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Show ! Germans Do Not Like the Presence of Americans. 'SHOW INDIFFERENCE General Pershins Issues a Proclamation Which Is Reassuring, i , WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY OF OCCUPATION. Monday. Dec. 2 Stud-' Stud-' lfd indifference again characterized tho German reception of American i troops on their way to Ibo Rhine to-.day. to-.day. General Dickman's army renewed (its advance at daylight, and by night 1 had reached the line approximately j twelve miles to the eastward, Scores of additional villages and small towns were brought under the domination of I the American army, but none of them are of great importance. At American headquarters at Treves, Gnral Brown, as military governor, and General Gen-eral Smith, who is in charge of civil i affairs, have begun the work of ad-' ad-' ministration. Local authorities in virtually vir-tually every community have agreed to retain their posts and co-operate in maintaining order. General Pershing has issued a proclamation proc-lamation calling on the people to return re-turn to their normal pursuits and assuring as-suring them that, if the conduct of military affairs Is not molested and if good order is kept, they will not be interfered in-terfered with. The proclamation gives Information of the places American forces will occupy under the terms of thearmislice and explains in detail which towns will be garrisoned and which will be merely included in occupied occu-pied territory. This proclamatoin, posted post-ed on walls in different plnces, had been read carefully by crowds but there has been no sign of emoUon evident. evi-dent. The towns through which the troops passed today presented an appearance similar to those entered on Sunday. Blinds were drawn Jn many cases and most of the inhabitants remained indoors in-doors rather than countenance the invasion in-vasion by witnessing iL The children in the towns occupied on the first day of the advance and today, failed to restrain re-strain their childish enthusiasm, but the attitude of the grown ups was unaltered. un-altered. At Treves 130 airplanes were found ready for delivery to the allies. A small quantity of supplies was also left there by the Germans. Reports made to General Smith indicate in-dicate that, while foodstuffs arc limited limit-ed as to variety, there is apparently enough to meet the needs of the people. peo-ple. Prices, however, are very high. General Pershing's reassurance has gone far to alleviate anxiety that even the phlegmatic inhabitants fail to conceal. con-ceal. It la understood the Americans will rule slornly but General Pershing in his proclamation said "no law abiding abid-ing person need have any fear." Continuing, the proclamation road: "The American army is not come to mako war on n civilized population. All persons who, with honest submission submis-sion act peacefully and obey the rules laid down by the military authorities will be protected in their persons, homes and property. All others will be brought under rule with vigor and promptness. The American army will govern In strict accordance with international inter-national law and the rules and customs of war sanctioned by the civilized tforld. Inhabitants on their part must absolutely abstain in word and deed from every act of hostility or impedi-'ment impedi-'ment of any kind toward the American I forces. It is your duty now to devote yourselves to the orderly and obedient conduct of your private lives and affairs, af-fairs, the establishment of normal conditions con-ditions in schools, churches, hospitals, and charitable institutions and resumption resump-tion of your local civil life. "You will bp unobstructed but, on the contrary, will be encouroxed and protected In those pursuits. So far as your attitude and conduct make it possible, pos-sible, local courts, governing bodies and Institutions will be continued In operation under supervision of American Ameri-can authorities. Except where thev affect the rights nnd security or the American army, your present laws nnd regulations will remain undisturbed and in force. Every violation of the laws of war, every act offering ho3til-Ity ho3til-Ity or violence and every act of disobedience dis-obedience of the rules laid down by military authority will be punished with the utmost yicor." |
