State boy, Il major of the regular
army, led his battalion through the
ancient streets of the fortress city of
Coblenz this afternoon, beginning for
America The last stage Of her glorious
record in the greatest war in history.
He was Major Fred W. Hackctt. of
Champaign, N. Y, and his battalion,
which has the honor of being the first
to reach Gcrloany's noted river. was a
unit of the 39th Infantry Regiment of
the 4th Division, the vanguard of the
American army of occupation, which
VIII occupy Coblenz until our main
army arrives.
To-day's entry followed on the inn
mediate heels of the German Third
army, the last units of which crossed
the Rhine yesterday. The bulk of our
Third Army will not reach the Rhine
for several days.
Our first entry into Coblenz was
made by troop train from Treves. 1t
arrived here at 1920 o'clock this after
noon, and the 900-odd men Olsen
trained, formed their columns Of four
and marched from the railroad yards to
the great German army barracks, ten
blocks distant.
Few Witness Arrival
Charactcrizing our entire occupation
in Germany thus far, | would say it
was devoid of anything spectacular
The few people who accidentally saw
the troops stood silently watching them
with idle curiosity
German army officers, including a
general, met Maj or Hackett at the bar
racks and turned over the officers and
the mems quarters. These were COM
posed Of neat, clean beds in spotless
rooms, left immaculate by the German
troops.
arrived to-day with Major Hackett's
battalion. Later, walking through the
downtown streets of the city, which,
were filled with we'll dressed Sunday
afternoon crowds, myself and Junius
B. Wood, correspondent of "The Chi
cago Daily News were objects OF
CURIOUS dltcullOH ever WUeIe, DuL VIZ
saw no signs of hostility.
Likewise, we saw no evidences o1
starvation in the faces Of the thou
sands we met and still later, III 6
large hotel facing the Rhine, we were
able to order All excelently prepared
meal. which could not be entirely eater
because of the quantity. It consisted
o. HasenpfeFer, potatoes, tea, breat
and light beer.
met Colonel NJ. Sheriff., of Greens
boro, \. c., and Colonel James C. Ray
formerly chief of staff of the I'd Di
vision, here o-day, accompanied b.
Lieutenant Prinz, of the German army
acting as Interpreter for the German
Brldgehead Commission. They hav
been here two days acting for the Gen
cral Staff in connection with the evacu
alton Of Cobenz by the German Thir,
Army.
Prnz Admires Whittlesey
Prinz was the man who sent tn
famous message to Colonel Whittlese
when the latter's battalion was sur
rounded in the Argonne Forest, askin
him to surrender. Whittlesey's answe
was go to HE'LL" Prinz, who is
Prussian officer of the ordinary type
. expresses the greatest admiration TO
, Colonel WhlttleSey and the latterS con
duct and hopes to meet him some da
to shake his hand and congratulate hin
The last German unit to cross tn
Rhine yesterday was the 18th Reserv
! Division, which was opposed to on
! T7th Division in the Argonne Forest a
! the time of the Whttlesey incident
Colonel Shcrrill was cnIer of staff dur
ing that battle. 1t was the Third Ger
/ man Amy, also. that was opposite ou
J Third Army during the entire Argonn
battle.
Many Allied prisoners of war wer
found in Coblenz, all being we'll treate
and fed Only one American forme
prisoner, however, was discovered,
flying lieutenant who was capture
four months ago.
Coblcrz Is Not Starving
Coblenz gives all the outward ar
pearances of a prosperous America
city Of hundreds of thousands of pee
Pile The hotels are operating as uS
ual At the larger ones the orchestra
and dining rooms and the big cafe
with their music may operate until
o'clock at night under the America
army rules.
The only abnormal feature or az
pearance noticeable was the Germa
civil guards, armed with rifles, patro
ling the streets. The stories of Ge
manys starvation appear here agai
not to hold water.
Woman Needs RseIp