SITUATION IN RUHR

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 120, 6 February 1923, Page 7

SITUATION IN RUHR

GROWS WORSE DURING WEEK-END MANY ARRESTS AND REMOVALS FROM OFFICE TRAGIC INCIDENTS REPORTED The situation in the Ruhr and Rhineland became worse during the week-end. Thom were many arrests and expulsions of officials, and several cases of bloodshed are reported. BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT. (Rec. February 5, 8.5 p.m.) London, February 4. The “Times” Essen correspondent Bays: Tho situation in the Ruhr and Rhineland became worse during W week-end. There have been many arrests and removals from office and expulsions of officials, including Dr. Fuchs, Over-President of the Rhine province, and the highest official in Rhineland. An anti-French demonstration of protest was dispersed by French infantry. A number of tragic incidents as a. result of trouble between French soldiers and Germans have been reported. One German was shot dead and three others were seriously wounded. —The “Times.” TRAIN DERAILED NINE GERMANS SHOT DEAD (Rec. February 5, 8.25 p.m A Berlin, February’ 5. It Is stated that a train under French control at Ingelheim was derailed. It was surrounded by a crowd of Germans, of whom the French shot nine dead. —Aus.-N.Z.. Cable Assn. EXTENSION OF FRENCH OCCUPATION (Rec. February 5. 8.25 p.nj.) Berlin, February 5. French cavalry, infantrv, and tanks have occupied Appenweier and Offenbach, which is an extension of the Strasburg bridgehead.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TRAIN FOR FRANCE BLOCKED NUMEROUS DIFFICULTIES ARISE (Reo. February 5, 7.20 p.m.) London, February 4. Tho “Daily Chronicle’s” Dusseldorf corespondent says: “Everybody >s awaiting news of the first coal train to France. It started manned by Frenchmen. Tha stationmaster at Hohenbudberg refused to allow it to pass. The signals and points went wrong and the engine developed defects. The train got no further. If these difficulties attend.tho running of one coal train, what will be the trouble in dealing with the two hundred which would daily be required to carry France’s portion of the reparation coal? German labourers in some places have refused t> accept from the French fivefold their normal wages to load ccal. The French troops at Bochum used their revolvers because the Ger mans refused to obey orders. Two Germans were killed and four were wounded, but the affair hitherto has been hushed up.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TIGHTENING CONTROL OF COAL MINERS DEMAND MORE WAGES (Rec. February 6, 0.35 a.m.) London, February 4. According to advices from Essen, Bergborn, in the British zone, has been occupied with British consent by the French in pursuance of the policy of tightening tho control of the prohibited import and export of coal, and byproducts like benzol and ammonia. The attitude of the miners continues uncertain, except regarding an emphatic objection to the presence of troons at the mines. The miners’ organisation a fortnight ago obtained a 77 per cent, increase in wages, and is now demanding a further addition on the ground of the enormous rise in the cost of living. —Reuter.

FRANCE’S TACTICAL MISTAKE GERMAN OPINION BEHIND GOVERNMENT MR. LLOYD GEORGE’S VIEWS

London, February 4. Bronzed and in excellent- health, Mr. »Lloyd George has returned to London from the first real holiday in seventeen years. He declined to discuss politics, as he had not seen an English paper for eight days. He considered tho French action on the Ruhr a tactical mistake.

“it is ominous,” he said, “that German opinion is solidly behind the Government, and that Germany no longer gives way under pressure. T am dead Against the withdrawal of British troops from the Rhine. It would only make matters worse. 1 am anxious to go to America. If I do so. it will be Into this year.”—Aus—N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANY’S RESISTANCE INCREASING Berlin, February 4. It is semi-officially stated that the rumours that the Germans are preparing to yield to French pressure are untrue. On the contrary, the Government's resistance is increasing.— Reutor. ANOTHER ALSACE-LORRAINE RESULT OF FRENCH POLICY London, February 4. Th” Right Hon. J. R. Clynes, speaking at Hull, said that if France continued her present policy, it would

establish another Alsace-Lorraine in Europe, and renew the pre-war state of diplomacy, accompanied by war preparations. France could not gain German good-will by means of military pressure, which was only resowing racial hate. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN TRADE UNIONS APPEAL TO AMERICA Berlin, February 4. The “Vorwnerts” publishes an appeal frvm trade unions to the American Congress, declaring, on benaif ot twelve million members of unions, that they are firmly convinced that America did not enter into the war for the purpose of annihilating the German people, and they look to America s sense of honour to save Europe and the .world from disaster. Cable Assn. COMMUNIST DEMONSTRATION DISPERSED BY FRENCH GUARD (Rec. February 6, 0.35 a.m.) London, February 4. “Tha Times” Essen correspondent says five hundred Communists marched past the post office singing “The Internationale.” The German police endeavoured to disperse them, without success. The French guard opened fire with a machine-gun. over the heads of the crowd, which instantly dispersed. Herr Weathelle, one of Stinnos’P colleagues, has been arrested and expelled.—“ The Times.”

INTERNATIONAL TRAIN SERVICES PROTEST AGAINST RESTRICTION Berlin, February 4. The Franco-Polish diplomatic representatives have handed the German Foreign Office a Note protesting against the restriction of the international train services between France and. Poland as a violation of the Peace Treaty.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable .Assn. HATRED OF FRENCH SPREADS INTO AUSTRIA (Rec. February 5, 8.5 p.m.) London, February 4 The “Daily Mail’s” Vienna correspondent states hatred against the French has spread through Bavaria into Austria, sentiment becoming intensely pro-Gennan, and even antiBritish. —Die “Times."