GERMAN CIVIL WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1920, Page 2

GERMAN CIVIL WAR.

SOVIET RULE STARTS.

PARIS, March 24

All the industrial centres in the Ruhr coal mining region are now in the hands of the workers. The Administration of Essen, Borohum, Rortmund, Mulheim, and many other towns are now also controlled by the workers and the msses’ committees.

The office of burgo-nmster has at each place been abolished. The German Government’s troops have been entirely -driven off from Ruhr area.

Many soldiers who were taken prisoners are said to have been cruelly illtreated.

The hatred of the people for the regular troops baffles description. A strong popular army is in the course of formation regardless of any terms of the Peace Treaty. The police at the centres in question have been replaced by workers. BERLIN, March 25

The Government lias arranged an armistice with the Reds, to bo renewable daily.

GERMAN POLITICAL CRISIS.

The German Democrat sand Pluralists demand the retirement of the whole Bauer Cainet. The Catholic Centre Party wishes merely to see filled the vacancies in Bauer’s Cabinet.

The prospects for a purely Labour Government are small.

The Aeriean Charge d’Affaires at Berlin lias interviewed Premier Bauer, and lias warned him that any outrage done against the constitutional Government of Germany, from whatever side, will lead to America’s stopping all her supplies of food and raw material for Germany.

j NEW CABINET. | BERLIN, March 25 1 ’The Premier, Herr Bauer, has completed his new Cabinet. He . drops Herr Noske (Military Head) and Erzberger (Finance Minister), j No Independent Socialists are included in the Ministry. The general strike at Berlin and elsewhere has been called off. i TO FIGHT RUHR WORKERS. PARIS, March 2-3 The Allied Council of Ambassadors | has * considered Premier Bauer’s rej quest to be allowed to send one liun- • dred thousand German troops to the Ruhr Valley. * The French Government arc strongly opposed to the granting of such permission to allow such a large German force pass Into a neutral zone, which Ruhr is now under the Treaty. The French point out that it is a fact that twelve German battalions were originlaly sent there and they have failed to maintain order. They suspect the reason for sending 100,000 more. Communications are now passing between the Cabinets at London and Paris. PARIS, March 25 It is now understood that the Allied Supreme Council has agreed to allow Germany to despatch what Germany calls sufficient troops to fight the workers in the Ruhr Valley.

CIVIL WAR. LONDON, March 26

The I,‘Daily Chronicle’s” Essen correspondent states: “Tlie Workers’ Council in the Ruhr Valley is busy in organising its members for war against the Berlin Government’s R.echswehr troops. The present Ruhr object is less the establishment of a Communist .State than the overthrow of the Reichewehr, whom the workers have always suspected of reactionary designs especially their officers. Tlie workmen’s leaders are endeavouring to create a central command. Hitherto the warfare has been of a guerilla nature.

When a battalion of Reichswehr entered Dortmund, flying the old German colours, the workers refused to believe that they were Government troops. They surrounded and prisonered them.

Their success at Dortmund has encouraged tlie workers, who have begun a march on various towns in the district, They are gaining adherants as they go. There has been continuous bayonet fighting, with heavy losses on both sides.

The upshot of the fighting was that all the Government troops were expelled from Ruhr. The latest information is that the opposing troops are concentrating at Weissel, where six thousand Reieliswchr face 15,000 workers. Both sides possess artillery, and are digging themselves in. Many isolated battles are reported.

The Independent Socialist newspaper “Rubreclio” as issued a formal military communique, claiming that the workers have captured 11 guns and 3000 rifles.

GERMAN NAVY. COPENHAGEN, March 24. Admiral Meurer will he released by the naval men at Kieff who arrested the officers. They demand the right to choose their own officers, otherwise they will disband. As the Defence Minister has ordered that units of forces bo kept together in all circumstances, the demand will lie granted. Meanwhile the Navy has placed itself * at the disposal of the Government if necessary to combat the revolt of the left extremists. RUHR VALERY TROUBLE. PARTS, March 24. The “Matin” states two German officers have arrived to request the. Allies to permit German troops fo enter Ruhr Valley in’ connection with the Labour troubles. MATTERS AT ESSEN. I (Received This Day at 8 a.in.) LONDON, March 26. The Beds at Essen rejected the Government’s terms, avowing the Communists’ claim jlo have occupied AVegeJl.