SITUATION IN GERMANY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17902, 6 April 1920, Page 5

SITUATION IN GERMANY

RKCHSWEER IN NEUTRAL ZONE. CONTINTJATION OF ADVANCE. Pjcmb Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. PARIS, April 3. Despite France's stem Note and the Allies -withholding permission, tho Reichsiwehr'a advance in the neutral zone continues. ■■„ The German Government pleads that the advance is justified on the ground of necessity, but M. Millerand accuses tho German Government of a deliberate violation of Article 44 of the Peace Treaty.— A. and N.Z. Cable. THE RUHR DISTRICT. REICHSWEHR CAPTURE DUISRURG. BERLIN, April 1. The Rekhswehr, after bombarding Duisbmg (Westphalia) for a day, occupied the town. » German troops are apparently determined to overrun the whole of tho Ruhr district. —A. and N.Z. Cable. ' . MARSHAL FOCH CONSULTED. PARIS, April 3. M. Millerand, -Prime Minister, urgently conferred with Marshal Foch.—A. and N.Z. Cable. • M. MILLERAND'S NOTE. GERMAN INiFRINGEMENT'OF TREATY. PARIS, April 4. M. MilleraroFs letter to Herr Mayer,, 'describing the invasion of the neutral zone, especially the sudden advance and offensive in the Duisburg district, declares that Germany has infringed Articles 43 and 44 of the Treaty. He states that any violation of their provisions will be regarded as a hostile act against the signatories of the Treaty.—A. and N.Z. Cable. EXCUSE FOR ADVANCE. RESPONSE TO RESIDENTS' . REQUEST. > COAL MINES BLOWN.UP. LONDON, April 4. Inspired messages from Berlin represent the despatch of troops as being due to urgent appeals from all classes for protection against the Red Terror. The messages aver that the Majority and Minority Socialists demanded the sending of troops for the protection of •workmen, who are ■willing to resume. Hence the Government decided to use the troops .as special police. Unless the Bielefeld agreement is carried out y by midnight General Watter will be given a' free hand against the irregular bands into which the Red army in the Ruhr district ha 3 drifted. These bands ore pillaging, or, as at Plauen, occupying the Town Hall and summoning traders and manufacturers to pay the Red Guards, otherwise they will be severely punished. It is reported that two coal mines in the Ruhr Vallev have been blown up.— A. and N.Z. Cable. RUTHLESS CIVIL WAR. BOLSHEVIST FORCES OPPOSE REICHSWEHR. LONDON, April 4. Advices from Rotterdam indicate that chaos has developed in the Ruhr district, North-west Germany. Some Communist leaders have fled, but others continue to fight, commanding released prisoners and Bolshevist scum. General Watter is advancing on the whole front, and soon will be master of the situation. The Government troops are attaching ruthlessly, no prisoners being taken. The Bielefeld agreement is being ignored by both sides. General Watter's strong action. . while it has apparently crushed the Red rising in Germany, has encouraged the military party.—Times. GERMANY'S TREATY VIOLATION. FRANCE ADVOCATES MILITARY ADVANCE. BRITAIN RELUCTANT. LONDON, April 5. JRecerved April 5, at 7.55 p.m.) Paris telegrams state that the French Government is consulting the Allies regarding Germany's violation of tie treaty, and ' advocates a military advance and the occupation of Frankfort, Honsu, Homburg, and Darmstadt, and the withdrawal therefrom after the. Freichswehr troops leave the neutral zone. It is believed that Britain is reluctant to participate in this plan, and that France will carry it out alone. —A. and N-Z. Cable.