New-York tribune., 1918-12-13
British Advance,
Guard Occupies
Bonn, OH Rhine
Cologne Hides Grief Over
English Occupation and
Great Civilian Crowds
Attempt Fratefnization

LONDON, Dec. 12.--Thc British ad-
vance guard have entered the city of
Bonn and have taken possession of the
bridge over the Rhine there
Bonn is on the left bank of the
Rhine, fifteen miles southeast of
Cologne, and between that city and
Coblenz, where American troops now
arc stationed. 1t is the site of a ccle-
brated university, founded in 1918, and
is one of the wost picturesque cities on
the Rhine.
COLOGNE, Dec. (By The -ssocat-
cd Press) British troops to-day were
in possession of all the great bridges
across the Rhine at Cologne, as a result
of the sudden and unexpected with
drawal Of German sentries from the
eastern end OF the CT. ,sings during the
night.
British soldiers yesterday were pa
trolling twothirds of each bridge,
while the Germans were keeping their
beats over the remaining third.
About 10 o'clock last night it was no.
ticed that the Germans had disappeared
and investigation showed they had de-
ing Teuton army.
In going the Germans cut the electric
wires in the towers on their end of the
bridge, leaving the eastern side in dark
ness. There was no other reason for
this, according to army officers, than to
cause annoyance to the British, if pos
sibie
The arrival of Scotch infantry in the
city late to-day caused the greatest ex-
citement among the sighuseers as the
kiltes swung through the streets be-
hind their walinc bagpipes. Thousands
Of folk hastily collected to see the
strange soldiers in skirts, of whom
Cologne had heard with unbeleving
ears.
So eagerly did the people press for
ward that at times traffic was virtually
halted. Certainly for a moment the
crowds came as near forgetting their
hatred of the Allies as they had at any
time in four years, for the Highlanders
made great hit and drew a smile to
many hard faces.
Cologne Hides It's Grief
over being under British rule, Cologne
still is exhibiting keen interest in the
proceedings of the troops of occupation.
To-day being Sunday, thousands of per-
sons dressed in their holiday best
thronged the streets, and wherever Off
GERS or soldiers appeared there one
would see great crowds of civilians
eager to get their first glimpse Of the
men in khaki.
1t was the same sort of curiosity
which one might see in almost any
large city. 1t drew the people about
the enemy troops, and, even though
there might be bitterness in the Ger
mans hearts, the uncomfortable inquis-
all else. AS matter of fact, the crowds
exhibited no hostility and in some cases
were inclined to be friendly.
Rhine Traffic Restored
Traffic of all sorts now is passing
over the bridges across the Rhine, espe-
cially over the big Hohenzollern Bridge
the river and has massive towers as
bridge was found to have been elabo-
rately prepared for defence. From the
design of the towers they appear to
have been built with steel shutters
through which were loopholes. The
western end of the bridge is vertable
fortress, which is now being occupied
by British soldiers, whose machine
guns dominate both the bridge and the
road to the Cathedral.
Almost under the muzzles of the
rapid~firers stand mammoth equestrian
statues of former Emperor William and
Prince Bismarck-on either side of the
entrance. One could almost imagine
that the ex-Emperor to-day looked par
ticularly fierce. especially when the
Scotch pipers went marching by.
1t is an interesting coincidence that
the troops guarding the Hohenzollern
Bridge, who were the first to cross the
Rhine, also fired the first shot in the
war for Great Britain and Belgium and
killed the first German accounted for