Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-29
MOROCCAN TROOPS
4 GET HONOR PLACE
Division Composed of Noted
q Fighters First to Enter
a. Liberated Lorraine.
SCENE is THANKSGIVING

SCENE is THANKSGIVING
Va It
t#lBY PAUL AYRES ROCKWELL.
GabfeErnm to The Evening Star and
fhfcago Daily News. Copyright, 1918
NTH THE FRENCH ARMIES, No
vember 26.-The Moroccan division,
whichs won more honors upon hard
fought battlefields than any other
corps engaged in the world war now
SO triumphantly ended, had on Sunday
the signal distinction of being the
first allied division to march across
the late frontier and enter liberated
Lorraine, hating at Chateau Salins,
where a wonderfully enthusiastic re-
eeption was given the troops by
the population, which, although OPP
pressed by the Prussian conquerors
throughout forty-eight years. re-
manned French in heart and sympathy.
With Gen. Dogan and his soldiers
entered Chateau Salins. and never be-
fore have l witnessed such an i'm
pressive, heart-stirring scene as the
soy displayed by the Lorrainers at
the arrival of their liberators. The
Iouaves, DICTIONARIES and northern
African tirailleurs. composing the Mo-
roccan divisions, had been in line in
the sector near the Lorraine frontier
some days before the armistice was
signed. They remained in the trenches
end destroyed villages while the Ger
mans were preparing for their de-
parture beyond the Rhine.
Last Of Germans Depart.
The last important attachments of
German troops quilted Lorraine on Fri
day and Saturday and the French pre-
pared to enter. Every man of the Mo-
Toccan Division cleaned up his uniform
and equipment as If for a grand review
and no corps ever presented a finer
aspect than Dogan's warriors when they
swung into line across the hills toward
Chateau Salins at dawn on Sunday.
Army engineers already had repaired
the blowR-up roads and destroyed bridges
along the whole combat zone. SO that
the long columns of khaki-clad soldiers
marched vigorously to the end, their
progress uninterrupted by dense maZes
trenches and boyaux. where the Ger
mans SO recently opposed them.
The route wound UP and down the
Hills past numerous battery emplace-
ments and concrete blockhouses, the re-
duction of which and capture by assault
would have cost thousands of lives.
Leaving behind the Shell-pocked battle
zone and the shapeleSs masses of bricks
and stone that once had been villages,
the victorious troops traversed a fertile
region Astounding in cultivated vineyards
and hop fields. Then from the top Of a
hill Chateau Salins was sighted and at
the same moment number of youths
mounted on bicycles, who had ridden out
color cockades and shouting "Vive Ia
France"
Arab Scouts Are Picturesque.
Arab scouts riding fleet horses and
looking most picturesque in their colo
NAL costumes, with flowing cloaks, en-
tered Chateau Salins first, exploring the
streets and thoroughly searching for
German strasglers- They found and
took in charge four German officers,
stalwart-appearing youths, who, it de-
Heioped, had stayed behind formally to
surrender TO the French the German
cannon and stores remaining in the re-
zion. Then Gen. Dogan and staff, fol-
lowed by Il large troup of Arabs, all on
horseback. appeared and rode to the
town square and drew up around the
divisional pennantS.
BY now the entire population was in
the streets. From every window French
flags, most of them homemade of paper,
silk, old skirts and any material obtain
able, waved to the breeze. A French
army automobile arrived, from which
officers distributed hundreds of small
allied flags and tri-colored ornaments
to the swarms of eager children.
Many of the girls and women were
dressed in the quaint old Lorraine
costume, adding a pleasing note to
the scene. Many people were weep
ing from joy and telling how they had
suffered under German dominion and
how happy they were once again to
become French.
Zouave Regiment Arrives.
Now came the sound of bugles, and
soon the sth Zouave Regiment. headed
Icy it's band. arrived. The band halted
opposite Gen. Dogan and his staff and
played while company after company
of Zouaves marched past. The en-
thusiasm of the Lorrainers was I'M
bounded. and cheer after cheer greet
I'd the soldiers. The zouaveS were
some time in marching past, and then
came the divisional artillery, engl-
neers and other services
A little while later the foreign 1e-
zion came across the hill and entered
Chateau Salins. Col. Rollet. with his
breast covered with medals and his
sword drawn. rode at the head of his
lsgionnaires. Behind him came the le-
;-ion's band and the iegion's battle flag.
which was decorated with the cross OF
the Legion of Honor and war cross
with niue palms and three stars, rep
resenting twelve citations in the order
of the day-nlore citations than had
ever been won before by any fighting
corps.
On arriving where Gen. Dogan and
his staff were on horseback Col. Roll
let dismounted and. taking the legion's
flag. held it while the legionnaires
filed past The spectators crowded
near as the volunteer fighters of every
race, creed and social condition. rep
resenting fifty-one countries. and
whose exploits are renowned through
out the world, went by. Far in the
background Il group of sleek-looking
observation-disclosures officers and Off
ciais who had stopped on their way
to Nancy to surrender the railways of
Alsace-Lorraine-reg the legion
naires with angry glares. 1t was enc
of fate's fitting ironies that the high
representatives of the nation that so
hates the legion should see that corps
at its hour of greatest triumph.
, Reverence for Banner Shown.
When the last company of legion
natres had passed Gen. Dogan APP
preached and kissed the legion's flag.
Immediately Col. Rollet was sur
rounded by thronS of women and
= children who embraced the banner
with affection and reverence. The
legion's band began playing La Mar
seillaise." and the refrain was taken
up by a group of old men, some of
1t was an emotional hour and the
SfadneSS of the IxorrajnerS was SO