TALK OF CIVIL WAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19011, 6 November 1923, Page 7

TALK OF CIVIL WAR.

MARCH ON BERLIN FEARED, CROWN PRINCE’S RETURN DISCUSSED. LONDON, November 6. (Received Nov. 5, at 9.20 p.m.) The Daily Express’s Brussels correspondent says that Berlin is ready to welcome a ’Rhineland republic if the Rhinelanders themselves desire to break from Prussia. Belgium, however, con siders that the present movement was artificially fomented by French militarists, who forced it into being to serve French militarist whims. Berlin newspapers continue to point out the danger of civil war and indicate November 7 as the date of the march upon Berlin of Herr H.’tler’s troops, and the patriotic leagues of Prussia, Pomerania, and Silesia. The Daily Telegraph’s Berlin correspondent also says that civil war is very near. The members of the Stresemann Cabinet have convinced themselves that the Chauvinist partisans intend to strike a blow at Berlin. The Government has decided to oppose the Chauvinist advance, though it is loth to begin internecine strife. The Daily Chronicle’s Berlin correspondent says that the story of the Crown Prince's proposed return to Germany and the rumours of the march of Bavarian freebooters upon Berlin may be untrue, but they help to create the desired atmosphere. All the rats are now coming out of the holes into which they crept at the revolution in November, 1916. Last evening in a fashionable Berlin restaurant the Prussian aristocracy met for dinner, the central figure being a Hohenzollern princeling. Dr Stresemann continues to govern with his “rump” Cabinet, but German democracy has received a staggering blow. The Socialists have left the Cabinet, and President Ebert may have to abdicate. The prices for everything are fantastic. In Berlin a tramfare is 10,000 million marks, and potatoes are 2600 million marks a pound. All the foreigners have fled owing to the cost of living.—A. and N.Z. Cable. GOVERNMENT'S TROUBLES. SOCIALISTS HOLD THE KEY. BAVARIA DEMANDS DICTATORSHIP. BERLIN, November 4. The decision by the Socialist Party to withdraw from the Government was reached by an overwhelming majority after protracted efforts to arrange a compromise had failed. Dr Stresemann presumably will now request Herr Ebert to sanction the dissolution of the Reichstag, as it is impossible to carry on against the opposition of the Socialists. It is authoritatively learned that the Bavarian Government has sent a letter to the Chancellor demanding the creation of a dictatorship of the Reich, based on the Bavarian model. It states that unless a dictatorship is established in Berlin torthwith the Bavarian Government intend to despatch to Berlin the troops at present concentrated on the Bavarian frontier. The Minister of the Interior has telegraphed to the Bavarian Premier requestinf an early explanation of the warlike preparations by irregular bands on the (North Bavarian frontier, saying that the Prussian and Hungarian Governments are alarmed, and are demanding protection by their Central Government. —Reuter. CURRENCY PROBLEMS. UNFORTUNATE SITUATION CREATED. LONDON, November 4. The Daily Chronicle’s Berlin correspondent states: “A malign fate seems to frustrate tho Government’s efforts to reform the currency. The issue of a gold loan based on the American dollar produced the incredible paradox that these German dollars were commanding in the open market half as much again as the real American dollar. The consequences were disastrous. Prices, being fixed by the German dollar, rose more rapidly than when they were dependent on the exchange value of paper marks against the American dollar. Berlin is already the dearest city in Europe for many things, and if the process continues for only a few days longer more classes of society will be added to the tragic sections already in dire distress.” —A. and jN./i. Cable. SEPARATIST MOVEMENT. BELGIAN REPRESSIVE MEASURES. VANDALISM AT AIX-LA-CHAPELLE. BERLIN, November 4. The disarmament and expulsion of the Separatists at Aix-la-Chapelle by the Belgian authorities was followed by similar action throughout the Belgian occupation zone, amid universal rejoicings. The display of Separatist banners and flags has been forbidden. Advices from Aix-la-Chapelle state that the Separatists wore congratulating themselves on their success, when the Belgians -ordered them' to lay down their arms and evacuate the town in 90 minutes. This was miraculously accomplished, though an angry crowd dragged out lour men from a moving tram and heat two of them to death. Subsequently the British Consul arrived on t.he scene and received an ovation. The Belgian gendarmes dispersed the crowd with their truncheons. The historic treasures at tho Town Hall were irreparably damaged. A message from Dresden says that 15 were wounded in street lighting, a large crowd attacking the Reichswehr. Fifteen hundred Separatists arrived at Aix-la-Chapelle from Coblenz, Crefeld, and Duisberg, and besieged the Town Hall, which firemen, the security police, and the Communists defended. They hurled sulphuric acid bombs at tho Separatists, who dynamited the doors of the building, which was occupied after lively fighting. LONDON, November 4. The Daily Chronicle’s Aix-la-Chapelle correspondent says; “The Separatists’ armv to-day committed an insensate act which recalls the sacking of Louvain. Six hours later the same army marched,

sullen and beaten, out of the city, tonight Aix-la-Chapelle is happily released from the pressure of the Separatist hordes. The Guildhall, one of the architectural glories of Rhineland, with carvings dating from the days of Charlemagne, suffered grievous damage, many of its priceless stained-glass windows being smashed to atoms. This irreparable damage was done by the Separatists’ attack, which was obviously directed by two 1' rench officers. The' Belgians, deaf to all appeals made before the tragedy, callously looked on.”— A. and N.Z. and Reuter Cables.