The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-12-13
YANk SENTRIES
FACE GERMANS
FROM POSTS
OVER RHINE
First and Third U. S. Divis-
ions Designated to Occupy
Advanced Positions East Of
Coblenz-People Show In
dependence.
RAINBOW men ADVANCE
(By Associated Press)

COBLENZ, by courier to Nancy
Dec. 13.-Sentries Of the American
and German armies face each other
across the Rhine tonight. From An
dernach. below Coblenz. northward 10
the British lines, American forces nolo
The west bank Of the stream South
Of Coblenz advanced elements OF tne
American army have reached 'he
river. o,t
IT is expected that the movement
across the Rhine will be well under
yay tomorrow. The first and thlro al
visions have been designated TO oc-
cuny the advanced positions along the
thirty kilometer arc east or Coplehz,
constituting the bridgehead stlpuia.eo
IN the armistice. The 37th, 90th, 4th
and 42d will occupy positions IN sup
port of the advanced lines.
The first third and fourth divisions
are Of the regular army. The thirty
second Is made up of national guard
regiments from Michigan and Wlscon.
Gin Texas and Oklahoma natlonai
army men make up the nineteen,
while the forty-second is the Rain.
how" division, composed OF Natlonai
guard regiments from Louisiana, WIS
consin. Pennsylvania, New York. ONO,
Georgia. Alabama, Iowa, Illionis, lndi
ana. Minnesota, Maryland, South caro-
lima. California, Missouri, Virginia.
North Carolina, Kansas, Texas. Mich
igan, New Jersey. Tennessee. oKla5
homa. District of Columbia, Nebraska
Colorado and Oregon. ...
Nine Miles from Rhine.
The thirty-second, and perhaps the
njnetieth. will cross at Cobienz, anu
the others will use the bridges north
and south of the city. Arrangements
have also been made to use tugs II
necessary to expedite the crossing. :,
Engineer regiments have inspected
all bridges and roads beyond the river
while a commission made up OF ger
man army officers and clvilians mas
given every facility for the Americans
10 collect information as to the terri
tory that is to be occupied east OF the
Rhine. -
Across the river from Coblenz, in
the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein. there
has been a small force OF Germans
hut il has been withdrawn and an
American force entered the fortress
today following a request to that ei-
German commandant of the place IN
formed the Americans that by tomor-
row the entire German army, with the
exception of detachments OF guards,
would be nine miles from the Rhine.
A bottle thrown from window by
81 woman at an American soldier has
been the only overt act of hospitality
reported since the Americans have en-
tered Coblenz The incident was re-
rarded as being so trivial that it was
left to the local police to deal with the
woman. There has developed, now
ever within the past "a hours an un-
mistakable air of independence on the
mart of the people. rejecting their
conviction that the Americans are 60
ing TO deal with them much more
delicately than have the French or
British with the people north ana
south of the city.
Jostie Americans.
The position of the Americans is
slightly peculiar Coblenz was lnfor-
mally occupied by battalion which
arrived on Sunday and which served
only as guard, which probably would
have been inadequate in event or seri-
ous trouble German officers are here
treating with the American authorities
and discharged soldiers, still wearing
their uniforms, are still numerous IN
the streets, which seems 70 offer the
civilians who have not yet felt the
strength of an invaders hand reason
to believe that the Americans are not
of the resentful nature.
Instead of cringing. or even showing
deep respect. the population adopted
An attitude today that found express
sion in jostling American soldiers on
the streets and in sneers and laughs
which were only vaguely concealed.
The burgomaster has published only
the rules regulating local affairs, The
latest one orders the closing OF cares
at II o'clock in the evening. 1t is es-
tjmated at his office that there are
sufficient foodstuffs in this district TO
last them till February. after watch
assistance will be imperative.