The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-18
American Sentrias Face Ger
man Sentries Across the
Rhine.
BUT ONE SMALL OVERT
ACT BY GERMAN PEOPLE
However, Instead of Showing
Deep Respect, the Populace
Adopts Independent Air.

day, Dec 10.-(Sy the Associated
Press. ss.)-Sentries Of the American anc
German armies face each other across
the Rhine tonight. From Andernach
below Coblenz. northward to the Brit
ish lines, American forces hold the
west bank of the stream. South OF
Coblenz advanced elements of the
American army have reached the rlv-
er.
It is expected the movement across
the Rhine will be well under way to-
morrow The First and Third divi-
sions have been designated to occupy
the advanced positions along the .hir-
ty-kilometer arc east Of Coblenz,
constituting the bridgehead stipulated
in the armistice. The Thirty-second,
Ninetieth, Fourth and Forty-second
Will occupy positions in support of the
advanced lines.
First, Third and Fourth divisions
are of the regular army The Thirty
second is made up of National Guard
regiments from Michigan and Wiscon-
sin, Texas and Oklahoma, national
army men make up the Ninetieth,
while the Forty-second is the Rain
bow division, composed of National
Guard regiments from Tennessee,
Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, South
and North Carolina, Texas, Oklaho-
ma, Virginia, Maryland, Missouri,
Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New YORK.
Ohio, Iowa. Illinois, Indiana, Mime
sofa, California, Kansas, Michigan,
New Jersey, District Of Columbia, Ne
braska, Colorado and Oregon
The Thirty-second, and perhaps the
will cross at Coblenz, and
the others will use the bridges north
and south of the city.
Engineer regiments have inspected
all bridges beyond the river, while a
made up Of German army
officers and civilians has given every
facility for the Americans to collect
as to the territory that is
to be coupled east of the Rhine.
Across the river from Coblenz, in
The fortress of Ehrenbreitstein, there
has been a. small force Of Germans,
but it has been withdrawn and an
American force entered the fortress
today, following a request to that eff
feet from the German authorities.
The German commandant of the place
informed the Americans that by to-
morrow the entire German army with
the exception of small detachments
Of guards, would be nine miles from
the Rhine.
A bottle thrown from window by
a woman at an American soldier mas
been the only overt act OF hostlilty
reported since the Americans have
entered Coblenz. The incident was
regarded as being SO trivial that IL
was left to the local police to deal
with the woman. There has develop
ed. however, within the past twenty
four hours an unmistakable air of in.
dependence on the part OF the peo-.
ple. rejecting their conviction that
the Americans are going to deal with
them much more deicately than have
the French or h with the people
north and south of the city.
The position of the Americans is
slightly peculiar. Coblenz was intcr.
mally occupied by a battalion which
arrived on Sunday, and which served
only as SUdTQ, WHICH, pi OOe1OAS "O'~
have been inadequate in event OF sefl-
Gus trouble. German officers are here
treating with the American authorities
and discharged soldiers wearing their
uniforms are still numerous IN the
streets, which seems to offer the
civilians who have not yet felt the
strength of an invaders hand reason
to believe that the Americans are rot
of the resentful nature.
Instead of cringing or even showing
deep respect, the population adopted
an attitude today that found express
sion in jostling American soldiers on
the streets and in sneers and laughs
which were only vaguely concealed.
The burgomaster has published
only the rules regulating local affairs.
The latest one orders the closing OF
cafes at II o'clock in the evening. 1t
is estimated at his Office that there
are sufficient foodstuffs in this district
to last them till February after
which assistance will be imperative.
@svS~.l lat