SITUATION IN GERMANY.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16796, 30 March 1920, Page 7

SITUATION IN GERMANY.

THE NEW CABINET.

.By CabJc—Prww Association.—Copyright.) V'The Timed.") | AMST:ItDAM, March 25. ' The "Telegmaf l gives the following now German Cabinet: — Ci.anwollor : Herr Bauer (Social Demo- j crat). j and Minister of Jus-' tiec: Herr Schiffer (Democrat). Foreign Minister; lierr Hermann Muller (Social Democrat). Minister of the Interior: Herr Kock (Democrat). Minister of Defence: Herr Gessler (Democrat). j Minister of Transport: Dr. Bell (Cen- 1 tralist). Minister of Finance: Herr Cuno (Centralist). Treasurer; Herr Bo!s (Centralist). Minister of Labour: Herr Schlicke (Social Democrat). Minister of Economics: Herr Robert j Schmidt (Social Democrat). i Minister of Restoration : Herr Silber j Schmidt (Socinl Democrat). _ - Minister without portfolio: Herr! David (Coci.il Democrat'. THE WORKERS' ARMY. ,< REPORTED DEFEAT.

BERLIN, March 26. •There has been severe fighting at

Wesel, despite the armisticc. | Crowds gathered at the Essen Town : Hall, watching the departure of the armed workmen for tho front. Their on'v uniform was a red arm-band aiui a ; ribbon on the cap Reports from the Ruhr valley state that tho workmen suffered heavy losses. The Government troops captured an armoured train, j ROTTERDAM. March 26. ' 1 The booming of guns in the direction of Wesel is continuous. The Reds broke the armistice terms, refusing to retire behind the Lippe, and bombarded Wesel all day long. _ They then advanced on the town. It is reported that the town has been captured. The Reds aro also attacking Munster, | whence a heavy boorri.ng of guns can j be heard on the frontier. i Tho leaders_of the Reds claim to havo an army of l2b\ooo. They sny their only object is to destroy militarism. Any attempt to disarm the workers will unchain a terrible civil war. (Rece'.red March 29th, 9.10 p.m.) i LONDON. March 28. The "Dnilv Chnv'He's" oorros-ond-ent in the Eastern Rhine zone gives a' dramatic description of the collapse of the Workers' Army directly it came in conflict with tho disciplined, well-offi-oered and well-equipped Government forces. "I joined the> Red Annv along tho Lippe," he snys. "A few hours later its left wing was broken, and the j army in panic-stricken flight. In Dinslaken, fourteen miles north-west of Essen, I saw the streets littered with the jetsam of civil war. A strango j figure in tho Square was tho Red Gen--1 eral handing orders in envelopes to his men. These formed a pitiful sjroup in j ragged clothes, with boys of fifteen and old men in its ranks. As the unit j I moved forward, horsemen galloped in,! | pulled up in the centre of the roadway, and cried out: 'Turn back! Tell them I the Government is attacking and sending reinforcements.' The unit retreated until a cyclist rode up, his eyes wild, and his face pale, and shrieked: 'Nofke hnß broken through. We aro lost. We have no food or ammunition. We are betrayed by cmr leaders.' Tho retreat now became general. A few grown men ■. made a stand, but tho majority fled, I some youths slinking away into the lanes.'' , I Other messages state that 4,000.000 1 people in the Ruhr district nre threat- i oned with famine. The Red Army j consumed the Inst.of the supplies, leaving -the rest of the population nothing. ; Snr>r>lio3 from Holland have fniled. The ' fighting was very unfavourable for the Reds, whose battalions were only kept together bv terrorism! Anyone suspected of fn idea of deserting vrtis shot immediately. Tcte<rrftms.) (Received March 30th, 12.15 a.m.) BERLItf, March 28. News from the Ruhr district continues disquieting. It is reported that the Government nave issued an ultimatum to the Workers' Army allowing them three days to fully observe tho truce, otherwise drastic steps will be j taken. The commnnder of the Roichswehr itl the Ruhr district, visited Wesel. He reports that the workers suffered heavy losses in men and material, and T*.ere . is no longer any fear that they will resume the bombardment of the town. TERMS OF COMPROMISE. (Renter's Telegrams.) COPENHAGEN. March 25. A draft agreement between the workers and the Government in the Westph.ilian industrial region has been drawn up. Tt provides for the disbnndment of the reactionary troops and the formation by the workers of companies of Reichswehr. composed of three men out of everv 1000 inhabitants, which force shall displace the Citizens' Guard. The agreement stipulates that the advance of the . Government troops is not to be carried out if the nrovisions are loyally kept, while martial law is being removed immediately. A general amnesty for workers and citizens is being granted. PAN-GERMAN MILITARISTS. "PARIS, March 28. The Berlin correspondent of the "Journal" states that it is rumoured that the Pan-Germans aro planning another coup d'etat. General von Seeckt disregarded the instructions to disband Erhardt's Brigade and the Baltic troops. Four armoured cars have been added to the brigade, and many to the monarchical troops. Hartmann's severity in maintaining order exasperated the workers near Potsdam. Several bombs which were fastened under his motor lorry, exploded. blowing him to atoms. Rartmann was one of the officers sent to arrest Rosa Luxemburg and T.'obkneeht when the latter wera murdered. ("Tic Times.") AMSTERDAM, March 25. "Vorwaerts" states that General von Ludendorff's arrest is demanded, as lie is considered to be the instigator of the militarist coup. He said he had lost a second war. but would continue to the last, ditch.