The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-15
Children Of Thanh Quickly
Lose ALI Trace Of Ger
man Accent. -.
NEGRO TROOPS IN LEAD
Fifteenth New York Was in
Most Advanced Position on
Western Front.
By NOBLE HALL.

He-do- rsr,.. s.--Ics
cory-tcA.. 1919, al yoats ,ss'r-ed.
THANH, Alsace. Nov. 14-when the
lighting ceased. the most adtsneed sec
ton Of the western front was held Dy
the American troops. who were brisaded
with the Seventh French Army.
they formerly were the Fifteenth
New York Infantry. tho famous negro
regiment with the French and sene-
gaIess troops they held the town o.
Than. The whole valley -ras dedecked
with British. French and American
flags ard filled with the joyous changing
OF bells, which for four years had been
rung only for the dead.
The FIST people TO cross the line were
Alsatian peasants carrying food and
warm clothing to relatives, but at II
O'Clock German troops began 10 come
over unarmed, pleading for tobacco. The
men passed over No Mans Land with
out hindrance other than deep belts Of
barbed Hsse and an elaborate system OF
pitfalls. which made a frontal attack
impossible On this sector.
German Morale Bad.
II took fully an hour OF strenuous
effort to cross the 500 yards which
sepa rated the lines. The Germans were
either very ola or very young troops
anu seemed well fed and warmly clothed
which was IN marked contrast TO the
plight OF the civilian people In Alsace.
The morale OF the German troops was
utterly bad and they acted as men with.
out honor or sense OF shame, and openly
retoi>ed that they had been beaten
Nothing mattered IN their eyes 80 long
a. they had to fight no more.
Al night star shells and rockets wer,
sent up and the scene WAS Ike a FIRE
works display on q giant scale. BacI
Of the American lines we heard that som,
Ct the Germans had refused to return :,
their own lines and were sent TO the req
under guard.
All through reconuuered Alsace III,
Joy OF the people was Contagious ans
profoundly impressive. Preach officer,
said the peoples faith had never wav
cred. French was spoken eYerywhere
all traces OF Teuton!c occupation ha;
vanished and one looked In vain 70
even . tradesrnan's sign In German.
AIsace had not been truly French n,
such Transformation would have bee,
l,Imauly possible.
says God Sent Clemenceau.o
In a school in Thanh. not three mem
bers Of q class which knew no word o
French fooI years ago gave even a sug
gest!on OF German accent The rooS
, nun gave all The praise to the AImight,
and added without irony. ''Cest lie bo.
D.eu qui n envoye lie u. Clenenceau pou
sauver In France" In the streets tn,
! In Massuvaur, the head larters Of ths
military administration, had seen tn,
Joy OF Victory bring tears to the eyes o.
the French officers II was the happies
day OF their lives ard none was asha net
to show his emotion. At the mess risinl
! tan French MAJOR OF cavalry, who's.
gray hair and leatheFy features b>spok,
his sturdy soul, entered. He could no
speak but he strobe straight to the mill
tary administrator. The two embraced
each officer in the ness with n fervol
that made every one OF them weep
The saTre emotion was present ar
hour later IN the cathedral IN Thanh
| from the sssepie OF which the tricolol
ioated Eayly. The more boisterous eie
ment was outside celebrating the victory
but all the old people for miles araanc
gathered to pray and listen to II. i
cure, who. speaking now In the patois
told them how the God OF battle haC
blessed France and the Allies becau>
their cause was that Of justice ant
| liberty. The service ended with the ser
mon. for the old cure was unable {.
make his way back to the altar, 30 den-
was the crowd OF officers, peasants ant
American soldiers who thronged tn
| nave and transept and packed the choir
So u. lie cure returned to his preach
| ing and thanked God that Asace wa
| France.