The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-08
UTTER SILENCE
ONLY GREETING
TOFOCH'S ARMY
Germans Only Curious When
Invasion Is Started.
Ruhr Valley Taken by Allies
without Opposition.
TROOPS TOOK NO CHANCES
EntangIements and Trenches
Thrown Up by Engineers.
Officials in All Towns Tell Citi-
zens To "Be Good"

Washington, March S.-No orders
of any kind have gone forward to the
American army of occupation on the
Rhine, Secretary of War Weeks said
today.
With the Allied Armies, March s.
Allied troops marched across the
Rhine today. In the early morning,
when the river mists were just begin
ming to thin out. long columns of
French, British and Belgian soldiers,
equipped and rationed for war,
trampcd over the bridges and into the
German cities of Dusseldorf, Duis-
burg and Ruhrort.
Horse foot and artillery, they ad-
vanced into the Ruhr valley, Germany's'
rich mineral basin, AS they swung
into the narrow streets of the old
cities, peopl. peeped out, timidly from
windows and doorways. The rumble
of wheels and the clatter of hoofs, the
sound of shrill whistles giving orders
and the steady shuff-shuff of thou
sands of feet over the cobbles was the
music to which the allied armies
marched deeper into Germany,
The operations were directed by
General De Goutte of the French army
Dusseldorf. The French forces were
under direct command of General
Gauchcr.
Advance Started at Night.
During the night the French ad-
vanced to the center of the Dussel-
dortf bridge, where a barbed wire en-
tanglement was placed. Pioneers went
ahead and threw up earthworks and
established a trench line beyond the
bridge, just as if lurking enemy were
waiting to attack. There was no sign
OF life, however, from the darkened
city and the operations were conduct
ed in strange quiet. Meanwhile
more French troops in river boats
were coming up the Rhine, past
Coblenz. where the United States army
OF occupation is based. They passed
COblenz in the night.
Before today's forward movement
started, artillery clattered over bus
seldorff bridge and swung into posi-
ton where it could cover the ad-
vance of the army at dawn
Then the French. British and Bel
gians went forward, bayonets fixed
and ready for action. but there was no
slGn of resistance, not even a stray
shot from house top. Commanding
officers Communicated houses for
headquarters, their staffs were bill
leted nearby and in a remarkably
short space of time, the city was COM
pletely occupied.
At the same time, and in accord
with plans prepared by the allied lead
ers when it was seen that the Germans
would remain obdurate, French and
Belgian troops marched into Ruhrort
aGd Duisberg.
Germans Only Curious.
Dusseldorf heard of the impending
advance before noon yesterday and
from noon until dark, vast crowds
thronged the Rhine bridgeheads to
Business men, factory workers, girls
and women. were in the crowds
There was some grumbling over the
allied course but mainly it was a curl
Gus gathering.
The crowd waiting between Cologne
and Obercassel was the first to be
rewarded The chattering ceased
when detachment of machine guns
motor mounted, rolled slowly out from
the opposite bridgehead, sniped the
barbed wire ENHANCEMENT in the CEN
ter OF the bridge and sped over Ger
man soil, the guns ready for action.
a few moments later. three COM
panies of Belgian soldiers. their great
khaki coats flapping as they walked.
swung across the bridge.
French troops, stepping briskly.
were the last across. Two thousand of
these Immediately left the CITY, pass
ing northward thru Opladen toward
Dusseldorf.
Thru Silent Crowds.
Everywhere they passed thru silent
crowds of Germans who stared at
them indifferently.
Arriving at Dusseldorf, the soldiers
marched to the police barracks, evac-
uated by the Germans. The French
took possession of the building. in
stalled their field kitchens and made
ready for permanent occupation.
Fifteen hundred men were billeted
at Soltngen and smaller bodies else
where.
Acting on instructions from Berlin.
burgomasters of the occupied towns
issued proclamations to their people
urging there be no interference with
the military.