SENSATION IN BAVARIA

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 28

SENSATION IN BAVARIA

HIGH TREASON TRIAL. REMARKABLE ALLEGATIONS. LONDON, June 4. At Munich a remarkable high treason trial has begun. Professor George I uchs, journalist and art critic, and others were charged with plotting forcibly to separate Bavaria from the Reich, to overthrow the Bavarian Constitution, and to seek a rapprochement with France and Czechoslovakia. One of the accused, Bandmaster Machhaus, hanged himself in prison last night. Another, named Kules, shot himself when arresLed in. March. It is alleged that the accused men negotiated with a French colonel named Richert, ex-Coal Commissioner in the Saar district, who is alleged to have placed 70 milliards of marks at the disposal of the conspirators for the equipment and upkeep of the military organisations. Tho German story further suggests that the French contemplated the occupation of certain Bavarian territory, while -he Czecho-Slovakian troops were to be ready on the Saxon frontier. The conspiracy was ultimately disclosed to the Bavarian Government and the leaders were arrested. Evidence was given that Fuchs conferred with certain Bavarian commanders with a view to the co-operation of the Bavarian Reiehswehr with the Nationalist organisations. DETAILS OF THE PLOT. BERLIN, June 4. The conspirators on trial in Munich are charged with plotting to institute a regency for a monarch to be chosen later after the Republican regime has been overthrown. The Czecho-Slovakians were to he rewarded for their support by receiving German territory on the Silesian frontier. The coup was fixed for February 21. Fuchs, claiming that he was a patriot and not a politician, said he approached Prince Rupprecht, who replied that he would never ascend the throne by the aid of machine guns, because this was unseemly for such an ancient monarchy. When he entered Munich he would be accompanied by the school children, and the maidens dressed in \»bite. Fuchs admitted that he was receiving 100,000,000 marks for the project. He considered that it did not matter where the money came from as the cause was a national one, and he contended that he was justified in the acceptance of funds even from the French.