Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-02-21
AMERICANS IN GERMANY.
Our Army Of Occupation is Tired and
Wants to Get Home.

Wants to Get Home.
The latest statistical survey Of the
American occupied area, writes spe-
cial correspondent Of the New York
World, from Coblenz, shows that the
German population totals S74,901 and
incidentally furnishes an unanswerable
argument for the earliest possible
withdrawal for their homes of at least
two American divisions.
The American army o. occupation
totals approximately 100000 men,
very high rate of soldiers to the ma
tive of population on which they are
billeted, indicating excessive conges-
ton, with the result that the billets for
the bulk of the army are poor and
crowded.
Only a small percentage of lucky
doughboys live in castles OH the Rhine,
palaces, hotels and chateaus; only a
small proportion have slept In BEDS
while the bridgehead itself Is undeni-
ably overcrowded, and the congestion
and living conditions are worst in the
sparsely settled hinterland.
Rainbow Men Expect to Leave.
This congestion was caused primar-
lily by the French taking over AZ per
cent Of the bridgehead, thus necessi-
tating the massing Of the American
army Of occupation in the depth OF the
narrow front. It will be greatly re-
lieved when, and if, the s2d and 42d
divisions start home.
The men Of the Rainbow division are
greatly cheered by an unconfrmed ru-
NOR that they are soon to return. The
fact that formal arrangements have
been concluded with Holland for the
use of the Rhine exit via Rotterdam,
is held to be circumstantial evidence
that many men will be sent home in
the near future. Besides, the an
nouncment that General Pershing VIII
visit the Rhine to review the troops Is
considered an auspicious omen'
I have learned unofficially that the
American troops could all be with
drawn from France by August next
and that the idea is to have no lines OF
communication whatever through
France thereafter, but to keep the
army of occupation entirely separated
from France, and really entirely on
the Holland Rhine line of communica-
ton.
Hope Seen In League Covenant.
The text of the covenant OF the
league of nations only became known
throughout the army Of occupation last
evening with the arrival Of yesterdays
English language Paris paper, but i'm
mediately it reused an all absorbing
interest that momentarily eclipsed the
subject of going home as topic OF
discussion and debate. The consensus
of army opinion is that the covenant Is
an important milestone on the way
home, and that by winning out all
along the line President Wilson has
done a good job, which makes a work.
ing peace look like probability OF the
reasonably near future, enabling the
army Of occupation to shut up shop
and go home.
This Is purely the selfish angle that
naturally interests the army most. On
the whole, the army found the text the
utmost of dull reading, its colorless le-
gal phraseology arousing no emotions
in the soldiers breasts. Army pubic
opinion, in fact, is extremely conserva-
tive regarding the covenant, and the
men are chary about expressing their
views as to the historic Importance or
the document.
Wants to Finish Job Quickly.
Our military men continue quite nat
urally to show mild professional
scepticism about new-fangled paper
leagues. There is. however, wide
spread satisfaction that the Americans
have not been let in for participation
in a large international standing army,
even under the name Of police force.
The quicker the army Of occupation
finishes its present international police
tour on the Rhine the better it will be
satisfied, and there is no popular de-
mand with the army for participation
in standing international force in the
future on the Rhine or anywhere else.
Especially is the army showing con-
siderable interest in the question as to
a league Of the powers. and the proce-
dure in case Of a revolution breaking
out, having the possible case Of Mexico
in mind.