American soldiers on the west bank of the Rhine in the occupied region, Germany

American soldiers on the west bank of the Rhine in the occupied region, Germany

American soldiers on the bank of Rhine

18737

American soldiers on the Rhine! Half a century from now Germans will still talk of those irrepressible, incomprehensible American doughboys, who flooded into the Rhineland during the great war ; of these men who, though victorious, were not overbearing, molesting no one who interfered not with them ; Of these men who fought like devils during the war, yet like children played strange games with sticks and balls after the armistice ; of these men who paid for what they bought instead of seizing it as spoils of victory. And some of these men are here before us, in an hour of leisure, pup tents up, band playing, nothing to do but enjoy the sunshine and Frenchsh air and view the noble river whose banks have been for ages the battleground of Europe. This is the storied Rhine, with its legends and folklore. Oft have Uncle Sam's boys heard of it, long have they wished to see it. And now they are here, a part of that army which watches with suspicion the Prussian Eagle while his talons are being drawn. In the distance powerful steamboats are towing barges up the river. This is a characteristic Rhine scene, for the traffic on the river is enormous. It is not unusual to see a steamer towing five barges laden to the rails. Villages like the one across the river are scattered at intervals of four or five miles throughout the entire course of the river, from Mainz (mints) to Cologne. They are picturesque at a distance, but often dirty and unattractive close at hand.

1 stereograph : b&w

1 gelatine silver print stereograph (8 x 15 cm) mounted on card (9 x 18 cm)

Copyright. The Keystone View Company

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World War through the stereoscope