Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-11
AMERICAN TROOPS
WATCH ON THE RHINE
Pershing Rules Coblenz; Populace
Submits Without Protest to Oc-
cupation of u. S. Army.

Coblenz, Dec. 1O-Coblenz tonight is
under the complete military control of
the Americans, with the municipal authorl-
ties cooperating.
At the Coblenz end of the three ridges
across the Rhine, American sentries were
posted in the evening.
In the afternoon the American forces
took charge of the barracks and other
buildings evacuated that morning by
the German troops.
The American forces comprised the
Second Battalion of the 39th Infantry,
which arrived here in the afternoon In
answer to a request from the German
y authorities. The reception of the Ameri-
cans was most friendly. The Americans
marched direct from the train which
brought them from Treves to the various
arsenals, barracks, and storehouses. where
they established guards.
The last German troops left Coblenz
Sunday morning. There was no trouble
of any kind and none is expected Some
citizens of Cohlenz said they felt better
now that the Americans had arrived.
CIVILIANS FRIENDLY SHIRT.
The friendly spirit with which the civil
ians of Coblenz greeted the Americans
began to evidence itself in the villages
along the railroad over which the Amcri-
cans came 10 Coblcnz At many places
Sunday crowds of children cheered and
waved their hands as the Americans pass
ed. The spirit displayed became more
friendly as the troops approached Cohlenz-
When the Americans arrived and de-
trained IN an outlying part Of the city they
were met by a large crowd including
municipal officials Among the Others
waiting to see the Americans were two
Professors with all the pupils of a boys
school
TRAIN RUN RY GERMANS.
The train which transported the Ameri-
cans to Coblenz was manned bya German
crew The American soldiers occupying
coaches formerly used by German troops.
One coach carried newspaper correSpon-
dents.
'ihc battalion is commanded by Lieut..
Col James Iockett, with Major Fred
Hackett second in command. III addi-
tion to their rifles and ammunition. the
soldiers carried full pack, containing
emergency rations, and additional food
supplies were brought hv the train 10
tide the mGns over until ration trains ar
rive.
When The Americans took UP guard
of the Cohlenz ends of the Rhine bridges
German soldiers were dong sentry duty
on tho opposite ends. Tonight the Amcrl-
can sentrics along the Rhine could see
the lights of the fortress 0f Ehren brett
stein, which stands on a rocky promontc-
ry 400 feet above tie river, where several
regiments of Ger1ran soldiers are still
quartered. 1t Is said that the fortress
can accommodate 100000 men
ToCRoss THE RHINE FRIDAY.
The Americans viii not cross the
Rhine until further orders the tattal-
ion remaining in Coblenz more in the
rature of military police until addition
al forces arrive. \ company Of engineers
was prepared to throw a temporary
bridge across the stream. but there were
already four bridges. two here one in
the north and another TO the south
over which the American army ) cH-
pected to cross Dec. 13 in a thirty mile
src
Colonel James Rhea Of Texas. head
Of the American commission. has teen
dealing for four days with the local an-
thoritics on questions incident to the
taking over Of the bridgeEcad Instead
of antaConism or even passive acqdi-
eScence he encountered lively co-opera-
ton
The mayor of CobIenz issued 0 proc
lamation IN which he requested the IN
habitants 10 refrain from all acts of dis
courtesy or violence and to accord the
Americans such assistance as was posi-
BILE II was due 10 the MAYORS request
supplemented hy one from the military
comnandant that the Americans are
here
a local committee was appointed to |