The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-03-14
HARD HIT BY THE FLUEY French ARE NOTHARsH
TREAT GERMANS WITH MUCH
CONSIDERATION
There Is No Friction Between
Representatives Of These
Two Peoples

Mayence, February 11.-[By MALL
There is no friction between the Ger
mans and the French III sle occupied
enemy territory. This is the largest
city the French army occupies. and,
with the exception of hard look or
two, the Germans show no resent
ment here.
The French are strict, but they do
not rub in the fact that they are the
conQuerors. Swanking with them is
unknown, while the more respect the
Germans show for the law the fewer
are the restrictions.
"It is like this" explained Major
Deville, commandant at Kaisersau-
tern" We early came to the conclu-
sion that if we posted a notice con-
tanning prohibitions implicit obedience
10 the edict must be demanded. The
Germans have been ruled by the iron
hand SO long that they regard as an
exhibition of weakness any permits
sion to sidestep rule. Then, too, it
was necessary to be strict, not only
to protect the people and the army.
but to convince the Germans that they
are not allowing us to stay here mere
ly on sufferance because they had de-
cided not to wage war any longer,
(as some of them Delieve) but that
they are conquered people. 1t we
are not strict and severe they regard
us as soft Our only thought. however
is to rule justly, and if inhabitants
behave themselves their privileges
are extended"
The major then gave some illustra-
tions.
Phone Ruling Modified.
At the beginning of the French oc-
cupation all telephoning was prohib-
tied, except for certain administration
or industrial necessities, the reason
being that the phone was a conyen-
lent way to communicate informa
ton. Recently, this ruling has been
modified to authorize us of the tele-
phone within limits of certain cities.
At the beginning of the occupation
there was the strictest censorshfpa aver
letters, which has been much liberal
ized Then, too there have been chang
es in what the people regard as the
most irksome of all regulations, the
ringing of the curfew" at s. o'clock
at night. In some places the French
have added couple of hours go that
the populace can visit the opera con 8
certs. theatre and movies, s;tW
Strict censorship AZ tie Drecr = 8
Times and ~ 1|
which re1lecfS upon ~ - j
French Army sover1z1en< .
be held without authorization from
the commandment, the single excention
being church services. No watch is
kept on the clergy. French army
officers and soldiers have consider
ably surprised the Germans by going
to church, proving to them that they
are not irreligious. In Kaiserlautern
the townspeople are growing familiar
with the spectacle of the cures well
coming General Fayolle at the door
of the church every Sunday morning.
German Policemen On Job.
German policemen continue to. per-
form their duties under the new re-
gime, costumes being the same, but
wearing brassard about the arm.
An exception has been made of some
of the higher police officials, how :,
ever, who were found impregnated by
kaiserism. They were given the sac
by the French. German officials can
not sign DEGREES. If new regulations
are necessary they must be approved
by the French commandant, who is
sues them in his own name.
No trouble is experienced with
mayors of cities of less than $4,000,
where the people elect these function
aires, but not so much can be said
regarding burgomasters in the larger
cities, as the French have often found
them still playing the game OF imper-
ial politics.
Germans are paying close attention
to the work of the French commissions
working in conjunction with the army
When the French came they an
nounced they would continue exist
ing functionaires and administration
as far as possible, subject to.the higher
authority of the aymy comnandant.
The French brought in the commits
sions, which are composed Of men
learned in finance, industry, law, his
tory and engineering. Each army of
occupation mas a commission, while
there are commissions of lesser i'm
pOrtance in many other places