The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-01-13
STIRRING SCENES
ALONG THE M0SELLE

HLUnu I'LL IuUOuL[
Gorgeous Landscape in FAiryinnd OF
Old Castles and Vineyards, Rnd
Rcd-Roofed Villages.
tBY HORTENsE McDONALD).
Gravenmacher, Jan. IA mass of
moving khaki outlines each bank of
the Moseiie today. for the American
4 4 t>-,~..r,~-.-.- ~ " Yr1fa
Cooienz left Gravenmacher at dawn
with flags flying and bands playing.
Inc unwonted activity in each little
village from LUXEMBOURG to the
frontier where troopss have been bill
eted FOR the past week has attracted
the keenest interest Of the people.
Ihey line the roadways watching the
marching columns, unmindful of the
steaoy appeal OF the church bells
oiaains them come to worship.
It's stirring scene, this stretch Of
gorgeous landscape in a fairvland OF
OLD castles and beautiful vineyards of
req rooted villages and hospitable viii
layers, clad in their Sunday best. The
men, Tor the most part, dressed in
green suits, the color OF their dark
FOREST with a feather stuck at a rak-
ish angle in their soft fedora hats.
Ruddy checked children IN plaid and
smiling women in voluminous skirts
complete an ensemble that Is strik-
ingly picturesque.
Its an artistic setting for thu
breezy boys from America whose
youth and enthusiasm have won the
heart OF these Luxem bourxerx. Tri-
umphal arches Of evergreen ana low
ers have been erected In all the towns
and the colors Of France and tho
United states wave from every door
way. Every road leading to the
frontier has its procession Of march
ing men. trucks OF the commispionary
department field kitchens, machine
gun battalions, ambulance corps,
mounted officers. khaki painted tour
ing cars. and limousines. mammoth
guns. the ''heavies'' Of the Argonne
fame. waddle past mounted on RANT
tractors, their erstwhile
camouiage covered by a coat Of live
drab. The stone houses shake on
their foundations as these monsters
rumble by and people look on and
nod their heads with conviction
Truly. the Americans have eyery-
thing" they say.
At the river bank. while the units
wait to relieve the CONGESTION on
bridges across the Moselle. the Y. NJ.
c. A. distributes supplies At a tenn
porary " canteen. hot chocolate IL
served to the boys who arc cold from
the long march. Cakes and cigarettes
are handed out until stores are ex-
hausted. Promises Of more supplies
at Trevers will be made good how
ever and the boys go on their way
happy.
Over this Kaleidoscope scene an
american aeroptane keeps constant
watch. 1t scoots back and forth high
above the tree bordered highways,
signalling to the commanding ofY1cer
at the head of the column the exact
position Of his units In the rear. Like
hen with many unruiy chicks. the
ship keeps the troops constantly un-
der its wings. The spectacle Of this
gigantic procession 10 sight that Is
almost too overwhelming for the on
lockers.
Ask the LuxembourEers why they
like the Americans better than they
do the Germans. Madame at the cafe
at Gravenmacher will tell you that
the Americans do not rave and throw
their coffee pot against the wall when
she serves some one else first The
Germans did. -'s-.e
Monster who sits IN the market
place all day to watch the excite.
ment says: AHA! but the Americans,
they are nice. they play with the chill
dren, they teach them English and
divide their white bread. They are
kindness itself. madame
Fraulein. who Is a belle. who 9peaks
English and French as well az Ger
man, because her parents are wealthy
and she had had the advantages Of
convent training at Lege, she will tell
you another story.
yah, THE ri, Germans I'm s. they say; Come.
after us in the streets. 80 we do not
60 out alone at night when tho Ger
mans are here, we girls Of Luxem-
bourg.
But the Americans, oh! they are
different. They treat us with respect
and we are not afraid to 70 out II
night alone when they are here. We
are so glad to have them that when
they are gone. we shall Be very lone
ly. My brother and !. We think We
will go to America
This same Fraulein teik an inter-
esting story OF the German soldierr
toward the signing Of the
The soldiers In the ranks
she said were very happy. They de-
corated their gun carriages with for
est boughs and flowers and gave band
in the public square at
every afternoon.
I'VE are not beaten army" they
told the citizens.
But not SO the officers. They were
unhappy but stubborn, q major was
hilleted at fraulein's house and
when he left for home, with the re-
treating Teuton army, Fraulein's
father said: You will como to see
us again sometimeT'
And Fraulein says the major re-
piled. Yes, in ave or ten years, per-
haps, when we get ready, will come
again.
Fraulein repeated the remark to
three other German officers who were
quartered at her home, q lawyer, and
engineer and a professor but they
shook their heads.
He Is wrong" they said "He
will see that the military will no
longer have their way in Germany
We have fought for the last time.
The Americans they fight well, but
hey also like peace. They are right,
we will have peace also. we German
people,
Despite their bravado. the Luxem-
bourgers say the German army was
on its last legs. Even the Luxem-
bourgers did not realize how badly
on they were until the Americana
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