Evening star., 1923-02-08
YANKS GET BEARINGS.
Difference in Rates of Exchange
Causes Apprehension to Wives.

Difference in Rates of Exchange
Causes Apprehension to Wives.
BY the Associa ted Press
SAVANNAH. Ga. February s.
Some 400 soldiers who returned TO
America yesterday aboard the trans
port St Mihiel from the Rhine and
the families of twenty-four of the
men were resting today at For
Screren after hectic day here. during
which they paraded, feasted ana
danced. The soldiers had Just ended
two-week voyage on the ocean
Their buddies with whom they rep
resented the United States at Cob
lenz as the army of occupation Were
early today en- route to Charleston
aboard the transport, where approx
mately 800 soldiers will be unloaded
late in the afternoon.
Wives Arranging Households.
The German. French and Beigiau
wives who returned with the enlis.-
ed men were expected to experienc..
difficulty today in arranging thei"
households at the fort. Some of them
have little household goods and mos.
have none
The vessel being too crowded. much
of the possessions of the soldiers was
left at coblentz or Antwerp.
The wives today We're also becom-
ing acquainted with the poignant
truth that a dollar is just a dollar.
and. that soldier in the ranks is
paid but thirty of them each month.
While some of the women dismissed
as an annoying bugaboo the matter OF
rate of exchange in Germany. others
appeared to regard the money ques-
tion as having direct bearing on their
future happiness.
The latter recited that when an
American goes to a motion picture
theater he spends as much for a ticket
as German pays a servant for
months work.
Hail Land of Promise.
America truly is the land of prom
Use and future, one of the German
brides said. asserting she has every
confidence in the American govern
ment. The fact that her husbands
Army pay is not likely to permit of.
fur coats and limousines seemed NOT
to worry her.
The same item proved all important
to another German wife. who spoke
of parties" in Coblenz costing one
million marks, just few American
dollars. which must be abandoned in
this country. Views of these two
women seemed to be shared equally
among the wives. One, however,
would make no forecast as to how
she would like living in America.
"I don't know yet. I haven't land
ed" she said to newspaper men on
the transport as it neared its docks.
New Language AbsorBs.
The matter of studiously consider
ing the English language was an
important topic. The majority of the
German wives speak but little Eng
Iish. 1t appeared the soldiers found
it easier than their wives to learn
foreign language. Two German
mothers-in-law are understood to be
unable to speak a word of English.
Savannah has settled down to
auietude after what was said to have
been the greatest celebration of a
patriotic nature ever staged here. The
st. Mihiel docked at 2:40, and the
Rhine soldiers were greeted by an
immense throng, representing pract-
caliy every section of the country
The ceremonies were opened for
mally with the booming of the first
salute when the ship was sighted, es-
corted into port by the Tamacraw,
bearing the official reception delega-
tion, and other craft
wives Interest Savannah.
Parades. dances, receptions, ban
ouets and other entertainment fea-
turing the events, provided well
rounded program OF welcome, and in
terest was divided between the re-
| ,a1 hot
! born wives.
The ship dock firehose had to be
brought into action to allow debarka
| tion Of the troops, as the crowds had
stormed the docks and overpowered
| the police in efforts to greet the
troops.
extended the formal weleoms IN be-
half of the nation, included Senators
Harris and Robinson and Represent
atiyes johnson of South Dakota, Line
berger, Scott, Conley and Bulwinkle.
The committee were met aboard ship
by Col Walter T. Bates of the Sth
Infantry, in command of the troops.
welcomed by Governor.
The soldiers were welcomed by Gov.
Hardwick at a huge banquet, at
which the executive lauded President
Harding for the return of the last
contingent of the army of occupation.
Accommodations aboard the trans
port were not to. the liking of the
women. they reported. They were
Quartered in the compartments aft,
while their husbands occupied the
forward matches. Seawater baths,
continuous .seasickness and weather
that forced them to remain for long
periods under deck were outstanding
difficulties, the womeS =. Chapped
| faces and hands were exhibited by
men and women alike as mernentoes
of the voyage.
Several of the war brides will not
remain in the United States. their
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