Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-20
PEOPLE BID WELCOME
TOAMERICAN FORCE
Soldiers Following Stars and Stripes Foreign Soil Move
Forward, Finding Vast Valuable Stores Aban-
doned by Foe Fleeing for Home

/ they left and threw part of his stock
into the street, But he had some left.
! Americans entered.
The shops are better stocked than
those In French towns the same dis
lance back OF the line; Women's cloth
frilied TO smartly tailored garments
is PROMINENTLY displayed In the win
d9ws while tobacconists have their
show cases we'll filled The wine shops
have not such varied stocks as in
France. hut just as abundant Much
OF it is champagne.
TELL STORIES OF OPPRESSION
BIT NOT OF ATROCITIES
The civilians in Nirton and otner VII
lases tell stories OF German arrogance
All nIlresSion. bu- tale. of atr,n.,tie $
AZ A. t ,v... ;Apparently, ,nose Germ ms
GUM ruled sternly. but not vciousiy.
after the carly part of the WEI
-. Legcr is one OF the PLACES that
hand IN tn, first year OF warfare. 1t
WAS there that 100 civilians wore t.N-
caIt"u
When the Americans began pouring
into Eirton. the largest of the reoc-
cupied towns. the population had moth
ing too good for them. Flags of the
allied nations flew from almost every
house front side by side with the
the Younger ones, appeared in their
sunday, tincry in honor Of the occa sion
The Mayor had Il busy role as official
host.
Women and children gathered about
the men in khaki. regardless OF rank,
me enlisted men receiving almost as
much attention as he who wore The i'm
sigma OF rank.
Old women cried while they smiled
and choked over expressions of greet
ings and thanks. Aged men spent the
American soldiers. while children fol-
lowed about. eager for glace or a
word from the strange beings whom
.neF addressed alternately in German
and French. not comprehcnding WHY
they were not understood.
Eut they did comprehend the unusual
and unheard-of manner OF their own
reception. American soldiers lifted
little ones to their shoulders bought
them chocolates and did their best 10
entertain them.
!; motorcycle side car which was parked
by the roadside.
CIVILIANS GATHER TO
HONOR THE AMERICANS
At St Leger all the civilians gnth
cred in the main street an hour before
the troops marched in. One old man
h h3rS ne TIE flag of his country, and be-
h.na nan was 2 small, hastily recruited
BRASS band. When the troops arrived,
the crowds shouted themselves hoarse
The old mans flag was saluted by the
ciltrers OF the American command
Ch!!dren began to race after the
marching columns. Crowds gathered
about every detachment. The Mayor
opened his house and insisted upon
serving wine and Offering his hospital
ny TO any American who would lodge
with him.
There. as in towns farther hack. was
met the amending stream of repatri-
"ted men. Prisoners of war, soldiers
OF almost every allied nation tramncI
toward the advancing American line
Most or them were in fair physical
condition. even II grotesquely clad.
me Germans had one hospital in Vir-
convenient to evacuate all the patients,
and some were left the civilians agree
Ing to cnre for them
The Germans were not wItbou,
amusement wherever they stayed and
motion picture shows and thcaters arc
preparing to open Tonight