MARCH INTO ESSEN

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 101, 15 January 1923, Page 7

MARCH INTO ESSEN

GREAT CROWDS WATCH THE FRENCH ENTER POPULACE SULLEN AND RESENTFUL CORRECT BEHAVIOUR OF TROOPS The entrance of the French Into Essen was watched by great crowds of sullen and resentful people, whose set faces showed the effort they were making to maintain self-con-trol. The French behaved correctely, there being no hectoring or Jesting. BY Telegraph—Press Association. * —COPYRIGHT. Berlin, January 12. Great crowds, with faces set in the effort to maintain self-control, watched the French enter Essen. Occasional cries of fury and pain were heard. The houses were shuttered, and shop-blinds drawn, and the population sullen and resentful, as they looked at the column of dark-blue uniformed and helmeted .cyclists, parti-coloured armoured cars, and cavalry. From the sinister cars, in which no man could bo j r seen, protruded the muzzles of ma-chine-guns. as if saying to the hostileeyed crowd: “Remember wq are here.” Tne silence with which the inwardly raging •'Westphalian workers regarded them seemed to answer, “We will remember to-day, never fear.” Despite the menace of madhine-guns, angry murmurs from the crowd broke the general melancholy silence.. Many took no trouble to hide their hatred for the armed men whose triumphal ride this was. - The French looked straight in front, as if ceremoniously parading, not sparing a glance for the fury of the blazing eyes of the ranks of angry men. The French behaved with absolute correctness. There was no hectoring and no jesting, but they rode as conquerors, the officers especially. Though not provocatively suggesting the pride of military pomp, the whole impression given was that of being present at the funeral of the people’s pride. At the post office an officer and tnpopers dismounted. The . latter barred .the entrance and exits, impristming all within. The infantry appeared, and cleared the pavement of 1 agitated Germans, who protested, but were swept aside coldlv. The officer went in formally to take over the administration. "Within five minutes Essen was cut off from postal and telegraphic and telephonic communication with the outer world. This was soon restored, and the. Germans who had been temporarily imprisoned were released. General Rampon, commanding the occupying forces, subsequently demanded and held an interview with the burgomaster, named L.uthqg, and informed him that he did not wish, to place unnecessary burdens upon the people. When the various controls had been instituted in connection with the canals, railways, and post office, the troops would bo withdrawn.. Herr Luther renlied that he could only take actions forced upon him, as he'was unable to offer resistance. He protested that the French action, using p. military force against a disarmed, defenceless population, was totally illegal. General Rampon replied that ho would note the protest, sainted, and then withdrew.—“ The Times.”

“INVISIBLE” OCCUPATION

ABSENCE OF MILITARY ' DEMONSTRATION

Paris, January 12.

The “Echo de Paris’s” Mayence correspondent states that Herr Thyssen, the great industrialist, savs that the Coal Syndicate’s action in removing its hesdouarter’s from Essen was taken with Cabmet’s approval. General Degoutte says that he intends to inaugurate a new kind of military occunatkfo, namely, “invisible” occupation. Judged by the absence of military demonstration in the streets, this has succeeded. The “Journal” says “Ench’s hand is to be seen in all of this. The occupation is civil rather than military. It depends on the Germans whether France exercises pressure or not.” The “Petit Parisian's” Berlin correspondent states -that the Cabinet has ordered the Coni Syndicate at Hamburg to cease delivery of coal on account of reparations.. A membe’- of the syndicate says that a notable decrease in coal production and n. dearth of fuel in_ Germany must ho expected. Large importations of English coal are probable. Notwithsta.nd'ng external calm, the occupation of Es’en -is undoubtedly fiercely resented.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

AMMONIA SYNDICATE MOVES RAILWAYMEN TO STRIKE Amsterdam, January 12. Messages from Essen are.reassuring. Although the population is most ex- ■ cited, no disorders are reported. The Ammorn'a Syndicate, following the example of the Coal Syndicate, has transferred its headquarters from Bochum to Hamburg. The Ruhr railwaymen will join in the strike on Monday. Nearly all em-< ployers are supporting the workers. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RUHR BANKS REMOVE DEPOSITS London, January 12. The “Daily Mail’s” Paris correspondent states that the Ruhr Banks have followed the example of the coal companies and rushed off their deposits. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN INDUSTRIAL HEADS REFUSE TO CONFER WITH THE FRENCH Berlin, January 12. The French commander of the bridgehead at Dusseldorf, General Simon, has instructed the German authorities to lummon the heads of Krupp’s, Ihysm’s, Kirdorf, and other loading industrialists to a conference either at Dusseldorf or Essen, in order to diseqss methods of carrying on industry in the Ruhr. The authorities replied

that- they would communicate with the coal syndicate, whose headquarters are removed. The firms readily relsponded, but refused to send their chiefs, they appointed as their representatives tho Mayors of Essen -“i" lied engineers were also present. General Simon intimated that Mayence was no longer under Berlin s sovereignty, but under occupational authority. The Germans protested against this as a breach of the treaty. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

