Evening star., 1940-05-26
Luxembourg Again Has Msfortunes of Invaded Land
New German Drive Recalls Entry of American
Soldiers During O First War

right one at the right time, that's
all. Well show EN-"
Forthwith the German" nag was
affixed to staff and extended out
of the window for all the world to
witness its perfidy. Presently an
officer of the royal guards appeared,
courteously inquiring the reason for
the flags display. He was informed,
with more emphasis than politeness.
He smiled little. But it is not
so," he protested. That is the
mourning flag flown at the funeral
of Grand Duke Wilhelm of Luxem-
bourg, who died in 1912"
Contritely, and with red faces,
we pulled down our captured Ger
man flag"
The conduct and democracy Of
the Grand Duchess was slowly win
ming our grudging approval.
Slowly we began to realize how
fortunate we were. Those American
troops who were occupying Germany
were forced by circumstance to
maintain a strict discipline and were
barred by regulations from 'fratern-
izing." Those in France were but
little better of. They had to COM
pete in military smartness with the
veteran French regiments.
Battery Split Up.
Most of the sections of our bat
terry were split into units Of four or
five men and billeted with the viii
layers. Those men were lucky. We
noted with proper envy that they
seldom reported to the battery
kitchen at meal time. They would
smack their lips and expatiate IN
long and glowing terms on the sub
ject Of home-cooked meals. These
men were practically adopted into
the families.
Grand Duchess Charlotte went
out Of her way to make things
pleasant for us. We were permitted
to use her rifle range at will.
On February q, 1919. the division
gave a horse show at Diekirch. some
distance from the royal palace. 1t
was a cold, rainy day. But Char
lotte and her immediate suite at
tended and sat shivering, but snlil-
ing throughout the afternoon.
We had almost forgotten about
going home. Cold, blustery March
gave way to April. Up in the noun
tains the barren trees below the
line of evergreens were taking on
color. The little streams, callee
rivers by the natives, swollen with
melted SHOWS, raced through the
valleys. We knew most Of the
people in the village by now. and
had learned enough of the languag.
to understand much of what was
said to us.
In the evenings the cafe was
bright with lights and merry with
music, for the Luxembourger has
music in his soul. Some of the
soldiers contributed their own tai
ents and we sang and danced and
learned to drink warm beer like
the natives, who fingered over q
single glass for an entire evening.
Then suddenly, at the end Of
April, We received our orders to
prepare to leave. We turned In
our horses and field guns, gave our
extra blankets and shoes and other
impedimenta we considered too
heavy to carry on our backs, to the
civilians.
On the first day of May we as
sembled in full pack on the high
way. We watched those people
whom we first considered as enemies.
They gathered around us. Most
Of those substitute mothers were
crying, kissing their foster brood
good-by. There weren't so many
dry eyes In our oufit either, and we
were unashamed. They pushed gifts
into our hands, gifts we knew they
could i'll afford, but We accepted be.
cause we knew they wanted US to
have them.
Presently we broke into q column
Of squads and moved down the
road. The Grand Duchess was
there. She was too far away to see
whether there were tears In her
eyes or not. But she wasn't snil-
ing as she waved good-by.
We had come as conquerors; and
departed conquered, conquered by
the most powerful armament In the
world: Kindness.
Now another army holds Luxem-
bourg. Grand Duchess Charlotte
did not welcome them. She has
fed TO the sanctuary of France.
Their feet have trampled down the
grass where we once played foot.
ball; their heavy field guns are
bristled, harsh and hostile, where
our 75s were once parked in peace.
Another nag flies from the hotel
where we were quartered, this time
German nag. And the ofIicer of
the royal guard will have no rea.
son courteously to inquire as to why
1t Is there. zone man With =
cream, ut pleasure, shall 70 forth
fnd conquer . crown"