You have come not as despoilers or opressors, but simply as the instruments of a strong, free government whose purposes towards the people of Germany are beneficient. During our occupation the civil population is under the special safeguards of the faith and honor of the American Army.

"It is, therefore, the intention of this order to appeal directly to your pride in your position as representatives of a powerful but righteous nation, with the firm conviction that you will so conduct yourself in your relations with the inhabitants of Germany as will cause them to respect you and the country you have the honor to represent. While you appear among them as a conquering army, you will exhibit no ill will towards the inhabitants.

"On the other hand you are warned against conduct unbecoming your position as instruments of military rule. So long as a state of war continues, Germany remains enemy territory, and there must be no intimate personal association with its inhabitants. A dignified and reserved attitude will be maintained on your part at all times

Notwithstanding this order there were a few cases of fraternization and some officers were sent back to the rear for violation of these instructions. On the whole, however, the attitude of both officers and men was above reproach.

In one respect there was complete fraternization. The doughboy played, fraternized, and gave candy, chocolate and chewing gum to "boche" children. It was not an unusual sight to see him sitting on the steps of a "boche" home surrounded by a group of merry children. Even when he knew not one word of German he was a good mixer with the youngsters. Many times have I seen a little German, boy or girl, step up to a "doughboy," slip a fat little hand in his and walk quietly along with him. He has that about him which inspires the confidence of children. Wherever he goes, be it Cuba, Mexico, the Philippines, China or Europe, he carries with him that divine doctrine taught by our Saviour, "Suffer little children to come unto me.”

As time passed and the soldier longed for home, and the "boche" saw his places of amusement taken

from him and regulations strictly enforced, the feeling became more tense. Encounters between soldiers and inhabitants became more numerous. It was the same old truth, that an occupying army, even one with the best intentions, will commit outrages, and that mutual irritation, in spite of every effort to the contrary, will grow apace. In all cases where it was possible to apprehend the offenders they were punished. In spite of these sporadic cases of abuse, when the Hun writes the history of this occupation he will have to admit that it was a clean and strong occupation, and as free from tyranny and wrong as it is possible for such a government to be.

The American Soldier

There never was, in the history of the world, a military occupation without some abuses. I believe that the American occupation of the Rhineland was freer of abuses-than any other military government ever exercised by man. This is due largely to the good common sense of the American officer and soldier. Each seemed to realize that he had an integral part to play in the government, and the conduct of the officers and men was generally clean, dignified and above reproach. Each realized that the Army of Occupation was not an instrument of vengeance, and that the Peace Treaty and not the army was to punish Germany for her crimes. The American people may well be proud of their Army of Occupation.

CHAPTER III

The Four Military Governments in

Mexico

The First Intervention

The first military government ever exercised by the United States was in the Republic of Mexico. General Winfield Scott, the commander-in-chief of the first expedition to Mexico, was a lawyer by profession before he entered the army and was a deep student of governmental affairs. It will be remembered that General Taylor's army had entered Mexico and captured Monterey before General Scott started his movement. General Scott had devoted much time and study to Mexican affairs before his expedition started and many of his acts have furnished a lasting precedent for the Army of the United States.

Vera Cruz capitulated after a bombardment from the land side and General Scott was ready to start for Mexico City. Vera Cruz must be held and General Worth was appointed military governor. This was the origin of that term in our service. General Worth was directed to establish police regulations but not to interfere with the functions of civil magistrates between Mexicans. There was no question in this government of educating the Mexicans, the only object of it was to provide for the security and efficiency of the American Army.

General Worth was instructed to establish his own customs duties on imported articles. Apparently the Mexican tariff laws were ignored. The cus

toms duties collected were to be applied to the purchase of necessities for the sick and wounded of our army and to care for the poor of Vera Cruz. duties were imposed upon the necessities of life.

No

There is a marked contrast seen between this occupation and the second in 1914 under General Funston. In the latter case, the customs were not changed except in one minor particular and none of the money collected was expended except for the operating expenses of the custom house.

General Worth, on entering upon his duties as military governor, issued the following order to the alcalde or mayor of the city:

"Arms in possession of citizens to be given into the alcalde's possession and to be reported to headquarters. Drinking saloons to be closed and not to be reopened hereafter except under special permission. Mexican laws as between Mexicans to be enforced and justice administered by regular Mexican tribunals. Cases arising between American citizens of the army or authorized followers of the same, will be investigated by military commissions."

General Worth permitted all Mexican citizens to enter and leave the city during daylight hours.

Before starting his march on Mexico City, General Scott issued his General Order No. 40, known as his martial law order. This was afterward republished with some additions in Mexico City September 27, 1847. The army at that time was governed by the Articles of War enacted in 1806. Under these articles a soldier could not be tried by general court martial for murder, rape, or the attempt to commit either, malicious assault and battery, robbery, theft, or the wanton destruction of property. Realizing that "the good of the service, the honor of the United States, and the interest of humanity demand that these crimes shall be severely punished," military commissions were authorized to try all the crimes

enumerated "committed (1) by any inhabitant of Mexico upon the person or property of any individual of the United States forces, retainer or follower of the same; (2) by any individual of the said forces, retainer or follower of the same upon the person or property of any inhabitant of Mexico, sojourner or traveller therein; (3) by any individual of said forces, retainer or follower of the same upon the person or property of any other individual of said forces."

This was the beginning of the military commissions which have since been used in Porto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, the Philippines and Germany. The military commission, which supplied a missing cog in our system of military courts, was not devised on the spur of the moment and it took courage and vision to put the system into effect. In General Taylor's advance into northern Mexico, a soldier had committed an atrocious murder and went unpunished for lack of a court to try him. General Scott when in Washington, presented his scheme of military commissions for the trial of similar cases, to the Secretary of War. The latter refused to act upon it, saying that it was "loaded." After this rebuff, the manner in which General Scott met the situation is all the more commendable and remarkable.

General Worth's division was the last to leave the vicinity of Vera Cruz and he went in command of it, turning over the city of Vera Cruz to Brevet Colonel Henry Wilson as military governor. The garrison consisted of the 1st U. S. Infantry and two companies of volunteers.

Jalapa was the first town of any considerable size on the route to Mexico City. Colonel Childs was appointed military governor, but the troops were