New-York tribune., 1918-12-03
Germans Silent as Khaki
Ranks March Through
Occupied Rhineland
AHDe1nOnstratiOn
Is Kept Suppressed
Military Music Brings
Stolid Crowds Out to
Watch Troops Pass

TION, Dec. l BY The Associated
Pressl.-No demonstrations, either
friendly or hostile, marked the entry
of Major General Dickman's army into
Germany to-day. The frontier was
crossed early. and by nightfall the
Americans had moved forward twelve
miles reaching Radgen. on the left, and
Saarhozbach. on the right.
The reception accorded the Ameri
cans was different than that encoun-
tered in Luxembourg and parts of Bel
GUM and France. There they were
welcomed as deliverers by almost all
Of the population. The attitude of the
population of Rhenish Prussia was diff
ierent.
Not d single act Of open antagonism
was reported. but it was evident that
even the children had been schoolcd
carefully in the role they must play.
Officers and men were not surprised
by the lack of display of flags and the
absence of the cheering crowds TO
which they had been accustomed, but
hey did not expect the calm silence
with which the advance patrols and the
Streets Arc Deserted
Across the Moselle the streets of the
villages were almost deserted. Per-
haps S5 per cent of the population re-
NAMED within their homes, and in a
majority Of cases the blinds were
drawn Here and there German stood
in the doorway, watching the troops
pass, and occasionally groups gathered
at street corners, but there were no
signs of either pleasure or disapproval.
Larger crowds were encountered in
Treves later in the day, but even there
most of the people kept moving. main
tanning always a studied air of indif
ference Once in a while the young
sters under six years of age were car
ried away by the excitement and dis
played enthusiasm over the marching
troops, but their forgetfulness was cor
rected promptly by some older person.
In the village of Cordell north of
Treves, three war-weary German SOL
diers arrived home by train from the
north just as the American advance
guard reached the village. A handful
of villagers was at the station to meet
the returning Germans. The wives OF
the returning soldiers were in the
crowd. The appearance of the march
ing Americans seemed to awe Two OF
the Germans and their families. This
was not the case, however, with the
third soldier, whose wife took him by
the hand and led him through the vii
lGge street past the column Of Ameri-
cans
Hear American Tunes
There were no flags or other decora-
tons in any of the town through which
the Americans marched, and no music
except that furnished by the Americans.
Perhaps the first American tunes
heard in Germany as played by the
bands of the army Of occupation was
Sauer River. north of Echternach The
village was entered by the 125th In
fanJry while the villagers were on
their way to church.
With the American flag and the regi-
mental insignia at the head Of the
column, the 125th regimental band
walked into lrrel playing a march. The
villagers forgot church for the time
being and stood bewilderedly watching
the khaki-clad procession in column Of
fours
Brigadier General Preston Brown,
the military governor of the occupied
territory. has established his headquar-
ters at Treves, which also has been
made advanced general headquarters.
General Pcrshng will spend part Of
MS time al Treves. Civil affairs will
ne directed by Major General Harry
Smith.
Nanquished Watch victors
curious feature of the situation
was the presence along the line of
march Of large numbers Of DISCHARGED
German soldiers, both officers and men,
sun IN 1ull uniform Along the roads
and IN 1reves these prav-clad mon
moved IN and out Of the groups of men
IN KHAKI or stood on the sidewalks
watching the marching columns. At
several places in the city and in the
country districts Germans armed with
lihes We're seen acting as civilian
guards. They had been placed there
ty the German authorities to maintain
order
The Allied commissions which have
been in communication with the Ger
mans have notified the local authori-
ties both in Treves and in other places
that where the civilian authorities are
Not troublesome and where they CO.
operate with the forces OF occupation
they will be permitted 70 remain at
their posts and will not be disturbed
axcept in so far as it is necessary for
the carrying out of military measures.
lhree or tour days VIII be required,
it is estimated tonight, for the four
first line divisions to complete their
crossing into German territory.
More Bridges Needed
The advance of the American army
was held UP by the limited number of
bridges across the Sauer and Moselle
rivers The principal bridges used were
those at Echternach, Rosport and
Wasserbillig on the Sauer, and Grew
enmacher, ormeldange and Remich,
on the Moselle.
The main roads encountered during
the first days march into Germany
were in good condition. At several
places The Americans passed small
bridges and culverts which apparently
had been repaired in the last few days.
At some places between villages on
She principal highways the Americans
travelled on ordinary dirt roads.