The Washington herald., 1918-12-22
OFFICERS FIGHT
BOCHE EFFORTS
TO WIN YANKS
Hun Proclamation Urges
Natives to Curry Favor
with Americans.
EASY DAYS FOR ARMY
Invaders in Comfortable
d. Bmets Get New Equip
ment and Clothing.
BY WEBB MILLER,
United Press Stan Correspondeat

BY WEBB MILLER.
United Press stan Correspondent.
American Headquarters in Germany.
Dec. 19 Cby Courier to Nancy).-The
eight divisions comprising the third
army have settled down to the first
! rest they have enjoyed in months.
/ With the exception of the light pa
troll duties Of the three front line
divisions. the 10000 men have little
TO do. The officers are allowing the
men TO relax as much as possible for
| the present. but they are devising
ways and means TO keep the troops
busy after a few days Of loafing-to
prevent them from thinking too much
about going home
Every effort will be made to amuse
the men. There will be athletics,
movies and home talent shows. There
will also be less drilling and a more
liberal daily ration. AS soon as the
railway service is perfected. thousands
of them will be given leave to go TO
Southern France. Meanwhile the en-
tire army is being reclothed and fur
nished with new equipment
| Considerable attention is being paid
by army officials to preventing undue
! determination between the troops and
the inhabitapts, which presents a puz-
zling problem. After the first few
days of coldness, the natives found
the doughboys were human beings.
Their attitude has now changed to
over-friendliness.
| In. view of the international situa-
ton. the authorities are making ef-
forts to discourage too close rela-
tions. In Coblenz and other large
places the military police have
been ordered to warn soldiers who
are observed in long conversations
with the townspeopie, eating or
drinking with them. or giving any
other indication OF determination.
But the problem is made dificult.by
the fact that in some places the
soldiers are billeted with the in
habitants.
Several division commanders have
ordered their officers TO lecture the
men and call attention to the fact
that state Of war still exists, re-
minding them OF Germsny's etimes
isgainst civilization. to which the
German people offered no objection,
Papers Praise Yankees.
In the smaller towns the peoples
attitude is particularly friendly,
They offer the troops delicacies and
wine, and more comfortable billets
in their own homes.
| Military officials. in view OF the
fact that Germany is apparently at
tempting to curry Americas favor
for its effect on the Peace Confer
ence and relations after the war. be-
lieve IL is best to curb such mani
festations.
"one can make only the mos,
favorable comment on the attitU,1
lof the Americans" SAT- the Rerlgl
Zeitung. IN referring To the occtA-
ton OF Coblenz. ~
They behaved extremely Eirh
Among the Amrrioans must be9tsny
in whose veins IoWs the nlOodkf this
district. The Americans dsfAout'd
sweets among the chIldr"nI
FriendHness 10 Orde/A
The cOmmirtcr OF rubB/lAf~'y Of
the district OF RhinvbsA isEu'd q
proclamation calling auAfson to rh'
state OF war stlIl eNnAAr briw zen
Germany and Am,rcsA
The Americans hassts power "a
treat YOU NJ cn'miesKSut th'H show
no wish TO eNcrcl<Nthnt uoU'r "a
long Rs you prove W your ,onduci
that you are worthy % th'tr trust. .
says the proclamation.
Prove yourselves ordsy -lOviuI
Germans. Be grave and courteous
neither importunatc nor too ErufI. The
Americans will then make a good ~.
port OF you and take home a high
feeling Of commendation."
Col. r. II. Williams held confer
ence with the editors and theatel
owners. He notified the former they
4 would not be allowed to publish in
fammatory articles or cTiticise the
American or allied armies. The thea;
ter owners were told they would not
be permitted 10 produce infiRunnatory
+, or critical plays and movies.
Newspapers Seized.
All copies of the two propaganda
newspapers, the Continental News
and the English American News
have been confiscated and -fUrthei
sale OF them has been prohibited.
The first arrest made by the Ameri-
cans in Coblenz was prominent busi-
ness man who was caught eXchang-
4 ing marks for francs at less than the
official rate Of exchange. He will be
tried before an American provost
court.
T The provost guard has been ordered
hereafter TO arrest all German sol
diers who wear their uniform without
permission.
The Third army has taken over su.
pervision of the busy shipping traffic
along the Rhine. 1t controls the
movements of all boats, halting traf.
fic while troops are crossing.