The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-12
Occupation Carried Out With
 out Single Gun Being Fired. BeIgianS Join in Taking Over Great German Industrial Area-PeopEe Are ReSentful
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AWAITING DEVELOPMENTS
United States Does Not Plan
 at Present to Recall Its Representative at Sessions of Preparations Commission. State Officials Are Silent
BS Associated Press

WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN THE RUHR, Jan. 1.-The heart of the Ruhr beats tonight to the measured tread of the horizon blue soldier of France.
 Forty thousand French troops, armed as in war times, are camped on the outskirts of Essen and other points. In Essen, sentries pace peacefully before few public buildings, while the main body, after parading through the streets, is encamped outside the city. French tanks, which for a time were grouped in commanding array in City Hall square, were withdrawn lat today after Dr. Hans Luther, tt 9a1go8l -er. rad
 French commander pt t9s sIHeate co oseaa9n If tse al thoriGes
 The oecuna0an af.a-a oul without any loss af d VI hoat the firing of q .--s
 The advance was led by armored cars, and at 10 o'clock this morn ing General Boyer, the first French soldier to en5er Essen, reached the city hall, and the new move for the occupation or additional German territory had begun.
 Cross Bridgeheads
 The French set out from the Dues seldorf and Duisburg bridgeheads at 3 o'clock while the Belgians came down from Moers, through Ruhrort and made juncture with the French outside of Mulheim. Two reserve di- visions of infantry are being held in readiness. camping on the edge of the former brdgehead limits.
 The troops were called to the alert at about midnight. but even then no superior officer would admit that the operation would be carried out. Throughout the long vigil until o'clock the zero hour" the soldiers shivered in the cold, gray morning. while shrieking sirens marked the progress of the automobiles racing through the bridgehead from com mand to command.
 Finally the time Of departure came. There were sharp words of command from the officers, the blowing e many whistles; motors of armored cars began to roar. cavalry clattered on the asphalt high road, companies of cyclists sped forward and tho movement was Cn.
 Leap Into Unknown"
 The technical eXnerta eAs tneers and field mo- ceal,iaa y4u- lhe fre- termed eT oUees
 5 lfe nisseaH.
 tli-ij- lAe tfantry iate Hne al .ins with 0uicl. 70 t.l g,f tre effects of thT r19f -tlla slnHs oEer neir seaAA
 ihe iogg cfrolae afestfled s Eris1 aloaa ga R =stay-a dark pie turs uy the glare of the blast furnaces and rolling mills of the n- dustrial district.
 Not single light showed from the windows of the houses lining the road, but here and there from be- hind the corners of uplifted curtains pale visages timerously peered only to be promptly withdrawn.
 When the troops reached Ratingen they met working men on the way to their daily labor
 Meet Working Men
 Swinging dinner pails that seemed to dangle lightly, the work inE men directed never glance at the marching soldiers, and the latter also ignored them. There seemed to be nc hatred, but neither was there any enthusiasm.
 Troops crossed the Ruhr river at Werden over bridge adorned with statues Of Bismark, Non Moltke and
 tContinued on Page sixteen.)