The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1919-01-31
GERMANS THOUGHT
AMERICANS GOING TO
RESUME The WAR
LARGE AMOUNT ioF ARTILLERY
FRIGHTENED ITHEM-WANTED y
TO HAVE PEACE.
CIVILIANS EXPRESS OPINIONS
Location Of Two Tennessee Regiments
on December II Given in Maj. Frank
Wilbur Smiths Summary Of That
Date.

The German people thoroughly UNI
derstand how civilians in Belgium and
France were treated and they will not
afford you the excuse or opportunity
to treat themselves likewise. You
need not expect any trouble whatever
!. from the German population, because
they realize that might is against
them and they can do nothing" That
is the way a German officer express
ed himself to the Americans as report
ed in Maj. Frank Wilbur Smiths sum-
mary Of intelligence for the seth divi-
sion Of the American army of occupa-
ton on December Z.
Maj. Smith gives the following infor-
nation regarding the population of the
newly occupied territory:
''In town within the divisional area
some civilians have expressed sur
prise at the great amount of artillery
moving forward and that it appeared
that it was Americas intention to re-
sumo the war. They stated that they
had anticipated living in peace, but as
they were of the opinion that America
was being dictated to by France and
England it was expected that our
forces would act accordingly. They
also claimed that it was not their fault
I that France had been devastated
or the Belgians treated so bar
barously and, therefore, they
/ should not be made to suffer for the
deeds of someone else 1t is believed
that America will dictate the terms of
peace and brought about the end of the
war. They hope their property will
be spared from destruction and no acts
i committed that will prevent close
] Friendship between Germany and the
! United States in the future"
/ On this date army headquarters re-
ported that the Americans had reach
ed the Rhine river on the entire army
front and that the attitude of the peo-
! pie in that territory, especially near
the Rhine, was less agreeable than it
was at first.
Tennesseans Take Position.
In his summary of general impress
sion of the day, Maj Smith said on
December II:
Movement of troops to newly as
signed divisional area has been COM
! pleted. Railway guards maintained in
/ former area until relieved by troops
/ from the 90th and 33rd divisions. (The
114th and 115th field artillery regi-
ments were in the 33rd division at this
time) The high standard of physical
condition of the troops continued and
no hostile acts have been reported.
Recently discharged German soldiers
! contiue to arrive in the different
| towns, promptly discard their uni
forms and find employment. From ar
my headquarters information is receiv-
ed that our troops have crossed the
Rhine river and are occupying the
northern sector of the Coblenz bridge
head. In the occupied area both food
and coal supplies are sufficient for
| present needs"
| A German citizen gave the intelli-
gence officer this information
1--WE realized too late that We under
estimated the unity of spirit in Ameri.
ca, and did not believe it possible that
you could train and land any influence
ing number of troops in Europe. We
! had been informed that this was i'm
| possible due to the success of our
submarine campaign. We are thank.
| full that the war has ended though the
outcome is such as it is, for we have
been liberated from military rule. The
German people of all classes will now
/ have a voice in their government"
! On this date, December II, the To-
cation of the Tennessee troops was
given as follows:
Fifty-fifth brigade, field artillery,
headquarters Renich. Both Tennessee
regiments were in this brigade.
Hath field artillery at Wormeldin
gen.
18TH field artillery at Contern.
The headquarters of the 33rd di-
vision was at Esch.