South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-01
GERMANS TELL
Of ACTIONS Of j. s.
ARMY NEAR RHINE
Anti-AmeriCan Propaganda in
Foe Newspapers Shows
Opinions Held.
By Associated Press :

By Associated Press:
COBLENZ, May 5 (by maiD.-
Considerable anti-American prop
uganda is being published in Ger
man newspapers by German news
papermen who have visited the
Rhine zone occupied by the Amer
lean army. Some OF their writings
set forth what purports TO be their
own opinions OF the conduct OF the
Americans or the feelings Of the
Germans in the occupied territory.
The writings OF one German in a
Leipsic newspaper have afforded
amusement 10 the American intel
ligence officers though he wrote
With the evident intention TO put
Americans in a bad light before the
German civilians.
ON account Of the sundry an
noying acts of the authorities" he
writes. the population is not t
all satisfied with the American oc-
cupation and is loud in its abuse Of
these molestations. though. to be
sure. this is all kept within closed
walls. Nobody dares TO make any
criticism in public since recent
heavy sentences We're imposed on
those guilty of careless rumors.
Expect to Get Food.
Civilian visitors from UnocCupied
Germany expect 10 frd great stocks
Of food in all stores, many comins
to the occupied area with the nope
of securing supplies for tnemsely es
and taking it back with them. This
is not allowed. Regarding food the
writer in the Leipsic newspaper
says:
There have been all kinds Of
stories in Leipsic recently ABOUT the
marvellous things one can purchase
in the American occupied territory.
1t was related that American stores
had been established where all
kinds of food was sold at unbeliev-
ably low prices. That is ali very
true-but the German inhabitants
are permitted only TO look at all
these beautiful articles. They can
buy nothing. Everything is for the
troops only. And only 10 be gaZed
at by the Germans are the dough-
nuts, the savory odors Of which nj,
the city of Coblenz, and which are
baked from early morning until late
at night by the American soldiers IN
no less than 20 great bakeries"
Mentions Military Police.
The writer also touches on the
work Of the military police, saying:
a very unpleasant institution IN
Coblenz is the spy system. Pos
session of American property is for
hidden. Whoever buys from Amer
lean soldiers cigarets, food, shoes
and clothing and IS caught with the
goods Is punished with a drastic fine
or prison sentence
Summarizing, after writing sever
al columns, the writer says in con-
clusion:
"Disregarding the arrogant be-
havior of the conqueror. the Amer
leans in Coblcnz and the bridge
head on the right of the Rhine
conduct themselves in a very prop
cases Of disturbance by soldiers now
and then, but If an American soldier
tries 10 assault q German and a
military policeman is near enough
to arrest the soldier, one may rest
assured that the military court VIII
punish the American accordingly.
, All in all, judgment Of the Amer
leans NAV be summed up thus:
They do not in reality behave worse
than would any other army of oc-
cupation. although the soldiers do
annoy the population-annoy il in
many respects. Ana that is de-
sirable state of affairs. Thereby the
idea Of separation, which has al
ready made considerable progress
here and there in the RhIneland
will lose more and more Of its sup
porters, and it will be easier for the
people of the Rhinelands 10 remain
part of the empire