The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-12-18
AMERICANS ARE.
SETTLING DOWN
FOR A LONG STAY
IN CITY ON RHINE
Royal Castle at Coblenz Is
Under Guard By Yam
kee Troops
(By Associated Press.)

Coblenz, Dec. 18.-Throughout the
sector held by the Americans,
the men have settled down to
what may be weeks Of oc-
cupation. Ems and Nassau are two
important towns which have fallen
to the French, who were sent into
the American sector, but Neuw1ed,
big industrial center and all the 9TH
er towns in the northern half of the
sector are held by the Americans.
The Americans have followed the
policy which characterized their trst
days of occupation. They have
promulgated no drastic rules to
govern civil life and in every way
have endeavored to make the in
habitants feel that they will not be
molested SO long as they do not in
terfere with the military duties.
On this first Sunday the results of
this policy were shown. While the
people of Coblenz are still somewhat
resentf1l in their attitude, the resi-
dents of the smaller towns evinced
none of this hostility. Dressed in
their Sunday clothes. the Germans
attended church services and ap-
peared surprised to find among the
congregations in some OF the places.
a few of the enlisted men.
villages made love frankly to any of
the soldiers who would permit 1t,
clambered over the trucks and de-
manded their turn to snuggle into
the seats on the guns in the artil-
lery parks. And they were unre-
proved by their parents, who smiled
their tolerance. The older among the
men and women not only made no
objection to billetings. as did many
in Coblenz and Treves, but frequent
ly showed a desire to make the men
feel at home.
Wherever bands were IN action the
people crowded the street corners to
listen to the music, instead OF hurry
ing to their homes, situation that
did not exist when the invasion Of
German territory was begun two
weeks ago.
The royal castle in Coblenz, known
as one Of the former emperor's sum-
mer palaces, is now under guard by
American troops. The palace stands
on the banks OF the Rhine, a stones
throw from the business center of
CoblenZ.
The palace is surrounded by "Roy-
al Gardens" and contains many
articles Of historic interest, in addi-
tion to silverware and other be-
longings of William I, who once oc-
clipied the building.
Since the arrival OF the Americans
there have been several attempts to
remove some of the valuables in the
palace. Therefor It was dcided that
the guard should be placed around
the house as a precaution against the
furniture and other things inside be-
ing disturbed.
The royal barracks within the
palace gardens is occupied by Amer
lean troops, but thus far the Ameri-
cans have not entered the palace it
self.
Approximately 10000 American
troops have arrived at Coblenz since
the advance guard reached here a
week ago. A large number of these
troops have passed through the city,
here temporarily.
The people of CobIenz got their
first glimpse of American airplanes
today, several machines flying over
the Rhine toward the bridgehead
| boundary and then returning.
Hotel Is taken Over.
The officers and clerks of the third
army arrived here this morning fol-
lowed by trucks loaded with equip
ment and office supplies. The larg-
est hotel in Coblenz, overlooking the
Rhine and the two bridges where
most of the troops cross the river,
has been taken over as quarters for
third army officers. The headquar-
ters OF the third army are establish
ed in government building adjoin-
ing the hotel.
BY noon the third army was in
communication with the back areas
by telephone, telegraph and wireless.
During Sunday various detach-
ments of infantry and artillery
passed through Coblenz on their way
to Join the divisions east of the
Rhine. Churchgoers viewed the
marching troops with much interest.
Late in the afternoon the third divis-
ion, which had been along the Rhine
south of CoblenZ, marched through
the city headed by a band, each
musician mounted on a grey horse.
The third division crossed the Mos
ellie north Of Coblenz, where it has
taken UP position along the Rhine
in support OF the troops within the
bridgehead.
All the larger hotels here have
been taken over by the Americans
for billeting purposes, as we'll as
many OF the public buildings, which
are being used as offices.
German officers, who had remain
ed in the city to turn over war ma
teriaI to the Americans, soon COM
pleted their task, and proceeded
across the Rhine in automobiles fly
ing white flags to join the German
armies beyond the bridgehead lines,