FRENCH MOVING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18294, 10 January 1923, Page 7

FRENCH MOVING.

jTEOOPS PASSCOLOGNE.

BOUND FOR eUSSELDORF-

PBEPABING FOE ADVANCE. ■ i

ALARM IN THE RUBE.

GENERAL STRIKE THREAT.

Association— Copyright.

(Received 12.30 a.m.)

LONIMDN. Jan. 8.

France stands on the eve of action. Marshal Foch's army of 40,000 to 50,000 troops is awaiting the signal to sweep forward to the Ruhr. There is intense anxiety in Rhineland over the imminence of the advance. .

The Times correspondent- at Cologne; reports that the first train conveying ' •French troops destined to occupy Essen passed Cologne this morning. The move completely surprised the British headquarters, whom the French suddenly requested to provide military guards at the stations and bridges in the British area,' during the passage of : the troops.Tliis was donjei V The German : population •was surprised and alarmed. The French authorities, in Cologne anticipate that French troops will be concentrated at Dusseldorf, and an actual move. to Essen be made on January 9or later. Meanwhile ;. France is mobilising parties of skilled workers/: ; civil and naval engineers,'* railwaymen and industrial special . ists an order to control the industries ir the Huhr region. Some have actually gone forward.

It is noteworthy that Belgian and Italian engineers and officials are cooperating. Various regiments have been warned to be ready to move at a mosnent's notice.'•„■'

Germany awaits the move in a: mood of ' impotent 1 protest. Civic officials in Essen deprecate the j idea of organised resistance. Reports have reached Berlin that while the population will >;• undoubtedly, adopt passive resistance, the workmen are prepared to "go further. ~ The leader of one . of the biggest -trades unions in the Ruhr .region told the Times correspondent at Cologne: "I pledge you my word the first movement of French troops will be the signal for a general strike in the Ruhr region. Military folly means ruin and : ' starvation.: to the workers." The cofrespondent suggested that the miners ehbuld adopt the ?'ca-canny"' policy. The leader replied:" have always said in the. Ruhr that we can do nearly ; every-

thing: with the bayonet except pick coal. Thfe pick is a better producer of reparations than = the bayonet." •• ■An important conference of all trades onions, iin the Ruhr, region will be held on, January 9, at which the attitude of; the workers in the case of a. French advance

will ; be»-finally decided.: In the meantime the .Burgomaster of .Essen Vis in a dilemma -j over the impending invasion. There are no barracks or buildings to

accommodate the troops and the housing shortage is acute; At present 14,000 - civilians are -compulsorily' billetted upon .. „the majority of families in Essen. If French troops come in (; the bitterness of i .the. population will be most acute. r :;.' ; ;; : .-. : .r.V;| ■■■':„': In ;a r- later ; despatch ;the Times correspondent states thai: 11 troop trains are passing through Cologne en route to the . Ruhr Valley. Much accommodation at 'hotels has been requisitioned for the . French staff. , A large, party of civil engineers who : are ; taking; over conjtrol of the Ruhr mines have arrived at BusEeldorf. Forty ; French armoured cars are expected to participate in : : the ; : advance. Many cavalry'; are accompanying them. Although it '■;.is- quite, certain that no resistance will be offered it is interesting to not© that the ; only German armed I forces in /the Ruhr ; region V consist of

"green : police," numbering 8000, of .whom i 9000 are ,; stationed at '-. Essen. :'..V-V'-

* POItfCA&E'S CAUTION.

NO PRECIPITATE ACTION.

