GERMANY

Evening Star, Issue 18332, 20 July 1923, Page 8

GERMANY

TALK OF CIVIL WAR. MONARCHISTS AND COMMUNISTS ACTIVE. BAVARIA A DANGER SPOT. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. "BERLIN, July 19. (Received 1 July 20, at 10 a.m.) Civil war prospects aro being freely discussed in, tho German Pirns in consequence of the Communists’ organ calling on the Communists to prepare to fight what it designates as the white terror. The middle classes hold up their hands in- horror, while tho Socialists smugly declare that military success is valueless without political momentum. Only tho Nationalists see anything to be gained from civil war, and they are quietly preparing to utilise force when the time is ripe. In addition to Bavaria, where preparations are proceeding openly, training goes on elsewhere, especially in Mecklenburg and Pomerania, on tho estates of the Junkers. Some of tho best military brains in Germany control tho movement. Tho pivotal district lies in tho Spossart Forest, in the north-west comer of Bavaria, from which spot Die important industrial region of Northern Bavaria is assailable. The Monarchists wish, fii-stly, to make sure of Bavaria. Tho virtual cessation of tho Interallied Commission’s activities enables the Monarchists to proceed undisturbed'; hence the Communists are beating the big drum and aro urging tho workers to rally around tho Communist standard. They arc organising monster parades all over the country.— 1 The Times.’

ERHARDT’S ESCAPE

BERLIN, July 18,

Further arrests made in connection with Captain Erhardt’s escape include Massow Von Prince, a student who assisted in opening the prison doors. He worked for the Erhardt organisation at the time of tho murder of II #t Krzbcrgcr, and was twice subsequently arrested at Hamburg in connection with a bomb plot, to attack a Socialist newspaper office.—Reuter. [Captain Ehrhardt, ono of Germany’s most dangerous reactionaries, and leader of the “Ehrhardt Brigade” in tho abortive “Ivapp Putsch" in 1920, escaped from prison at Leipzig while serving a three years’ sentence in connection with the .tvapp coup. The Government has offered a reward of 25,000,000 marks for his capture, and has also suspended tho director of the prison. The escape caused great consternation, some newspapers expressing the belie? that his escape means tho signal to get ready for a Monarchist outbreak.]

RHINE SEPARATION MOVEMENT,

LONDON, July 18,

Tho Cologne correspondent of ‘The Times,’ in reviewing tho position of the separatist bodies, declares that, notwithstanding many recent recruits, they are still a minority of the population of the Rhineland. Nevertheless, there has been great activity in the two main bodies led respectively by Dr Dorten and Herr Smects. Tho former is an advocate of separation from Prussia but adherence to Germany. The latter favors the establishment of an independent Rheinish Stale as a buffer between Germany and France. —‘The Times.’

STRIKE IN UPPER SILESIA,

BERLIN, Julv 18.

Tho metal workers in Upper Silesia have proclaimed a general strike. They are asking for a fixed method of payment such as by means of gold, in order to avoid the losses consequent on tho collapse of the mark.—A. and N.Z. Cable.