Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-14
.sWAGGER|NC GERMANS
HAVE CHANGED FRONT
Those in American Zone Seem Glad
United States Troops Arc
: in Charge.
ARE yolCING NO BITTERNESS
Overseas Men Arc Merely Winding
= Their Own Business, and Are
Treating Civilian Population Kind
ly-One Hun Sorry War Is Over.
BY DAMON urNYoN.

= WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY OF
oCcuPATlON N THE RliINELANp
. CBy Courier to Nancy, France, Deem
. Der l3.-If a person had come direct
oto this section of Germany since the
signing Of the armisticc and mingled
, with the people and heard their story.
!. without having seen anything OF the
war as wagcd by the Germans IN
: France and Belgium: ii is quite con-
: passion that would warp his viewpoint
'to some extent.
He might forget for moment that
Inc is seeing in his humility that same
German who staggered so ,ruculently
about the world only a few short
months ago. He has merely changed
his shirt.
. food for reflection in tho thought that
the Germans here are glad that Amer
leans came instead OF the French. the
sinned most. !; is idle 10 say that
! they. really welcome the soldiers; it
try would welcome enemy soldiers. but
as long as they had 20 have some
troops In their midst there is no doubt
that il gra,i.ies the Germans here
instead OF those of III. allies, particu-
larly the French.
The French would have treated them
not whit differently from the Amer
leans. but they seem 10 feel that the
Americans understand them better be.
cause the regulations in the occupied
zones arc the same as have been APP
piled TO their own soldiers. ~ many
places they have TO be OFF the streets
at o'clock The civilians and for
X mer German soldiers stayed out as long
as they pleased.
1t was dineren, when the Germans
were in France. Although American
imam homes and maintain friendly re-
lations with the German families,
there is no social intercourse between
them and German civilians nor is
there likely TO be.
AMERICANS MERELY
WINDING OWN BUSINESS
Hever by word or manner does. an
along m!nding his own business.
:. OF course. you're never going 10 &c;
Hany American displaying any feeling
against children and womcn-no mat
5ter what tho circumstances but even
toward the men our soldiers observe
this policy.
German and many Germans, speak
English. Many have been in America
or have relatives there. In their
hearts the Germans doubtless resen;
surface there is no sign of bitterness
or hostility such as their attitude to-
wards America in the early part of the
war led some Americans TO expect
II is no exaggeration TO say they are
pretty lucky in many respects. They
are chiefly lucky that their country
was not invaded by thelT own people,
had those. people conduc,ed themselves
as they did when they invaded France.
The Americans have so far preserved
the highes, grade OF discipline. and
rhey are tolerant and kindly. In fact,
Il IS doubtful il an American who
Tough; the Germans from the Marne
20 the Mouse feels any OF the bitter
ness that is reflected by the people who
ueve. heard n gun fired. Soldiers are
generally that way.
DOESN'T GO ROUND
NOICING ANY HATRED
The American lighting man despises
ile things The Germans did. and he is
, by no means disposed 10 make friends
OF the doors, but he does not go around
IN the hour Of victory voicing hatred.
One OF our officers was yesterday eN-
pressing surprise AT the rather fawn-
ing attitude of some of the former
German officers TIL. house Of one of
hilie,s and the owner looked after all
their arrangements, trying 10 make
: them comfortable. He kept coming
around asking II he could not do some
thing more.
1, was FAR cry from The old at
teenth Infantry found one fellow just
the reverse. however. His name is
Well. He runs the Well Hotel at Witt
rich. He was dem OBLIGED a few days
ago and quietly resumed the manage
ment OF MS business one OF the
glad the war was over.
II am not" said Well
Why mott" asked the American
Because we lost. said Well why
should ss as the be soiSs as@ Wien it ended with
The AmsFic.ins said they though,
better OF him for his frankncss at
that.