The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-11-18

18TH, DIVISION IN
OCCUPATION ARMY
Is Included in Forces Now
! Moving Toward.
Germany
>, $50 ...t--- = ~ ~ :sF
JOURNEY
YESTERDAY MORNING
Many Of Men in Newly Furnished Uni
forms, ALI Eager to Reach Enemy
Territory-Troops Using as Much
Care as II Armtstice Were Not SiRned

army has been designated as "the army
|of occupation. = -
1t viii be under the immediate direc,
ton of Gen. Pershing, the commander
in-ehief, who will be in command OF the
American positions in occupied terri
tories
The I'D army will consist of the lat, ID
ID, 4th, 9Th, 26th, ed, AID, 9th and Goth
divisions, which divided among the 3D.
and 4th corps will consist for the present
lof about 100000 men. Il will be com
mapded by Mai. Gen. Dickman
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. Nov. H. by The Associated
Press.-Gen. Pershings forces moved for
ward early today in territory just abah.
doned by the German troops.
On the old line between Mo,zon and
Thiaucourt, lying from the region of
Sedan to the south of Metz, the troops
had been stationed TO await orders for
the advance, and at 80 o'clock this
morning the patrols marched out, not in
Line of battle, but in columns. along the
high roads, which were only slightly
damaged
The first steps of the Americans into
regions so lately. controlled by Germany
we're not spectacular. The men were
keyed up and keen for the new adven.
ture, but, as on the day of the signing Of
the armistiec, there were comparativelc
no demonstrative manifestations of their
enthusiasm
Many of the men had been newly uni
formed, and all of, them were polished
as though for inspection. The men ap.
| peared eager for the word to 90 for
ward
The relatively small units that arc
| moving forward as advance guards were
| sent to the line before daylight. The
night had been cold. and the mud that
marks the roads, notwithstanding there
have been two or three days without rain.
was slightly frozen. The men shiycred
as they rested by the roadside.
4 When the command finally was given
Tor the sdvsncethe elements which were
to push forward in some cases miles
apart on the long line between the. es.
ftreme left and right, moved off into the
mists that appear always to shroud this
part of the country, and disappeared
For the first time since the Americans
had been ordered TO advance into cnepny-
held territory there was assurance chat
they would encounter no hostility.
+, The intelligence department, which ihas
never ceased to function. had accurately
reported that the Germans were carryins
out their agreement of evacuation, and
There was evident the belief both by Off.
tcers and men that no trap was awaiting
them.
No chances rerc taken. however The
engineers were the second units to press
forward. and they carefully began thei,
work of looking out for mines and faint,
cd water
| Every obstacle was tested before il
Twas moved, in order to find out if il
masked explosives. For some time tho
lGermsns have shown a spirit OF, co opera.
tion in, informing the Americans where
mines were located, and themselves de.
stroying them. : - =
|, II was some time after the engineer.
moyed forward before the heavier col,
nmps took the roads. The entire army
hnally was. moving, and moving along
the lines of peace days. but il was il,
sueh order that il might quickly be trans,
formed into battle array Every bri,
gade was covered by regiment of us
the heavier artillery following close be.
hind. The tanks of the advancing col.
nmn were vel, protected
| It has been impressed on officers and
men alike that this is an operation under
an! armistice; that war still exists, and
that the possibility remains that at any
time it may be necessary for them "a
play their, part with the same rrimness
of the past year,
Fraternization, not only with the Ger.
man soldiers who may be found either
az strsgglcrs or voluntary prisoners, but
with the civilian population, has been
lsternly forbidden. Looting and even
| souvenir hunting have been also forbid
fden the Americans.
II has been plainly impressed upon the
| men that property.is inviolatc and that