REACTION IN GERMANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18387, 1 May 1923, Page 7

REACTION IN GERMANY.

POLITICAL PARTY ON TRIAL PLOT AGAINST REPUBLIC. MILITARY ORGANISATION. By Telegraph Association Copyright A. and N.Z. , !•" BERLIN, April 29. Reactionary . plotting to overthrow the Republic was disclosed at a trial in Leipzig held to decide whether. the Popular Freedom Party shall be broken u|p. The whole facts will not be published, as leaders of the party contend that publication will endanger national interests in view of the new Allied Note regarding illegal German organisations.,'' In consequence of this the judges, after the opening speeches, decided to continue the bearing in private. The preliminary speech for the Government ; side indicated that' the party was highly organised- in Prussia, Thuringia, and Saxony into companies innocently disguised as gymna'stic societies. ••',• The dis- ; coveries included ', plans, for an ' advance into . Central : Germany and ' the investment of Berlin, and for field exercises; in fighting formation. Branches were established ,in all the leading towns. . When the time was ripe the leadership was to be transferred to a certain .; general. The most active organiser was Lieut. Rossbach, now. awaiting trial on a charge of high treason.. The speaker contended that- it was the •intention';', to ' organise ■ all'•; the reactionary. formations ; with the . object o£ overthrowing ~the .Government. Von Greve and other, leaders of the party replied that the ; party was innocent. Its aims- were political, bat they would not disclose them in" open Court. They had j no : intention :of engaging in war with France, though it was admitted that the defence of frontiers was among its objectives. It was also admitted that Lieut. Rossbach intrigued to obtain the neutrality of the Reichswehr. v ; At this point the Court entered upon its private session.