IF COAL DELIVERIES ARE STOPPED France Will impose sanctions (Rec. January 14, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 13. The “Morning Rost’s” Berlin correspondent states that when the German industrialists and coal owners did not attend a meeting at Essen, General Devignes addressed the Germans present, and said that unless the mines proceeded forthwith with deliveries ot coal for all parts of Germany, including the unoccupied territory, the sanctions would be imposed. The Morning Post” continues: “Tins means that in a few days the mines will be unable to pay wages, unless the French Commission decides to pay them itself. Herr Stinnes, Herr Thyssen, and other German industrialists are trying to checkmate the French Commission by applying to English coalowners for coal on credit, to enable Germany to be independent of tho Ruhr coal.” —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FRENCH FLAG TORN DOWN COAL DELIVERIES TO BE RESUMED (Rec. January 15, 0.45 a.m.) Berlin, January 13. The “Vorwaerts” states that tho French flag, hoisted by i!w» occupying troops, was torn down by the crowd. The burgomaster apologised to the French commander According to Essen reports. Germany has agreea to resume coal deliveries under tentative arrangements controlled by a Franco-German ' oommission.—Reuter. GERMAN PROTEST TO ITALY AGAINST FRENCH INVASION Rome, January 12. The German Ambassador lodged with Signor Mussolini a protest against the French invasion of the Ruhr, and declared that Germany would fulfil her obligations as far as she was able.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable. Assn. NO EXCUSE FOR VIOLATING TREATY REPARATIONS PAYMENTS MADE IMPOSSIBLE (Rec. January 14, 5.5 p.m.) Berlin, January 13. The German Government has handed the Belgian and French Ambassador a Note denying that there is any real excuse for violating the Treaty of Versailles. Germany cannot ( fight, but she will not bow to or assist France. The murk is falling and prices are rising, and the result will be that Germany will be unable to pay any Power its reparations. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ANOTHER CONFERENCE CONTEMPLATED BY POINCARE

UNITED STATES TO BE INVITED

(Rec. January 15, 0.20 a.m.) New York, January 14. The “New York World’s” Paris correspondent reports that M. Poincare contemplates calling another conference concerning reparations, to which the United States would be invited. It is elicited that the United States will not accept the invitation if the conference’s purpose is only the issue of another ultimatum to Germany ; but if the Premier desired to submit the repartions problem to an international commission such as Mr. Hughes Suggested, America’s attitude would _ be entirely sympathetic. The Administration, however, would welcome any French step towards a modification of the drastic policy on which M. Poincare has embarked.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

PROTESTS TO AMERICA NO REPLY TO BE MADE (Rec. January 14, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, January 12. A White House spokesman stated that the American Government will make no reply to German protests against the French movement into Ruhr. The Administration sees ' no road by which its desire to be helpful in the reparations crisis can be advanced, therefore it it not moving any way. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BRITISH MINERS’ PROTEST (Rec. January 14, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 13. The Miners’ Federation has protested against the French occupation of Ruhr, believing that the world’s peace is threatened by this display of military force, and calls on the Allied Governments to get the reparations settled by arbitration, under the League of Nations. Meanwhile the British Miners’ Federation will keep in touch with German miners in order that the facts of the Ruhr occupation may be made known to the world. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NEXT PAYMENT POSTPONED DECISION OF REPARATION COMMISSION

(Rec. January 15, 0.45 a.m.) Paris, lanuary 13.

The Reparations Commission has postponed the date of the next German reparations payment to January 81, as & provisional measure. A vote

was not taken, but Sir John Bradbury | dissented from the decision, as it is contrary to the British policy of a long moratorium. Sir John Bradbury also dissented from a decision to supply the information to the new hranco-Belgian-Italian Control Commission in the Ruhr, of which the Reparations Commission has no official cognisance. Reuter’s Cologne correspondent says the Inter-Allied Rhineland Commission has decided not to prohibit the halfhour strike in the occupied territory on January 15, because it is purely a mourning observance. 'This is the first time the commission has waived the anti-strike ordinance. —Reuter.

AGENTS BUYING UP CATTLE

GERMANY’S STOCKS OF COAL

(Rec. January 14, 5.5 p.m.) Berlin, January 13. Owing to the occupation of the Ruhr, the agricultural districts of Hanover are crowded with agents buying up cattle, butter, and milk for the newly occupied area on such a scale that the supply of the German towns is endangered. Within a week the whole of the stocks of coal in Germany will be exhausted if the Ruhr supplies are stopped. Hundreds of thousands will be thrown out of work. The workers in Ruhr are spending lavishly, owing to the rapid fall in the mark. At Krupp’s forty thousand workers continue at their posts.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. INCREASE IN COAL PRICES ALSO IN MINERS WAGES i (Rec. January 13, 5.5 p.m.) Berlin, January 12. The price of German coal will be increased immediately 60 per cent., and miners’ wages by about 68 per cent. — Router. CHARGES AGAINST FRENCH COMMUNISTS (Rec. January 14, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, January 13. Further communist members of the Committee of Action against imperialism and war have arrived,. and were charged with participating in Gorman agitations in the Ruhr against the occupation. Tho Government proposes to charge Deputy Cachin with treason and intercourse with foreign hostile bodies and plotting against the security of the State. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DEMAND FOR BRITISH COAL MINERS MAY REVERT TO EIGHT-HOUR DAY London, January 12. British coalowners, anticipating increased orders from the Continent in consequence of the Ruhr dislocation, are considering a proposal that the miners should revert to an eight-hour day in order to meet the new demand. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FRENCH AND BELGIAN PRESS BARRED FROM SITTINGS OF REICHSTAG Parts, January 12. It is reported that the German Government has decided not to admit French and Belgian journalists to the sittings of tho Reichstag.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMERICAN TRANSPORT I SAILS FOR GERMAN PORT New York, January 12. The transport St. Mihiel has sailed for an unrqvealed German port to embark the American troops.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable' Assn. TO BALANCE FRENCH BUDGET I INCREASED TAXATION Paris, January 12. ■ The Minister of Finance has tabled a Bill increasing taxation 20 per cent, on all direct and indirect taxation, except wages and salaries. The measure is anticipated to vield 3,200,000,000 francs. It is hoped thereby to balance Budgets.—Reuter.