Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-02-07
GRAPHIC PICTURES GIVEN
OF U. S. ARMY WHICH is
AT HOME IN GERMANY
CONTINUED From Page One.)

Continued From Page One:)
| spoke felt the same way as the men.
They were still bitter at something
that had taken place a few days ear
lier; ''Thc Frogs marched one of
their divisions through here and cele-
brated by knocking the hats off our
-Germans!' This ranked, for during
my stay ii was constantly reverted to
with a variety of sarcastic comments
which it is not necessary to repeat.
A Major Generals View.
| did meet one man who differed
from the rest in declaring that the
German friendiness and their concil-
iatory demeanor was not instructive
but deliberate and assumed on orders
from Berlin. He was a major general
to whom ! paid my respects. These
Germans are so well behaved, so good
humored and so eager to please that
| can't blame my men for taking lik-
ing to them | find it very difficult my
self to continually treat them with the
sternness which they deserve. ! have
to constantly remind myself of the
things they did in this war to retain
the proper coldness toward them
Take this prosperous family with
whom ! am quartered. They have put
this suite of rooms at my disposal and
withdrawn into their own part of the
house. They give me excellent cook
ing and excellent service, they see that
/ have everything l can want before
| have a chance to ask for it, but
they keep entirely to themselves and
never obtrude themselves on me. This
morning cit was Christmas day. Il
found they had locked me out of one
of my rooms but before ! had a
chance to complain the door was again
unlocked, and when ! went in found
this Christmas tree for my benefit,
and the general led me to an adjoin
ing room where decorated little
Christmas tree some six feet high was
daintily revolving en- small silver
pedestal which was playing Christmas
hymns as it revolved, being a music
box in disguise.
ut is a thoroughly nice family" the
general went on, land one thing you
can says for them, they haven't got a
single picture among all these fine
pictures which is suggestive, while
there was scarcely house in which
was quartered in France which did
not contain pictures which my wife
would not have allowed in the house.
But we must not allow ourselves to-
forget" the general continued grave
ly, that these Germans are all acting
toward us as they are ordered to act,
and | am convinced that their orders
are not merely local orders but come
from headquarters back in Germany.
Fratcrnization Forbidden.
Certainly the strict orders against
out troops fraternizing with the pop
ulation are being most rigidiy en-
forced. A major in whose company
and another American citizen were
walking in Cobenz was stopped six
times in about twenty minutes byI
different NJ. P.'s who asked him hisl
name, address, and duty, in order toI
report him for fraternizing with two
Germans When he explained the sit
uation and we gave the NJ. P.'s a sam
pie of idiomatic American they looked
sheepish and cancelled their com
plants. but the same performance
went on every day while we were inI
Coblenz.
The consequence of this strict en-
of orders is that no Ameri- |
cans are ever seen walking or talk |
ing with Germans on the street. But, |
as French officer smilingly re-
marked to me at Mainz in referring !
to his own men, when they get in
side four walls IN their billets how can
you prevent the boys from helping the
girls to wash the dishes. And once
that has been accomplished mon |
Dieu, who knows?"
After a few days in Coblenz it |
struck me that all the men to whom
had talked had been quartered in
German cities, and / decided to find |
out whether our men billeted in small |
German hamlets and farm houses |
were equally partial to their new
The next morning I had an oppor- |
tunity to make this inquiry. 1t was !
Christmas day and we were to cross
the Rhine and visit various outposts
at the extreme limits of the bridge !
head zone.
In tho Countryside.
The ground was white with snow
when we started and the sun was
trying to shine through a downfall
Of glistening flakes. AS we approached
our motor we heard military music
approaching and round the corner
marched a regimental band followed
by battalion of troops Through the
falling snow they marched, with the
brass blaring out a triumphant