TOWARD THE RHINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18293, 9 January 1923, Page 7

TOWARD THE RHINE.

FRENCH ON MOVE.

50,000 MEN TO BE USED.

SCOPE OF THE OPERATIONS.

SECRET AMONG ALLIES.

POINCARE MORE CAUTIOUS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.

(Received 7-50 p.m.) A. and N.Z. • - ■ PARIS, Jan. S. There are, increasing indications that M. Poincare is adopting a more cautious attitude regarding the new action against Germany since the breakdown of the conference. The newspapers, including the foreign publications, declared that various forms of immediate advance were contemplated regarding Essen, Bochum and other sanctions. The result has been that investors, and bond-hoiders, especially British, have become nervous, and have displayed the most marked tendency to realise scrip, thus menacing the stability of many classes of securities. M. Poincare caused the issue of a semiofficial statement that whatever.military measures are intended are 'secret between France and her.allies, and newspaper versions are. simply hypotheses which it is" idle to deny in tote, or correct by the publication of the. actual plans until the time arrives. Notwithstanding the semi-official statement impending moves of troops are reported from, various garrisons. From Epinal, in the Vosges, one regiment each of : infantry and . artillery is proceeding toward the Rhine on Wednesday. Par-, ties of engineers have already left Paris for Essen, .whence they will' proceed to the Ruhr mines.

The Berlin Press calls attention to concentration in the occupied zones. There are new movements of troops and great activities among French airmen. Statements published at Mannheim assert that airmen are even crossing over the neutral zone, and were over Mannheim for a considerable time :/ on Friday night. ;.xv,:,v- ;; : •"■,;, Early French movements are expected to produce from Germany more attractive proposals than tho British contemplate. ,;■■" In the operations in the occupied zones, France will employ 50,000 troops.

ANGRY GERMAN OUTBURST.

FRENCH PRESS ATTACKED.

DECEPTION OF THE PEOPLE.

Australian and N.Z. : Gable Association.;(Reed. B.i p.m.) ' V LONDON. Jan. : ; 7. ■ Herr H. Stinnes, the commercial magnate, is furious with 'the turn things have taken. His attitude ,is shown by the journals that he controls. One of these ' papers talks ■ : about "Germany standing up alone or going down to destruction with" France." The Berlin correspondent of the Morning Post states that Herr Stinnes, writing in the Deutsche Allgemeine, violently attacks France and England. He attributes the failure of the Paris conference to. the deception of the French people by the pressj which, notoriously utterly corrupt, led the people to believe the fall of Mr. Lloyd ■ George :-i meant that , • his successor would sit devotedly at M. Poincare's. feet and blindly " support the French reparation scheme. Herr Stinne3 emphasises that England's plan would make ; the German Government a mere sweating master ! for foreign capital, j so she is.- just as dangerous as the FrenchEngland • thinks that Germany, could pay between fifty and sixty-seven milliards of gold marks. Germany is able at mostto pay one-tenth' of the amount originally fixed by the London ultimatum, that is, 13.2 milliards of marks.

GREAT SHOCK TO GERMANY;

DETERMINED TO RESIST.

RUHR MINERS' ATTITUDE.

'A. and N.Z:

LONDON. Jan. 7.

; The Cologne correspondent of the Times.' states that the actual news of the breakdown of the.conference at Paris, together with the threat it involved of independent French action in the Ruhr area, came with a shock,, though Cologne, Bochum, ,Duisberg, and Muiheim are on the surface calm, barring an evident determination to'.' offer such .resistance as lies in the power of the population against any military advance and measures for economic control. A prolonged strike would be difficult to, carry on successfully owing to the miners' funds being low; but a *' ca' canny " policy is expected from the miners, who will go down the pits and produce practically nothing.. It 'is true Germany's industry will suffer as well as .the mien, but all >the workers and employers are sufficiently determined onresistance and have counted -the: cost. Thus unemployment will begin, and with tin's the troubles of the French will start. '■ '\- ; " ; ; :;

_' In view of the temper of the miners it is certain that if not supported by Great Britain the French will be Compelled to use considerable military force? in support of their measures. Armed resistance is rot likely, but the rough, sullen, irritated Westphalian temperament is. likdy'. to produce incidents, leading. to : hostages being taken „as reprisals. Where matters will end should widespread unemployment set in, coupled with the collapse of the mark, it is difficult to imagine. Deliberate damage to the mines -at present is not probable, nevertheless it is necessary that this should be guarded against. British military officials in Cologne are discussing the possible withdrawal, which is deprecated by the Germans, who are anxious that we should not go. They regard the British as a buffer against the annexation schemes attributed to France, despite her .denials. '- The Berlin correspondent of the Daily "Mail reports that Germany is stunned by the blow from Paris. The Government is seized with inertia, and is not taking an initiative. The public are ' raiding the shops in anticipation of high prices prevailing. Retailers are cutting down the bargain sales and are ■ selling minimum quantities. German opinion, according to a message from Berlin, believes that the position of France is untenable, while economically she will not obtain the benefits she expects.

MR. BONAR LAW'S RETURN.

WARM WELCOME IN LONDON. A. and N.Z. ' LONDON, Jan. 7.

Upon his return to London from the Reparations Conference at Paris, . the ;" I'nme Minister, Mr. A. . Bonar Law, was met, at Victoria Station by large crowds. \ despite the heavy rain that '/. was falling, , fie was loudly cheered by" the crowd. ;