Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-26
SAYS C0bLENz IS NOW
MUCH HEADQuARTERED
Damon Runyon Describes Tension
Duo to Expected Visit Of Gem
cral Pershing.
MEETING OF TWO HEROES
Eddie Rickenbackcr and Hank Cow
dy, Both Columbus, Ohio, Products,
Clasp Hands OH Rhine, Never Hay
ing Become Acquainted Before.
MEETING OF TWO HEROES
by DAMON r,uNYoy.


by DAMON nUNYoN.
WITH THE AMERICAN, ARMY OF
OCCUPATION, December 20 (by cour-
Ter to Nancy, France).-Over at gem
eral headquarters they have been an
chief for some days, therefore the
atmosphere of the big stone building
fronting the Rhine, which used to be
flee, has been buzzing with activity.
The in,eri Tor of this building is dec
GRATED in barbaric fashion, which is
probably splendid from tho German
viewpoint. but which is rather dc
pressing to some callous young Ameri-
can officers, who have to work there
Their depression is increased by the
afiiicts Headquarters town once head
quarters gets TO functioning thor
ouGhly.
Romance and frivolity got up and
tops were wheeled into action Bright
spurs and highly polished appear on
boots and Shoes. Uniforms take on
oneis and majors clutter up the prem
Uses.
The careless glory OF tho lighting
There is vast widespread salutng
Voices become cercmonious Laugh
ter is infrcqucnt unless some general
should spring -wheczc. Then il is
EuTaw. Nobody knows what would
happcn IL Il man should fail to laugh
when general cracks joke, because
the point has never come up.
SAYS COBLENH IS NOW
THOROUGHLY Observation-Disclosures
Cob!cnz is thoroughly hcadquartered
They have formal mount of evenings
IN the public square. RandS play
There is talk Of drill for the troops
in tho field. This news is about AS
If hn 4
AN endemic OF smallpox was about 10
break out. There arc rules for every
little thinE over at headquarters tho
ot,lccrs nave TO register when they go
on; and when they come in, detailing
the purpose OF their absence, no mat
ter how long.
the truthful assertion of one YOUNG
man that he absentcd himself for tho
evening 10 look at, a movie show. They
have also bccu ordered TO take rcru-
lar exercise certain hours cvcry daw
ANOTHER youth recorded in tho book the
fact that he had conc out for OK
ofc,Sc ana that his exercise consisted
Then he went to press hcadouartcrs
and spent tho morning in blithc con-
in it's rigid atmosphere is the big
toblenzcrhof Hotel. next door. The
rooms have ornate signs on the doors.
reading:
served for field officers of general head
quarters
No ono below the rank Of major is
in tho hotel
Lesser officers go BY and gaze I'M
with envy. With its all apparently
good officers outfit. headquarters. after
az, can't help it's being headquarters.
can II: They are always about the
same. This headquarters is the hest
we've seen, and it is certainly full
cooked and ready for visit from CEN
eral Fershns.
Remember. IL he finds anything to
CRITICIZE: III accept no excuse" warned
ono OF the high officers the other day.
THE CHEAT DAY Of
GENERALS ARRIVAL COMES
To-day some automobiles suddenly
brEzed up TO the entrance.
There was a wild CHATTER of booted
rect over the tiled floors. There was {,
hasty shutting of papers on tho desks
mere was n shutting of doors and a
arrived.
Up the steps he came while back
bones for blocks around stiffened per
ceptibiy. You could fairly hear the
vanished indoors. He was closeted with
General Joe Dickman for a short time.
PRESENTLY he reappared under bar
rage OF saiutes and re-entercd his auto
Slowly but surely the tension cx-
hailed.
Gosh. muttcred GENTRY outside.
surrcptitiousiy hopping his brow.
However, they are still punching the
tine-clock over at headquarters
- In the doorway Of the press divisions
dinlns-rooms in hotel on the Rhine
there appeared tonight the tail,
eawky figure of a soldier who was
evidently suffering from stage fright.
lie wore a uniform which did not fit
tis coat collar wasn't hiEh enough
10 conceal more than foot Of his
neck. 1t had a ''scemore' effect in tho
back.
His pants were So tight that stoop-
ardous proceeding. Moreover, the face
of the uniform had fuzzy whiskers
where the nap had been rubbed the
wrong way. The rude machinery of
the delousing stations will do that 20
any uniform. The piece dc resistance
70 the soldiers makeup. however, was
nus can. It was not regulation army
cap. 1t was a cap with a forbeak. ii
had dewlaps to keep the ears warm
1t rode high on tho soldiers head and
gave him the appearance Of q duck
There. was a sudden overturning Of
chairs down the long table. and shouts
OF greeting. and the bunch of CORE
sIpondents and officers jumped up at
Aoout the same moment there arrived
In the doorway behind a tail. embar-
rasscd soldier in a group of trim look
ng chaps in officers uniforms. They
corps spread across their chests. They
a'So wore significant little bars be-
tohinS INC ownership of the CroiX dc
ttiuerre of France and the DISTINGUISHED
service crosses Of America, awarded
for deeds Of bravery on the field n.
battle 'u VI
HAD TIKI; MARK OF
THE RAINBOW DIVISION
The embarrassed soldier wore no
DECORATIONS save one on the left sleeve
OF the coat. There he had tri-
coiored patch Of silk of scrambled eggs.
which betokcned him one Of tho IA
nous lighting army divisions-the
Rainbow" Division. It's pretty good
decoration al that. 1t is hard to sa,.
who got the warmest welcome, the
aviation officers or the lone bashfui
soldier. But in tho midst of tho gen
erai confusion somebody pulled the
soldier over in front of the man who
wore the two silver bars on his shout
de" and said.
Captain Rickenbacker have Won
ever met Sergeant Hank Gowdy
Well i ,l!-.be DID" remarked Ed
Die Rickenbacker. Americas aerial acc.
hop nf