CZECH ARMY

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18062, 7 March 1923, Page 9

CZECH ARMY

ON THE FRONTIERS By Cable-—Press Association—Copyright. ... Berlin, March 5. The “Deutsche Zeitung’’ publishes a sensational report thatthe Czech army is 'drawn up on the BavarianSaxon frontiers, and is daily manoeuvring ■ under 'a French generalissimo. “Liberate” comments that it should be noted in Berlin, London, Berne, and The Hague as .an important political reality, that we now control the whole Rhine. The Government informed Berlin that the new occupations were due to German sabotage in the Ruhr, especially the sinking of barges in order to block the canals. AVell informed men declare that France will offer progressive evacuation in return for actual fulfilments of reparation demands. Herr Cuno, in a further interview, said f “AVe must persevere with a bitter, perhaps long offensive fight, unless we wished to lose everything. AVe want a free, united Germany, and will not accept any solution not leaving the whole of the Rhineland territorially and politically unimproved. France systematically, planped the invasion, not through fear of a German attack, but from a craving for control of the Lorraine ore „ and Ruhr coal to reduce Germany to a powerless vassal state.”

France’s further occupation has created much excitement. Press comments are very violent. Some demand the breaking off of diplomatic relations and the expulsion or all French and Belgian citizens. The “Matin’s” Berlin correspondent says that it is asserted in Parliamentary circles that Germany intends to break off diplomatic relations with France, for which the Reichstag is convoked lor Tuesday. The “Daily Alail’s” Dusseldorf correspondent states that the steel and coal magnates, faced with the closing down of works, arc making a more insistent demand on Herr Cuno to open negotiations. One. important plant at Dnisberg has exhausted itft steel reserve, and has dismissed the employees. Even the great Tliyssen-Stimies works are approaching tlie end of their resources. with the prospect of 106.000 workmen being idle. “Tlie Times” Paris correspondent states that tlie terms ultimately to be offered to Germany are being discussed with greater earnestness. The idea of a new Treaty to supersede or amend the A T crsaillos Treaty is making headway. There appears, however.

cleavage in French official circles. One section desires a great inter-Allied debate in consonance with the spirit of A'crsailles; the other wishes to eonfine negotiations to France and Belgium, which would mean a separate treaty. Alcan while early action is unlikolv.