GERMAN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1924, Page 1

GERMAN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CA-BLE ASSOCIATION. FIERCE FIGHTING IN I’A LATIN ATE. FRENCH .REMAIN NEUTRAL. BERLIN, February 13. Heavy lighting has occurred at I’irninseus, in the Palatinate, between the inhabitants and the Separatists for the possession of a Government building where the Separatists barricaded themselves in. It is reported fourteen Separatists and three besiegers were killed. Twenty besiegers were wounded. Tt is stated the Separatists fireu on and bombed the crowd which was attempting to storm the building. The lat-t--r set fire to this building, aide sj raying it with benzine with lire hoses. 'M e Separatists ceased fire, and pleaded loi mercy, but several were massacred c.s they emerged, including the leader. Government Commissioner Schwab. The French attitude remained noutiid. hater, the Allied High Commissioners unaniniously decided to proclaim martial law in the I‘irmasens district, and i ) dissolve certain of the Nationalists’ Societies and associations. LONDON. February 1 L The “Daily Express” Berlin eorrps-po-dent says: “The death-roll at Pir--1-10:011 amounts to ID. including women, and also a doctor while, attending Wounded men. There were many injured. LONDON, February 13. “The Times” Munich correspondent states the French authorities apparently deliberately refrained from interferei:c. in the T’oriiinnsen fighting till the lighting was practically ended. Then six loads of troops arrived, and cleared tile streets. The population were iirmonly with axes and clubs. They were .supported by the fire brigade. T" Separatists were armed with rifles anil revolvers. Eater, trouble occurred at, Zveihruckon. whore lleoiug Separatists took reluge. in a building occupied by the French. In spite of tli is. the population attacked the building, facing idle f,re from .Moroccan troops. It is reported two attackers were killed, and ten wounded, and that a French soldier ws, wounded. COMMUNISTS ARRESTED. BERLIN. February 13. The German Government acting on evidence that Communist plotting tl.ioiighout the country was inspired by tin- Soviet, has arrested 83 Communists in Konigsberg. GERMANY’S SALVATION. DAWES COMMITTEE'S l’L.\N. LONDON, February 13. The “Daily Telegraph's” Berlin correspondent. says: The Dawes Committee departed to-night for I’aris, full of confidence in the belief that they have devised a practical plan for the ■salvation of Germany and for the solution of the ii para!ions piohlciu. Botore, leaving, Chancellor Marx had » conference with Dawes, and thanked Hte Committee for the devoted interest tlnv had shown in their arduous task. Toe Coinmiit.ee has devised complete n i.cunii-ry fur the restoration of the German currency, through a gold note bunk, which will have a German Preside ni without a casting vote. The power ot the Board of Governor, will be cqualß divided among German and Abies. The hank, at the beginning, v ill is-qe currency amounting to about three milliards of gold marks, increasing ii until it approximates the prewai circulation which the Committee estimates at about T.,800 million gold maiks. The gold reserve will consist of about fifty per cent, of its total issue, with the idea of this being re duced, as soon as the situation warrants to the pre-war gold reserve which was thirty-throe and one-third per cent of the total pre-war circulation. The hank will have a s feci a I depart nient to serve as a conduit lor file reparations payments, under control 1,1 an Allied Board. The Tommittoo are confident that loans for the hanks capital can lie raised privately by international finance. but not a combination of Governments, as in the case of Aus-tj-’a, which method would he unsuitable to the more complex German problem. The Committee argue that when if.s recommendations are adopted, the German capital abroad will begin to return in a normal, voluntary way. which, it is asserted, is the only method wherein ibis cm] if al will ever return. The Committee will recommend a definite plan Rn a comprehensive revision ol tie taxation system. It believes that tlic mil way* could ho used ;? s «i jiuumuteo of tin* reparations payments to the extent of their earning capacity and a jqrgressivc increase. It estimates the value of the German railway system at between ffO and 30 milliards of gold marks. The Committee believes its plat is a suitable substitute for the Ruhr guarantees which Franco now holds.”