The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-09-26
AMERICAN
OCCUPATION
Quite Different Arrangement From
Way Hun Soldiers Acted When
They Invaded Bel
GUM.
TBy Edwin w. Hullinger. United
Press Staff Correspondents

i fTGSS SIall OTrGSpOnuent.l
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY OF
4 OCCUPATION, COBLENZ, (By Mail)
The American army of occupation in
! Germany is probably the most Sue
cessful army Of occupation history
has produced.
4 1t has done thing none of it's prede-
cessors ever was able to do, in fact
hitherto considered impossible for
conquering army to do.
In few months, without any fra
terniziEg, propaganda, or play" for
good will on its part, the American
army has won the confidence and
active cooperation of the people II
came to subdue.
Today the American doughboy lives
as peacefully and socially in the land
of his former foe as he could hope to,
camped for training, say in any solid
German-American community in his
native country.
He walks down the streets of his
occupied" city or village without
thought of harm. He enters a shop or
ice-cream parlor and is served with
courtesy and good will He is res
pected generally and, what is more,
not disliked.
a beaten enemy, whose land he is
/ holding in mortgage for ransom.
The principal why Of this odd state
of affairs is that when the American
forces took over their share OF Ger.
many, they did so on plan never BE-
fore employed by victorious army.
Neither officers nor men had
very clear idea what was expected OF
an "occupier." But they did know
what it meant to do duty" in the
mining districts, or frontier regions
parts of their own land that needed
"occupying"-and they did have
pretty good idea how to handle that
kind Of a job.
/ The result was complete absence
of that spirit of arrogance and abusive
superiority which usually character
ICES the conqueror toward the con-
quered.
The Americans were strict. Every
German travelling outside his legal
residence had to have full credentials
and a pass-just as in military
occupied zone in the states. These
passes were not extremely difficult to
obtain. however. Absolute respect
was demanded for the flag. The lid
was tight on beer halls and gambling
places. Everybody had to mind his
own business rather severely.
But If he did that, he was free to
live his life unmolested, free from in
suit, injury or humiliation.
He was not continually made to feel
his defeat. He was not callsd a
Schweinhund His goods were not
taken without full compensation. His
women were not DETAINED.
In isolated instances where Ger
mans were handled roughly by drunk
en- soldiers-drunk with wine solo
them at good profit by the Germans
themselves, the offenders were pun
Iished as sternly as they would be IN
the United States for similar breaches.
Thus after five years themselves IN
Belgium, the Germans, by reverse OF
fate. learned from humane foe that
their methods of occupation were Mt
even defensible on grounds OF expe-
diency.
The American control functioned
admirably. Before long, theFGermans
natural first suspicious OF the III
vaders" disappeared Partly. of course,
from native habits of discipline, with
accompanying realization OF the price
of disobedience, the German 1nhapl-
tants adapted themselves quietly TO
the new order of things.
To illustrate how conscientiously
the Germans now carry out their new
masters regulations-and yoluntar-
lily:
One of the army's orders is that all
drinking must stop by 10 p. N. Drink
ing is only allowed couple hours at
noon and at night.)
The German restaurant Keepers
carry out this regulation as religious
" as they ever followed any dictate
Of Prussianism.
! Walters pass from table to table at
| five minutes before ten, urging guests,
'Trinken Sizes aus, bite Whether
there was soldier in sight or not
made no difference. AT 10 sharp every
glass was collected, and drinking
ceased.
! This would not be so If the Ameri-
cans did not have the moral support
of their wards. l never saw any In
clination to dodge
In some ways, the Germans have
more liberties than they had under
their own government All the parks
are wide open. Pleasure promenaders
are no longer restricted to the gravel
paths. "Verboten" signs are down,
and they can cut across the grass to
/ a resting place under tree. In the
railway stations and public places they
are no longer bullied about by Prus-
sian officers. The American officers
are always reserved, but courteous.
1 The Third division military band
gives concerts every afternoon in the
little terrace on the Rhine bank in
! front of headquarters. A large crowd
| of "Coblenzers" always attend.