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Daily Iowan, February 18, 1919

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Tuesday, February 18, 1919  The Daily Iowan State University of Iowa  Page Three   

SOLDIERS' LETTERS   Coblenz, Germany  My dear Father and Mother----  By a long letter I intend now to compensate for the wait I have given you.  Let me see----the last was from Luxembourg, wasn't it? Luxembourg seems now far away, in time because so much has happened since we left there, in distance because the miles that have passed under foot have been so full of interesting sights.  To the last Luxembourg was the fascinating comic opera city that I described to you from my first impressions. Whether we would or not we were made by the populace to play the role of liberators and to receive a welcome that in cordiality and enthusiasm could hardly be surpassed. I doubt if a single American got out of the city without being entertained in a private home. Luxuries that had been foregone for four years because of their exhorbitant cost were lavished on the Americans. Tables groaned with food, the most precious thing in this part of the world. Orchestras dug up American popular tunes and worked them into programs of their own beautiful melodies. American flags of strange design showing that they had been specially manufactured to overcome the want of regulation flags, floated in the streets in profusion. And wherever they went Americans heard in English, French, German the repeated thanks of the Luxembourgois for their delivery from the hated Germans.  I crossed into Germany by automobile the morning of the third. All the way to the border of Luxembourg we had passed through villages decked in flags where the children rushed to doors and gates to wave at us. Then came an abrupt change. We crossed a bridge at Wasserbilig and we were in another land. Little boys in brimless boche caps stood at the roadside looking at us with curiosity, but without the smiles we had known farther back. There were no "Heep heep hoorays." Men and women kept their faces set straight ahead or looked with expressionless eyes.  Soon we were in Treves, which the Germans call Trier. Our billeting officer had gone ahead and taken quarters for the correspondents and officers in the Reichshof hotel. There we found the manager and the service cool but courteous, and willing to do anything we asked of them. Our rooms were warm and comfortable---a veritable luxury after many billets we had known in the war zone. The German food which we tried until our kitchen arrived was not half bad though somewhat costly. I paid the equivalent of a dollar and a half for lunch on roast meat, potatoes, bread and coffee. The bread was terrible, one can understand the wonder with which the German prisoners used to regard our white bread the first time it was handed out to them.  Trier showed little outward evidence of having suffered from the war. The shops were filled with merchandise of all kinds. The cafes were bright and cheerful. The city was overflowing with soldiers back from the war, many of them still in uniform. To see everywhere the soldiers whom we had known before only as the enemy to be fought or prisoners to guard was at first the oddest sort of experience. The soldiers went along about their business paying no attention to us, except occasionally to look at our clothes or to inspect an automobile or a truck. The automobile appeared to interest them most. An automobile as powerful as the American army car had got to be a rare thing in Germany----the rubber tires almost unheard of. The people generally were neutral in their attitude; neither friendly nor surly. For the most part they made no effort to talk to us but they were always polite in directing us about the city or in waiting on us in shops and stores. I have no doubt the tradespeople were willing enough to see us come. The American soldier spends much money wherever he goes.  We had hardly got well settled in Trier when there came an authorization for our unit to proceed to Coblenz. The main body of troops was not to reach Coblenz until the 12th, but on the request of the city authorities the army commander had agreed to send a battalion ahead by rail to police the city in the interim between the departure of the German troops and the arrival of the Americans. So last Sunday morning the correspondents piled into a car on the troop train. I was detailed to come with them while the rest of the officers brought the car and equipment by road. The train left Trier at ten in the morning and jogged.  There was no ceremony about the entry of Coblenz. The troop train pulled into a freight depot and unloaded. Perhaps half a hundred persons were outside the fence watching the doughboys pile off and march off to the barracks. Downtown it was different. The streets were crowded with folks out for their Sunday afternoon walk. The appearance of the American uniform on the street created something of a sensation. We quickly settled in the Hotel Reisen Furstenhof, which is on the bank of the Rhine and just a block north of the pontoon bridge. Here the smaller boys and girls of   (continued on page 4) 

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[advertisement]  FOOD SALE  Everything you need for evening spreads and breakfasts in your room.  REGAN'S STORE  Saturday, Feb. 22, 1919  108 E. College  Conducted by the Ladies of St. Mary's.  

[advertisement]  H. A. STRUB & CO.  New 1919 Dress Goods and Silks--fine line--the latest and prices right  H. A. STRUB & CO.  

[advertisement]  [illustration of Capitol dome with clouds]  Under Government Supervision   GOOD TIMES AHEAD!  The battered old world freed at last from the scourge of war is swinging slowly back to normal. A year of wonderful possibilities lies before us.  Signs innumerable point to good times ahead. And we shall have them if, individually, we keep this simple formula in mind:  Stay on the job and continue to practice those economies which grim war has taught us; work, earn, save, avoid extravagance in every form.   FIRST NATIONAL BANK  Member Federal Reserve System 

 [advertisement]   ISOLDE MENGES  World Renowned English Violinist  Great European Musicians claim that ISOLDE MENGES is the greatest Interpretive Violinist of this age.  Talented Australian Artist EILEEN BEATTIE at the Piano   NATURAL SCIENCE AUDITORIUM  Thursday, February 20th At 8:15 O'clock  Admission, 75 cents and $1.00 (Plus War Tax)  Seats Reserved At Ries' Iowa Book Store 

 [advertisement]  THE TOWNSEND STUDIO  No Satisfaction----No Pay  Can You Beat It?