BEAECH FOB . ALTERNATIVE. ■-■■■$::•:■:■ ■■■-■>■■■■■, ■•>■■; •■■■,•■. : ; -■■, A-- ■-' Australian and. N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 4.30 p.m.) , LONDON, Jan. 8. A party of French mining and naval engineers left Paris for JDusseldorf to-day in • readiness for the occupation; of the Ruhr Valley. Before any advance is made toward Essen fresh, instructions will be issued by the French Cabinet, * V. /:-; Mr. ; Martin Donohoe, the Paris correspondent of the Daily Chronicle, says that French Communists have sent representatives; to the Ruhr Valley. These left before the engineers. ; It is said that they will organise a miners' strike or in other ways seek to thwart the French plan. . >- : •M.. Poincare stiil clings to.a policy of extreme caution- He opposes ] precipitate action, and is seeking an alternative to adventuring into the Ruhr region. . . The Reparation Commission heard the German experts regarding the default in coal deliveries. , It is understood that Sir John Bradbury is of opinion that ; the de-

fault is not wilful. It is considered likely i that M. PoincarewUl not proceed to seizure of productive' guarantees till-the commission has answered the German demand for a fresh moratorium. The Paris correspondent of the Daily Express telegraphs:— high general

staff officer told me that the Ruhr Valley

S may never he completely occupied. Mar- ;■ shal Foch may arrange only for the peaceful' penetration of the region." At the conclusion of a meeting of the Prencb Cabinet to-day, M. Poincare an- • nounced that it was not intended to mobilise a single soldier or a single railwayman.

GERMAN CABINET CRISIS.

THE UNHEARD OFFER.

PUBLICATION DEMANDED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. <R*c<L 12.30 p.m.) BERLIN, Deo. 9.

A Cabinet crisis is threatened owing to the Social Democrats demanding that the Finance Minister's proposals whicii the Paris Conference refused to hear, shall be published and adapted along the lines of the British plan. The Social Democrats also demand that Herr Cuno shall introduce forcible measures to make German ; industry and • agriculture provide the guarantee : required for repara- :'.;•:''.•:. tion loans,. and that an appeal be made to , the Entente nations : and League of ,_ Nations. " ■;.. " ■ The Deutsche Allgemeine is clamour's i ln g for publicity, for: the German reparation plan. It declares that its publication ; will obviate ? the need for a moraW . Gtenaanx y?ill-find-satisfactory

guarantees and strengthen her "■'■ industry, j Eforr ' JBtinriesiahd^bther., industrialists are j now prepared to meet obligations hitherto repudiated." • German Miiiistera held ■ many: confer,ences during the week-end and discussed the new situation that has arisen since the ';■_' Paris Conference ■ broke down. .-'-. It is •generally recognised in Berlin "that the occupation ~ of the Ruhr region would result in the whole fabric of German industry being at the mercy '-, of France. The German Government is faced with trouble from the miners, who have the support of the railwaymen in demanding higher " wages %nd a reversion to the eight-hour day. The Minister for Labour has intervened, but so far his attempts to bring about a settlement have not been of any avail. . Dr. Wirth, ex-Chancellor, addressing a crowded mass meeting at Cologne, said the German policy must aim at the salvation of the Ehineland. Even now Germany was prepared to offer a hand to M. Poincare. After, her tremendous sacrifices to carry out her policy to its fulfilment, Germany must not throw up the sponge. The meeting passed a resolution attesting the fealty of the Rhineland to the Fatherland, and protesting against the ." French terror."

GERMAN LABOUR AROUSED.

GENERAL STRIKE PLANS.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed..9.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 8. ..The Berlin correspondent of the Morning' Post states that the arrival of French troops at Dusseldorf is apparently regarded with calmness throughout the country. This attitude must not be mistaken for indifference. There is a smouldering and consuming, if momentarily impotent, hate against the French usurpers. It seems . certain that France must draw a customs barrier round the occupied territory, which will prevent the smooth internal working of industries and : will make the industrial apparatus useless in world competition. . The Daily / Chronicle correspondent at Berlin says that German trades unions are seriously discussing means to hamper the French scheme by a general strike, as in the Kapp coup. Practical, plans for the purpose were drafted some time ago. They include provisioning of the workers and their .families. Eighty miners' meetings held in, the Ruhr Valley yesterday passed resolutions of pro,test against the French action.: French threats, , states 'the correspondent, have done more in a; few days to mobilise and unify, labour organisations than all internal political appeals and efforts. Even the Communists -have joined in. the proI tests. .;'" ■.'",' •'■.."''"^'' ; '/'";t'''"; , . \ ■';"',. , .;.,