The New York herald., 1921-03-09
Dusseldorf. Duisburg aiY
Ruhrort Taken. Not a !
Shot Being Fired on
Either Side.
NOT EVEN AN ARRESs.
Belgians Enter Dusseldorf
Direct. French and British
Cross to Cologne and Go
Up East Bank.
TOWNS WILL BE LINKED
Troops Will Control Strip Of
Territory Reaching Out
Toward Essen, Home
of krupp Works.


SPECIAL cable 70 THE New YORK HEsALD.
Copyright, 1921, by THE New YORK HERALD.
COLOGNE, March 5. - Dusseldorf.
Dulsburg and Ruhrort al were In the
hands of the allied troops before
noon to-day, rs result Of the failure
Of the Germans 10 meet the repara
ton demands of the allied Govern
ments. The occupation Of these
towns was accomplished without =
single shot being fired and without =
single arrest being made necessary by
the attitude of the population now in
the occupied zone.
Even the railroad workers who had
been expected to incite trouble. some
even threatening TO strike II tie
Rhine was crossed. remained or their
trains watching gloomily the deter
mined march Of the French. British
and Belgian contingents. Abour 81
600 troops were employed in the
advance No French Colonial or
negro soldiers took part in the move
ment.
All last night the troops hurried 10
the bridgeheads in motor trucks.
Machine guns were placed az COM
manding positions and barriers OF
barb wire We're ercted AS q precartion
\ In the event OF opposition ~ the
hundreds who remained on the cas-
bank Of the Rhine throughout the
night waiting for the allied advance,
which in the case of Dusseldorf was
\ scheduled to take place M dawn.
The close proximity Of Dusseldorf
to Cologne enabled the carrying out
of dual manpuvre. Shortly after
o'clock the Belgian detachments
crossed the Dusseldorf bridge. march.
ing into the city from the west, while
the French and British battalions of
infantry, accompanied by cavalry
squadrons and numerous batteries of
field artillery. moved norihward along
I the right bank Of the Rhine. entering
/ the city from the sUutheasterly gate.
/ Meanwhile Gen Desoutte, .'om
! mander n Chief Of the French forces
along the Rhine. acting under the
orders Of Marshal Foch, conferred
with the Mayors OF The three occu-
/ pied towns and ordered the placarl.
/ ing of an official proclamation which
called upon the public 70 maintain
order. assuring the people that the
troops instead of desiring to inter.
fere with the daily life Of the civil
lans intended 10 amelorate condi.
tions, especially from The standpoint
OF food supplies.
BeIgians Patrol streets.
The Belgian infantry promptly a.
sumed the duties Of patrollius the
principal streets. whuc British and
| French detachments began guarding
public buildings without the slightest
4 show Of resistance by the iuha oitants
During the early hours Of the morn
I ing the tension undcniably was high
| but even before noon. except for
groups OF civilians engaged IL est
cited conversation, the chief subject
of which was what Berln's attituds
was going to be. tho city seemed 70
resign itself and unusual calm pre-
vailed This afternoon tho allied
! troops were the centre of attention.
women and children visiting the scr-
+ try posts and commenting on the spic .
and span condition of the detach-
ments. but rarely mentioning the pos
sbiNty OF any friction developing.
As soon as the command Of Dussel-
dorf was assumed by Gen. Simons
commander of the l54th French In
fantry Brigade, Gen. Degoutte moved
his headquarters 10 Neuss, across the
river. from where he will direct opera
4 tlous In the new zone of occupation.
After Dusseldorf had becn occupied
tho order was given 70 proceed 70 th'
occupation Of Duisburg and Ruhrort
i the French and Belgian troops entering
4 tho former under the command ~ Gen.
Do Montlcbert shortly before noon The
allied Rhine flotilla. comprising several
armorcd river gunboats ready FOR action
4 took up a position of Ruhrort These
4 operations wero directed by Gen eau
/ cher commanding the Seventy-seventh
; French Infantry Under the protection
of the fotilla's batteries tie Twenty
I sixth Belgian Chasseurs occupied Ruhr-
/ ort posting sentrics throughout the city,
/ rbis detachment VII BE- linked shortly
+ with that AZ Duisburg under the direct
/ supervision Of the Belgian General Beau
rops
The decision announced BY the Allies
that they intend 20 spread their opera
/ tions IN such Il manner as VIII give them
Y control of "A strip or territory reachirg
midway between Dusseldorf and Essen.
\ where are the great krupp gun workf'
il understood to have caused concerr-Nn