New-York tribune., 1919-04-29
Men on Rhine
Fear Conf glsi01l
AS Peace Nears
Continued from mage l

sion for the unhampered continuation
of our military rule.
But the position of the American
army is different from those of France
and Great Britain. The United States
is asking no large indemnity and will
therefore be the first to eVaeuate Ger
man territory. However, if the Ameri-
can evacuation order we're given to-
morrow, The Tribune correspondent
was Informed te=day it weuld take
minimum OF three months time to ae-
eemplish the withdrawal,
100000 Men in Army
Eight full divisions, together with
eorps ana army troops In Germany,
bring cur outupatiohal force here 20
roughly 100000 men. Sixty railroad
trains would be required for the re
lnoval of one division alone. with a
maximum leading capacity of between
eight and ten trains daily. Thus about
week would be necessary for the re
moYal Of each division. and each would
of course, first have to pack up its be-
longings, sell its livestock, ship, destroy
or other wise dispose of unmovable
material before the division would be
ready to board the trains.
And thus will the American military
forces face the task of spending at
least three months, and probably four
or five months, in getting away, sur
rounded meanwhile by Prussian pop
ulation which Will be openly hostile,
at least individually, unless the peace
treaty retains for our military gov
ernment its full rights as now exer-
cised-its rights of policing, judicial
administration and requisitioning,
which have existed since our arrival
here in December 1918.
United States Position Delicate
Show of Dislike Increases
None In the American army here is
willing to believe these Rhenish Prus-
SLAMS are going to continue to submit
as gracefully to restrictions, however
modified, once the German plenipoten-
tiaries have signed the peace docu-
ment. None who has watched our oc4
cupation here is so deluded as to be-
lieve these Prussians love the Ameri-
cans. The Prussians are more frank
as peace approaches in their dislike
for US, and what they now think ST.
lently they will doubtless say openly
when they learn the peace document
| has become a reality
Obviously, the anti-fraternization
rules, which have kept the American sol
diers and German civilians at arms
length since January, must disappear
completely or be modified radically
within the next few days To continue
to restrict the associations of the
Americans with the people who have
gained their status would be construed
by these naughty Prussians as a direct
insult and would intensity their hatred
Almost every Prussian knows that
America was responsible for their loss
of the war and they are now calmly
awaiting legal opportunity to express
their feelings. The students of Prus
sian psychology here know this much
better than the peace conferrees, and
they are depending entirely aud with
considerable anxiety on the peace con
ferrees TO provide the American army
with fun legal war status as lang as
American troopa remain In Rhcuish
l'ruHsiN
Contrary TO some repors puhished
~ thu llNlIed StAt0s, tho American aol
dler "a Wasting no fondnoss on ihp
lWsslan population Ia thls AREA, Oug
nfpfpAt court rneordS dlselQsp numor-
qua Neeaaans whege tho pgpssiapa
haYn yoleed derpgatqFy enmment 90
paidlne AmprleA Nv the Americans
Ana what fplloWpd USUALLY upheId tbs
hener ef lnelp Sam,
That thpnp individual pnpnuNipga
Nll multiply ihe mement lha tagmana
Ahh ihemAplvea en sfeehns spsma
wlih lheae AmerIeAna 10 pppniAen hpgp
Na Inevitable And natural The Amp,I
tah military government Aaka lhr rpNee
eunf"fehee frankly TO nluW II io non.
ilnun to handle tho atuntlon with FUN
rowefs, and | heard 1T utprcHacd 10.
day "unlesa they do, they ara going
To put ua IN a devil Of hole. These
FtusHnna arc principally careful 10
obey the law whIio they know wa hnvo
full authority but thu moment their
status Ia changed look outl The
peace treaty muntnt nsk VA TO roverno
our governmental machinery from II
war of oecurution TO n peace OF oecunn-
tion, II might be donc In many plncca.
but rot IN Khonlsh Prussia, and wa
hnVo been here long enough 10 lnow