Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-18
AMERICAN ARMY
\ FINDS COBLENz
FOLKS H0SPiTABLE
Our Men Find People Glad to
Entertain Them; Children Already
Pals of Yankees.
HUNS QUIT UNDER TRUCE

here week ago A large number of these
troops have passed through the city.
while considerable forces will remain
here temporarily.
The people OF Coblenz got their first
glimpse of American airplancs yester-
day, several of the machines flying over
the Rhine toward the bridgehead bound
ary and then returning.
The officers and clerks Of the Third
Army arrived here Yesterday, followed
BY trucks loaded with equipment and
office supplies. The largest hotel in
CoblenS. overlooking the Rhine and
the two bridges where most of the troops
cross the river, has been taken over
as quarters for the Third Army officers.
The headquarters of the Third Army
are established in a government build
ing adjoining the hotel.
BY noon the Third Army was in COM
munlcation with the back areas by tele-
phone. telegraph and wireless
Various dctachmcnts Of infantry and
artillery passed through CoblcnS sun
day on their way to JON the divisions
east of the Rhine. Churchgocrs viewed
the marching troops with much inter
est. Late IN the afternoon the 3rd Divi-
SION, which had been along the Rhine
south of Coblcnz. marched through the
city headed by band, each musician
mounted on a gray horse The Third
Division crossed the MoSclle north Of
Coblenz. where II has taken up a posi-
ilon along the Rhine in support Of the
troops within the hrdgehcqd
Nj the larger hotels have been taken
over by the Americans for hilcting pur-
poses, as well as many of the public
buildings. which are beng used rs Offices.
German officers who had renamed IA
the city 20 turn over war material Ia
the Americans soon completed their
tasA, and proceeded across the Rhine
~ automobiles flying white hag, - ION
thc German armies beyond the bridge
head lines
Throughout the sector held ~ the
Americans. the men have settled down
- what may hc weeks of occupation
Fms and Nassau are two Important
towns which have fallen ID the French
sent into the American sector. hut \cu-
wed, "A bIg industrial centre. and an
other towns IN the northern half III the
sector arc held by the Americans
The Americans have followed the
policy which characterized thclr first
lays oi occupation They have promul-
gated no drastic rules 10 govern cINIl
llic. and m every way have underworld
- make the inhabitants feel thai thcv
Will not bc molestcd - long as thcv do
not interfere with the military author
tlcs
on the first Sunday were shown tho
results II tins policy While the people
4 Cohlen1 are still somewhat resentiul
their attitude. residents of the smaller
owns evinced mono of tins hostility
Dressed In their SUNDAY clothes. the
Germans sttcndcd church services and /
appeared surprised - find among the
congregations In some of the places a |
few Of the enlisted mon. III the after
noon the children IN thr villages made
love frankly 10 any Of the soldiers who
would permit it. clambCrcd over the
trucks, and demanded ihclr turn 10
>nugglc into the seas Of the gllns in
he artillery parks. And They were not
reprovcd hy their parents The older
among the men and women not only |
made no objection 20 hlletInCs. AS did /
many IN Coblenz and Trcyc~. but ire |
quently showed q desire to make the men I
feel AZ home
Wherever bands were nayinr the I
people crowded the street corners Is
listen % the music instead OF hurrvlf.a
% their homes situation that did not
cNlst when the invasion Of German ter I
ritOry began two weeks ago.
Applications for leave Of absence arc
already largely on the increase, hut IT /
Is notable that the American soldiers
are not asking for permission 10 visit
distant points, but merely to make ex-
cursions into the picturesque regions.
where almost every valley Is guarded
by the RUNS Of a mediaeval castle
The ROYAL Castle in CoblcnZ, known
a. one OF The former German emperor
palaces Is now under guard hy Amcri-
can troops The palace stands on the
ftaT = [
tho business centre of Cohicnz
The palace l. surrounded by roval !
gardens, and contains many articles
ot historic interest, IL addition to sll-
ver.are and other belongings 81 William
l., who once occupied the building
since the arrival 81 tho Americans
there have been several atteinpts to re-
move some Of the valuable, III the pal
ace Therefore il Was decided that the
guard house should hc placed around
the house as precautlon 4gainst the
furniture other things inside being
disturbed
The palace was built bv Prince Glenn
ems Nenzeslau The building Nj, start
ed In the year 1878. and va, finished
eight wears later. Ii Was remodcied HI
1915 During the occupation ~ Coblcnz
by the French tie palace war USED Il.
a hospital. and later the Germans used
\ a. a barracks During the pre,cu,
war the palace was not disturbed hv Tho
German army although al yariui,
times movements were on foot - turn
II INTO d hospital
The royal barrack, within the palace
gardens Is occupied by Am rican troops
but thus far the Americans have not en-
tered the palace itself
BY decree of the American military
the clocks at Coblenz. Trcves,
and elsewhere IN the occupied area were
set back an Eour on Sunday The change ,
rom the German time was made 50 that
The clocks within the brldgehead and ,
the district West 0f the river Rhine .
would correspond with the French time
,r the time used BY the American TX }
peditionary Force I
In accordance with the terms of the :
,rmistice the Germans on Sunday turn
u over TO the Americans $50 motor
rucks About 500 Of these trucks have j,
,een assembled AT Coblenz and the !
,thers IN two villages near BY As rapid /
v a. possible the former German army ! 7
,racks are being manned by Americans y
md used to bring up supplies.
German built trucks driven by Amcri-
ans riunbled through the streets Of
Ioblenz oD Sunday, but they did not !
ttract much attention, the civilians |
iavlng become accustomed 10 the sound
made bg lrpr ftrgs rciiipo alopa fL,.