Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-20
By the Associated Press

with the American Army OF Occupa-
tious Nov. 20.-Wth the exception of
few laggard units the last of Germany's s
armies have disappeared behind their
own frontier. From the villages located
in the narrow strip of unoccupied terri
tory between the American and German
forces have come reports that the
stragglers had engaged in looting.
Appeals were received from the in
habitants that the advancing Americans
hasten to their relief. Investigation
proved, however, that the villagers were
more excited than injured and that most
of the damage being done by the little
groups of Germans was to the Germans
own stores of food and clothing.
Abandon Sick and Wounded
Other appeals were found to have
more foundation. Those from the
mayors of Halanzy and other neighbor-
ing towns reported the presence Of
wounded and sick in greater numbers
than the local physicals could attend
and to those points mediaCl officers
and supplies were sent, after notification
to the Germans of the Americans plan.
When the Germans evacuated these
towns they took with them not only the
medical and nursing staffs. but also the
hospital supplies. abandoning the sick
ana wounded to the mercieS of the
townspeople and the army of occupation.
.r-Such was found to be tho case in
the hospital at Longway. where was
located the Thirty-seCond Division head
quarters. Six wounded Americans wera
found there three of them officers. Two
were ariators reported missing in Oc-
tober They were flying low when at
tackled by six Fokkers and forced to
nd Ht,it 81,
Prisoners Poorly Treated
The Germans had taken all their own
men from the hospital, leaving only
prisoners of war. The stories of the
American and other wounded agreed
that they had been accorded poor treat
ment. The nurses and doctors. they de-
clared had been indifferent in their at
tention, and the food provided was no
better than that served in the prison
camps.
The care of the sick and wounded in
this hospital was shared by local COM
mittee, headed by Nine. Rothe, president
of the Franco Belgian relief, and in
clu6lng five French nurses and many
women of the town. They undertook the
more ordinary tasks in the hospital
routine. The local physicians of Longwy
as well as other places offered their
services.
Repatriated soldiers and civilians con-
tinue to march back to the lines. The
Russians offer the greatest problem.
There are thousands of them, many Of
whom have contracted Spanish influ-
enza. They are being sent to the
hospital in the bask areas as quickly as
possible.
Reports brought by the repatriated
population and by agents of the army
agree that the Germah command is
having difficulty in maintaining an
orderly retreat The main body of the
German army is already beyond the city
of Luxembourg, where the population is
preparing to receive the Americans. The
people have even hung out a few Ameri-
can flags. Notwithstanding the presence
of German soldiers. Bands played in the
square and detachments of troops are re-
ported to have paraded the streets sing
ing before they marched out.
An inventory shows that the guns, am
munition and general stores found by
the Americans attained much greater
proportions yesterday than previously
One dump of signal corps supplies is
estimated to be valued at no less than
$2,000,0O0.
An enormous warehouse taken at
Longwy was filled with general supplies
among which were several big double
engined airplanes in good condition.
Washington, Nov. 20.--The following
communique from General Pershng
was received today:
Headquarters American Expedition
ary Forces, Nov 10, tmorning): on the
front of the Third Army the day passed
without incident, our troops occupying