GERMANY'S CIVIL WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 76, 29 March 1920, Page 5

GERMANY'S CIVIL WAR.

"REDS" BREAK ARMISTICE. ! 120,000 WORKERS UNDER ARMS. OUT TO KILL MILITARISM. •Bj- Cablo.—Press Association.— Copyright.) (Received 10 a.m.) ROTTERDAM, March 28. There has been severe fighting at Wesel despite the arranging of an armistice. Crowds gathered at the Essen Town Hall watching the departure of armed workmen for the front. Their only uniform was a red armband or a cap ribbon. Reports from the Ruhr Valley state that the workmen suffered heavy losses, and that the Government troops captured :in armoured train. The booming of grins in the direction of Weso] is continuous. The "Reds" broke the armistice terms, refusing to retire behind Lippe. They bombarded Wesel all day long, and then advanced on the town. Some' reports assert that the town was captured. The "Reds" are also attacking ilunster, whence a heavy booming of guns is heard on the frontier. The leaders of the "Reds" claim that they have an army of 120,000. They say their only object is to destroy militarism, and that any attempt to disarm the workers will "unchain'tcrrible civil war.—(A. and X.Z. Cable.) L '■■ (R.ecciv.-rf 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 2S. The "Reds" at Essen rejected the GovDrnmPiit terms avowing Communism, end claim to have occupied Wesel. The Communists, ignoring the armistice, bombarded Wesel the whole day with nine-inch guns. The Government is bringing up reinforcements. The Communist forces are now estimated at 120,000, and are advancing on Lippe.— (Router.) CABINET-MAKING FAILURE. ■ BATTER TAKES UP TASK. \ —— (Received 10.30 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, March 28. Herr Muller, Foreign Minister in Herr Hnstav Bauer's Ministry, attempted to form a Cabinet but failed. A message from Berlin states that the Government has arranged an armistice with the "Reds," renewable daily. Herr Bauer, the Chancellor, has completed his new Cabinet. He discards Herr Xoske, late Minister of Defence, p.nd Herr Erzberger, late Minister of Finance and Vice-Chancellor. The new Cabinet includes no Independent Socialists. The general strike has been cancelled. An earlier message from Berlin stated that the Independent Socialists and Plural Socialists issued terms for ending the general strike. The Pluralists pledge themselves in their Parliamentary prosramtne to fight for labour union claims. (A. and N.Z. Cable.) A DRAFT AGREEMENT. CONCESSIONS TO WORKERS. (Received 1 p.m.) COPENHAGEN, March 25 (delayed). A draft agreement between the workers and the •Government in the Westphalian industrial region lias been drawn up. It provides for the dislmndment of the reactionary troops and the formation by the workers of committees of reichswehr, oomposed of three men out of every thousand inhabitants, which, iorce displaces the Citizens' Guard. The agreement stipulates that the advance of the Government troops is not to be carried out if the provisions are loyally kept, while martial law is being raised immediately. A general amnesty for the workers, police and citizens is also being granted.— (Reuter.) HUMOURS OF ANOTHER COUP. ' TROOPS NOT DISBANDED. (Received 2 p.m.) PARIS, March 28. "Lβ Journal's" Berlin correspondent fctates it is rumoured that the pan-Ger-xoans are planning another coup d'etat. General yon Seeckt disregarded the instructions to disband Erhardt's Naval Brigade and the Baltic troops. Tour armoured cars have been added to the . brigade and many more have been attached to the monarchical troops. General Hartung's severity in maintaining order so exasperated the workers rear Potsdam that several bombs were fastened under his motor lorry. They exploded, blowing it to atoms.— (A. and JN.Z. Cable.) , FRENCH FEELING STRAINED. (Received 30 turn.) PARIS, March 28. M. J. L. Barthou, Premier of France in 1013, and at present President of the Foreign Affairs Committee, caused a sensation in the Chamber of Deputies by •violently attacking Britain and Mr. Lloyd George in connection with the Peace Treaty and recent events relating to Germany. He said that every strong step taken against Germany had been signed by M. Clemenceau, and every conreseion by Mr. Lloyd George. He added that Britain had secured adequate guarantees through the naval and maritime clauses in the Peace Treaty, whereas France was still vainly straining to secure guarantees against the German danger on land. The speech was cheered by many ecctions of the House, but the "Morning J'ostV'correspondent in Paris declares that M. Barthou by his anti-British violence has committed political suicide. There wag great indignation in the lobby.