THE RUHR

Southland Times, Issue 18939, 12 May 1923, Page 5

THE RUHR

MURDER GANG SENTENCED. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PARIS, May 11. (Received May 11, 5.5 p.m.) The trial has ended at Dusseldorf of a gang of professional saboteurs, who the French allege, belonged to a secret organisation called the Death Committee established with the purpose of doing all the damage possible in the Ruhr. It was stated that the gang was composed mostly of ex-con-victs who stick at nothing to carry out the orders of superiors. Among their exploits were dynamiting stations and bridges, train wrecking, murders by poisoning and bludgeoning. Their headquarters, according to the French authorities, was at one time in the Krupp factory, but latterly was removed to a town in unoccupied Germany. Schlagetter, aged thirty-seven, a former artillery officer, leader of the gang, was sentenced to death and the others to long terms of imprisonment. REPLY TO GERMAN NOTE. ITALY FAVOURS CONFERENCE. ROME, May 10. The reply to the German note will be delivered next Saturday. It is understood that it will declare that while the Government considers German offers insufficient, it favours the opening of negotiations in order to break down the deadlock concerning reparations.