Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-01
DOUCHBOYS FIND LIFE
LUR|NC AT COBLENz
Officers Wife, Just Back From
Rhine. Tells Why Americans
Want to Stay.

Mrs. Frank r. Keefer, wife of Col
keefer, who Is on the staff of General
Allen in Coblenz, says that the Ger
mans are fearful that all the Ameri-
cans will be withdrawn from their
cohntry and that no longer will they
have n buffer between them and the
French. Mrs. Kcefer has returned
to New York for few weeks visit.
She declared that the soldiers are
quite content and many have even ex-
pressed regret at returning home. IL
any one becomes dlscontentcd there.
she says, he has only to apply for a
transfer and he is removed to an
other place Immediately.
General Allen does not want any
discontented soldiers I'm the Army of
Occupation" said Mrs. Keefer ~He
thinks Il Is bad for the morale OF the
others. and there are plenty who are
anxious To serve with the forces there.
Surprisingly few have asked To be
transferred from the Coblenz area and
most OF those who have returned
home have been sent because they
have married German women. or
course. ! do not mean that they are
sent home as punishment for their
marriage, but II has been rule to
send the men back with their wives
The men are well aware OF this rul-
ing.
The soldiers are not at all happy
at the prospect of being sent from
Germany. They have wonderful quar-
ters, a fine climate, their money goes
a long way there, and no army In the
world has ever had the attention that
is now given the Army OF Occupation.
In fact, believe too much is done
for the American soldiers. The Y. NJ.
lC. A., which now has charge OF all
the welfare work, could not possibly
do more for their entertainment. Ger
many would not be such an agreeable
place II IL was not for the " can
not speak too highly of it's work and
am sure we could not get along with
out Il. Why, tho ~ has even built q
golf course and race track for our
use. Formerly we had to 20 to wics-
) baden for racing and polo. but now VIC
: have our own and the sporting events
rival any In Europe.
Even the famous race horse Cor
nellie has raced on our track several
. times. Then there is tennis. baseball
: and football apd all these things are
! free 10 americans. The Germans may
! come to them. but they have to pay
, admission. The life among the Ameri.
cans In Germany is very gay. There
; are many women in the colony, rela.
tives and friends of the army families
, and there are many welfare workers.
: The German women have never
ceased TO marvel at the freedom tina
the American women enjoy. Frat
: Stollwerck, related TO the chocolat,
T people here. with whom we have beer
!, billeted so long, thinks 1t Is quit,
: shocking that | should travel ahou
e alone and be so self-assertive. TIL
{ German people are quite satisfied n
{ having us among them for 1t mean
= greater prosperity for them. They ar
< afraid that If we leave the Frencl
= will be in possession and this the,
j seem TO fear more than anything II
= the world.
:. While there Is a certain faction O
e women that is working for more free
= dom for women, the majority of then
: are repressed and have little to say
They have always obeyed their me-
n and have been supposed to adore then
n Their object in life has been To MARI
and raise family, and l think 1t wi
:. be long time before they will becom
: self-assertive enough TO throw OF
this yoke.
Compared TO the number of men w
have in Germany. there have been fe,
marriages between our men and tn
/ q Il l. ..f
d single instance of an officer marrying
8 German woman. Some of the Britis
1 ofiicers in Cologne have, but those VIII
Il have are looked down. upon and ar
d not received anywhere"