The sun., 1918-12-11
German Troops, Decked With
Flowers, Retire Before
Victorious Armies.
YANKs WARMLY GREETED
Civil Population, Including
School Children, Turn Out
to Welcome Soldiers.
By the Associated Press.

night is under the complete military
control Of the Americans, with the mt
nicipal authorities cooperating.
At the Coblenz end OF the three
bridges across the Rhine American
sentries were posted during the even
ing. In the afternoon the American
forces took arge Of the barracks and
other buildings evacuated this morn
ing by the German troops.
Tho American forces comprised the
Second Battalion OF the Thirty-ninth
Infantry which arrived here this after
noon in answer to a request from the
| German authorities The reception OF
the Americans was most friendly.
! Friendly Spirit Manifested.
The Americans marched direct from
tie train which brought them from
Treves to the various arzsnals. bar
racks and storehouses whore they es-
tablished guards.
| The last German troops left Coblenz
this morning. There was no trouble
Of any kind and none 10 expected.
Some citizens Of Coblenz said they felt
better now that the Americans had
arrived.
The friendly spirit with which the
civilians OF Coblenz greeted the Amer
leans began to evidence itself in the
villages along the railroad over which
the Americans came to Coblenz. At
many places Sunday crowds OF chill
dren cheered and waved their hands
as the Americans passed. The spirit
displayed became more friendly as the
Americans approached Coblenz.
When the Americans arrived and
detraIned in an outlying section 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
oil the pupils OF q boys school.
Garry Emergency Rations.
The train which transported the
Americans to Coblenz was manned by
q German crew. the American sol-
diers occupying coaches formerly used
by German troops. One coach carried
newspaper correspondents.
The battalion IL commanded by
Iieut.-Col James Lockett, with Major
Fred Hackett second In command. In
addition to their rifles and ammunition
the soldiers carried full pack contain
ing emergency rations. and additional
food supplies were brought by the
train to tide the men over until ration
trains arrive.
i When the Americans took up guard
OF the Coblenz ends Of the Rhine
bridges German soldiers were doing
sentry duty on the opposite ends. To-
night the American sentries along the
Rhine could see the lights OF the
fortress Of Ehrenbreitstein. which
stands on a rocky promoneory 400 feet
above the river. where several rcgi-
ments Of German soldiers are still quar-
tered. 1t Is said that the fortress can
accommodate 100. 900 men.
Found CordieI Cooperation.
with the arrival OF the Americans
a company OF engineers was prepared
to throw a temporary bridge across
the Rhine. There were. however. al
ready four bridges spanning the
stream-two here. one in the north
and another 10 the south.
Col. James Rhea OF Texas, head Of
the American commission. has been
dealing for four days with the local
authorities on questions incident TO
the taking over Of the bridgehead. In
stead OF antasonism or even passive
acquiesence he encountered lively CO.
operation. Tho Mayor OF Coolenz Is
sued a proclamation in which he re-
quested the Inhabitants to refrain
from all acts Of discourtesy or vio-
lence and to accord the Americans
such assistance as was possible. 1t
was due to the Mayors request, sun
plemented by one from the military
commandant, that the Americans are
here to-day.
A local committee was appointed to
assist the Americans in assuming con
troll, and officers OF the German army
remained behind after the last OF
their men had marched out in order
to deliver 10 the Americans great
stores of supplies.
The officers with Col. Rhea are
Col. Clarence Sheriff. Of Greensboro
N. c.; Col. George SpauIdinR OF
Sweetwaters, Mich, and Col Henry M
White OF Kentucky.
German Retreat . Festival.
While the Americans were marching
into the city to-day the last division
OF the German army was only few
kilometers beyond the Rhine. moving
in orderly fashion, with the spiri;
OF holiday rather than that Of q
defeated army. Almost every man had
rosette or spriG Of green In his
cap. Many Of the trucks and wagons
had on top OF them quantities OF
Christmas greens.
Lieut.. Heinrich Prince, one of tho
commissioners detailed by the Ger
mans to deal with the Americana, was
the officer who transmitted to Major
Whittlesey the German demand to
surrender when WhittIesey was com
,, mandlng the famous Lost Battalion"
In the Argonne Forest.
In talking with ofiicers Of the Sew
enty-seventh Division to-day Lieut..
Prince said his comrades and superior
officers had the highest admira ton for
the Americans in that fight. The only
motive for demanding the surrender
, OF the Lost Battalion" was to save
. the Americans from what the Ger.
mans then believed would be certain
, humiliation.
Germans Left Clean Barracks.
t The comparatively light yoke the
. Americans have laid on the Germans
4. appears to haya influenced than, IN