The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-03
TANK OCCUPATION. ! BEING DELAYED BY
 LIMITED BRIDGES
Will Take Several Days for Four First Line Divisions to Complete Crossing
 Into Germany

American Army of Occupa |tion, Sunday December l (By the Associated Prs.. 'lThree or four days will besre lquired, it was estimated to. might, for the foul first line di.
 visions to complete their cross
 ing into German territory, al
 though the start was made
 soon after daylight Sunday. Reveillc was sounded shortly
 after , o'clock, the Americans
 had breakfast by six and the
 march began soon afterward. TT Clouds threatened rain. but during the afternoon the sun broke through the
 haze for brief periods, but hardly long enough to relieve the dismal atmosphere or the German villages through which the Americans passed
 The advance of the American army of occupation into Germany was held up bv the limited number of bridges across the
 Sauer and Moselle rivers. The principal
 bridges used were those at Echternach.
 Rosport and Wasserbillig on the Sauer
 and Grevenmacher. Wormeldange and
 Remich on the Moselle. Several small bridges and lords between these villages
 were utilized by various units.
 The American divisions marched with, full war equipment of steel helmet. gas
 mask. rifle and belts fitted with car tridges
 The heavy artillery also rumbled along the German roads. while the ammunition wagons kept step with the troops ( GOOD ROADS
 The main roads encountered during the first days march into Germany were in good condition. At several places the ~t fe4.sans travelled on v. Jiaar, d,r, verts which apparently had been re- paired recently. At some places between villages on the principal highways the Americans stravelled on ordinary dirt roads. The roads which ran through the hiliy country east of the Sauer were in fair condition.
 In the village of cordell, north of ire es- siitee war wearNLsfeffnan % arrived home by train from the north just as the American advance guard reached the village. A handful of yil- iagers' was at the station to meet the ] returning Germans, The wives of the re- turning soldiers were in the crowd. The appearance of the marchng Americans appeared to awe two of the Germans and tkcir families This was not the case. 1 however, with, the third soldier. whose 1 wife took him by the hand and led him 1 through the village street past the col | lmns of Americans. NO FLAGS NOR MUSIC
 There were no flags or other decora- liens in any of the towns through which | he Americans marched and no music | Wherever the Americans asked questions i 'esardins reads. they received courteous [ 'eplies. In the restaurants and stores fine | 5efmans sold to the Anleroan soldiers | my goods on hand at War time prices |
 Perhaps the first American music hea rd | n e.esalsans Va nla a. aa s~s | an army of occupation. just across thal saure river, north of Echternach. The [ 'illaEe was entered by the l25th infantry | while the villagers were on their way tosl hurch. With the American flag and the | egimental insignia at the head of the | oiumn the lSSth i'esi,af7f Il han<f rnar,.he,i f n Irrel. playing sprightly marching airs. The villagers forgot church for the time \ 'eing And stood bewilderedly watching !, he khaki ciTd procession in column of \ ours.
 The natives. neatly clad in their Sun li lay clothes, generally just stood or | walked as the Americans passed No | motion was shown anywhere excepting Imon8 the children who at some places .ppeared to regard the khaki as Ssfranye t first after the weeks Of marchins foops in. German gray.