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Tuesday, February 18, 1919 The Daily Iowan State University of Iowa Page Three SOLDIERS' LETTERS Coblenz, Germany My dear Father and Mother---- By a long letter I intend now to compensate for the wait I have given you. Let me see----the last was from Luxembourg, wasn't it? Luxembourg seems now far away, in time because so much has happened since we left there, in distance because the miles that have passed under foot have been so full of interesting sights. To the last Luxembourg was the fascinating comic opera city that I described to you from my first impressions. Whether we would or not we were made by the populace to play the role of liberators and to receive a welcome that in cordiality and enthusiasm could hardly be surpassed. I doubt if a single American got out of the city without being entertained in a private home. Luxuries that had been foregone for four years because of their exhorbitant cost were lavished on the Americans. Tables groaned with food, the most precious thing in this part of the world. Orchestras dug up American popular tunes and worked them into programs of their own beautiful melodies. American flags of strange design showing that they had been specially manufactured to overcome the want of regulation flags, floated in the streets in profusion. And wherever they went Americans heard in English, French, German the repeated thanks of the Luxembourgois for their delivery from the hated Germans. I crossed into Germany by automobile the morning of the third. All the way to the border of Luxembourg we had passed through villages decked in flags where the children rushed to doors and gates to wave at us. Then came an abrupt change. We crossed a bridge at Wasserbilig and we were in another land. Little boys in brimless boche caps stood at the roadside looking at us with curiosity, but without the smiles we had known farther back. There were no "Heep heep hoorays." Men and women kept their faces set straight ahead or looked with expressionless eyes. Soon we were in Treves, which the Germans call Trier. Our billeting officer had gone ahead and taken quarters for the correspondents and officers in the Reichshof hotel. There we found the manager and the service cool but courteous, and willing to do anything we asked of them. Our rooms were warm and comfortable---a veritable luxury after many billets we had known in the war zone. The German food which we tried until our kitchen arrived was not half bad though somewhat costly. I paid the equivalent of a dollar and a half for lunch on roast meat, potatoes, bread and coffee. The bread was terrible, one can understand the wonder with which the German prisoners used to regard our white bread the first time it was handed out to them. Trier showed little outward evidence of having suffered from the war. The shops were filled with merchandise of all kinds. The cafes were bright and cheerful. The city was overflowing with soldiers back from the war, many of them still in uniform. To see everywhere the soldiers whom we had known before only as the enemy to be fought or prisoners to guard was at first the oddest sort of experience. The soldiers went along about their business paying no attention to us, except occasionally to look at our clothes or to inspect an automobile or a truck. The automobile appeared to interest them most. An automobile as powerful as the American army car had got to be a rare thing in Germany----the rubber tires almost unheard of. The people generally were neutral in their attitude; neither friendly nor surly. For the most part they made no effort to talk to us but they were always polite in directing us about the city or in waiting on us in shops and stores. I have no doubt the tradespeople were willing enough to see us come. The American soldier spends much money wherever he goes. We had hardly got well settled in Trier when there came an authorization for our unit to proceed to Coblenz. The main body of troops was not to reach Coblenz until the 12th, but on the request of the city authorities the army commander had agreed to send a battalion ahead by rail to police the city in the interim between the departure of the German troops and the arrival of the Americans. So last Sunday morning the correspondents piled into a car on the troop train. I was detailed to come with them while the rest of the officers brought the car and equipment by road. The train left Trier at ten in the morning and jogged. There was no ceremony about the entry of Coblenz. The troop train pulled into a freight depot and unloaded. Perhaps half a hundred persons were outside the fence watching the doughboys pile off and march off to the barracks. Downtown it was different. The streets were crowded with folks out for their Sunday afternoon walk. The appearance of the American uniform on the street created something of a sensation. We quickly settled in the Hotel Reisen Furstenhof, which is on the bank of the Rhine and just a block north of the pontoon bridge. Here the smaller boys and girls of (continued on page 4) [advertisement] BENNISON'S Closing Out Rebuilding Sale Begins Tomorrow New Spring Goods Now in are all included Doors open promptly at 9 a. m. [advertisement] FOOD SALE Everything you need for evening spreads and breakfasts in your room. REGAN'S STORE Saturday, Feb. 22, 1919 108 E. College Conducted by the Ladies of St. Mary's. [advertisement] H. A. STRUB & CO. New 1919 Dress Goods and Silks--fine line--the latest and prices right H. A. STRUB & CO. [advertisement] [illustration of Capitol dome with clouds] Under Government Supervision GOOD TIMES AHEAD! The battered old world freed at last from the scourge of war is swinging slowly back to normal. A year of wonderful possibilities lies before us. Signs innumerable point to good times ahead. And we shall have them if, individually, we keep this simple formula in mind: Stay on the job and continue to practice those economies which grim war has taught us; work, earn, save, avoid extravagance in every form. FIRST NATIONAL BANK Member Federal Reserve System [advertisement] ISOLDE MENGES World Renowned English Violinist Great European Musicians claim that ISOLDE MENGES is the greatest Interpretive Violinist of this age. Talented Australian Artist EILEEN BEATTIE at the Piano NATURAL SCIENCE AUDITORIUM Thursday, February 20th At 8:15 O'clock Admission, 75 cents and $1.00 (Plus War Tax) Seats Reserved At Ries' Iowa Book Store [advertisement] THE TOWNSEND STUDIO No Satisfaction----No Pay Can You Beat It?