GERMAN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1923, Page 3

GERMAN ITEMS

LATEST CABLE NEWS

4usthalian and n.z. cable association, LONDON, Of tolicr 21. Tiio “Daily Chronicle” llcrlin cor respondent states that the mark enn‘finnes .its catastrophic lull. It has reached 5-1,(TOO,OCO,000 to the £l. A loaf of Bread costs (>2O millions ol marks to-day, and to-morrow it "ill cost 1.000,000,000. All prices are advancing proportionately. ft- is reported, the Berlin Stock Exchange intends to reluse to deal in anything on a paper mark basis. I’roll ably the trouble "ill lead to the Stock Exchange closing. 2> THE I! HI ill. I'NHKST. [“The Times” .Service.] .ilect-ived this day at 0. 15 a.in.) "*• LONDON. 0< toher 22. 'Elio “Times” Paris correspondent says apparently the idea of France is to keep /- a ling; around llliinciand. Should tac separatist movement develop "hose the French flag (lies, no brutalities "ill he allowed. That is how “Le lamps” summarises the prospects. french newspapers deny that the separatist proclamation was due to french machinations, as the (loniums allege. Ihe local population are tiled of being used us an instrument of revenge against franco. The french was not aware e,f what, was about to happen. Nevertheless anxious voices are raised as to what ' will happen next. Some newspapers now seem strangely to he appealing to Hullr industrialists to rescue not only Germany. hut franco in Ruhr, where a catastrophe will happen if the hilinuriug masses are thrown upon french hands. Everything indicates that, frame is unable to cope with the pciils which are developing, and the uneasi-

ness increases. The “Times” Cologne correspondent writes—lf th,. french intended to support ex-pugilist Mattes, th" Rhineland Separatist Leader, they could not have selected a better moment. Rhinelanders arc like slice]) without a slipherd, after the imprisonment or expulsion of the true leaders. I ueniploAment. hunger and anxiety have reduced them to a frame of mind in which they will not resist whatever action the french, with the support of french troops, are diape,sod to approve. Vet to-dav’s events are almost certain to result in bloodshed. Hie situation is most serious. Many iron and steel works have dismissed their employees. Tlie French have seized more mines and a number of railway workshops. Local (lermaii authorities attach no great importance to Matthc-s leadership, not believing this ex-pugilist has been selected as the future ruler of Rhineland. _ It is more pirobahlo that Matthes. with the. co-operation of french hotheads, is trying to steal a inarch on his rivals, like Doctor Dorten, and thus force the hands of the french authorities.