GERMANY

Evening Star, Issue 17311, 26 March 1920, Page 4

GERMANY

IS*COMMUNISM COMING? WESTPHALIAN CAMPAIGN. Press Association—By Telegraph—CopyrightAustralian and N.Z. Cable Associa.ti.Mi. LONDON, March 22. A message from -Rotterdam! states that the Ebeit G-ovemmont are concentrating their main military force near Wesel, at the junction of the Lippe and the Rhine ('Westphalia),' preparatory to a great attack on the Communists, the issue of which it isi impossible to prophesy. The Communists are mobilising with remarkable speed, but are hampered by food scarcity. Their supplies "will last only three days,, after which they will probably rob the countryside. The ' Manchester Guardian's' Paris correspondent eays that the French Nationalists contend that the advance <%' German troops into the Ruhr district amounts toa breach of the treaty sufficient to justify Marshal Foch occupying' the- whole segion. Moreover, intervention is necessary to prevent tiie Spartacists damaging the coal mines, on which the industries of France depend. 'L'Eclair' reports that the French railwayman have been warned to prepare for mobilisation. The General Federation of Labor threaten to organise a series of strikes if the Ruhr-" adventure " is undertaken, FRENCH ANXIETY. Reuters Telegrams. PARIS. March 24. In the course of a serious warning article, 'Le Temps' declares that all conflicting parties in Germany are about to begin an offensive against the Peace Treaty. It fears that German anarchy may be followed by German aggression. 'Le Journal' advocates immediate interallied negotiations regarding the effectual disarmament of Germany and. trie invitation to the United States to participate. GERMAN GOVERNMENT'S FEARS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, March 22. The ' Morning Post's ' Berlin correspondent interviewed tlerr Bauer (Premier in the Republican Government), who is convinced that 801-sheviym is inevitable in Germany unless the Entente nations give a pledge of-speedy relief, and also declared themselves as much opposed to a monarchist reactionary Cg-vernment as to Communism. The correspondent also-interviewed Kerr Schift'er (Deputy Chancellor), .who admitted that there was a danger of immediate Soviet control in Berlin, and stated that if the newly-elected Soviets carried out their threat to create a central executive that would mean Soviet government. The danger of Communist control throughoutthe country -tra-s equally great. Already three large areas under Communist control were utterly demobilised, because thev had reached starvation point. The first was the Ruhr district, the second West Saxony and Thurinsia" (Central Germanvf between the upper waters of the Elbe and the Weser), and the third Pomerania and Mecklenburg. There was a grave danger of the Rv.hr district making raids for food across the Dutch frontier. The present situation was unparalleled. The Government troops were not sufficient to deal with more than oiie or two of the presentCommunist outbreaks. It was impossible to deal with all simultaneously. "It is a solemn fact that we do not possess forces capable of recapturing the country which is now under Soviet control, nor'of disarming the 20.000 Red troops, whore numbers are growing in the Ruhr -district. If Germany comes under the Soviet form of government Eastern and Central Europe will immediately follow. Portion of Spain also will be involved. The danger of England doing likewise is less imminent." BAUER'S RESIGNATION RUMORED. LONDON, March 24. . A despatch from Berlin states that Herr Bauer's Cabinet has resigned. Earlier reports stated that the hold Swinemunde (German Baltic port). A British destroyer, arriving with supplies for the Interallied Commission, was warned by signals that the Workers' Council did not desire the destroyer to enter the port. The enptain. not wishing to cause international complications, anchored outside, awaiting instructions. WORK THE REMEDY. BOYCOTT A CURSE. 'BERLIN, March 24. Yon Lersner, being interviewed, stated : "The Spartacist spirit will prevail in Germany until the Versailles Treaty is revised and until the German people again can return to work. The masses of idle and unemployed form a breeding ground for Bolshevism. We cannot help having masses of unemployed until the barriers are raised and we receive credits for securing raw materials from the outside ■world." SAXON ESTATES SEIZED. WARRANT FOR LUDENDORFF'S ARREST. LONDON, March 23. Berlin reports that fierce fighting has taken place in the factory district ingsdorf, near Spandau, between the troops and the Spartacists, 40 being killed and 65 wounded. The Ff-artaeists, who were well supplied with machine guns, ned to house after house until the troops dislodged thnjn. The Communist Councils in Saxony have begun to divide the large estates. * The Government have issued a warrant for the arrest of Ludendorff, who left Berlin on Wednesday, and whoso whereabouts are unknown.. Colonel Bauer, his henehm.m, who is benevecj to have originated , the coup d etat, has also disappeared. The Independents have submitted a proposal to form a Labor Government, excluding Bourgeois elements, but Bauer replied that the Government Coalition must consult all parties before giving an answer It is believed that the Democrats and the Centre Party will negative the proposal. r