German Revolution.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3440, 20 March 1920, Page 5

German Revolution.

VVHY COUP D’E'l‘AT FAILED.

VVANT ‘OF MONEY THE CAUSE.

Received 9.-10a.m. * LONDON. March 18.

Messages from Berlin gave furtihel‘ details of evenrts leading .10 you Ka.pp’s downfall. Members of the Im. pcrial Council on Tuesday night demanded a conference with Luttwitz, Who, in a. long speech, dealt with Germany ’s political and economic position, and finalfy admitted that Von Kapp had not succeeded in securing even the Conservative support, on which he relied. He also failed to fill any of the Ministries, except those of Agriculture and the Post Office. The employees in the latter immediately told Kapp’s nominee they would not take his orders. The conference was still sitting when the Communist ultimatum zirrived, demanding the ‘immediate withdrawal of the ifroops, otherwise a Soviet would be proclaimed. Upon which Lurttwitz ':1IlIl011i’l",|"(l. that he and the ofiicers of the RC“.CllSWC'lll' were willing to fight the C'o-‘n.:::nui-Ts under the Bauer Governmmt. - N-go tiutions were resumed on V/(‘dn(‘S(l'«r‘7 by representatives‘ of the Nations.» Liberals, Centre, Peoples, =l.-.1l Democratic parties, who ‘accepted K:ipp’s resignation at noon. Negotiati-ms 9-)1. tinued throughout the afternoon, and finally Lutiwitz offered to resign. His successor, Von Seekt, undertaking that the Iron Marine Division would return to Doeberitz at the earliest possiblemomcnt, where they would be demobiliscd. The National Assembly will probably return to Berlin in 3. few (lays. A radical re-organisation of the old Government, regardless of par:y,_which had begun before the coup d.’etat, will be carried out speedily. Noske arrives in Berlin by aeroplane to-day to co-operate in organising the position. LONDON, March 18.

. Kapp’S chief reason f,9r resignation was want of money, the State Bank refusing to pay the demands of the new Government. < The leaders of the majority parties, who were sunimoned to a conference in ‘the‘Reic-hst-ag on -Wednesday afternoon, ‘expected a provisional government would be "formed. In the evening Ge'nera'l Seekt succeeded lguttwitz in command of the troops in Berlin, while the Baltic troops will be sent from the city. The Independent Socialist leaders have meanwhile issued a proclamation that the proletariat does not see the point of reorganising the working men ’s forces for ‘the benefit of Eb'_e‘rt, and proposed to secure power for itself. Cohen and Daeumig according issued a proclamation of a Republic of Workmen’s Soldiers’, and Sailors’ Councils. Fighting was still proceeding in the suburbs of Berlin at an early hour on Thursday mornin-g. The-re was serious fighting in the Rhine and Westphalian districts, thirty being killed and seventy W‘OlllldCd.'llll Hagen two hundred we.reAkilled,) In Dormund district the workers seiized Dormund, anfl the labourers at Leipzig erected barricades in the Suburbs, and advanced to. the centre of the town, where there has been fighting since Wednesday afternoon.

Leaders of all the Socialist Parties, Democrats, and Centre agreed -To the National Assembly eleetions being held in June; that a president be ele.e--ted by the whole people. The 'J.‘rade Unions Congress demands Noske’s v.-e~ signafion, and Kapp’s puni.~‘-hment Memtwhile Ebert has Ordered the Imporial Court at Leipzig to institute actions against Kapp, Luftxvitz. Von .Tago\v, Admiral TFO?‘-13, and Captain Ehl'hal'd‘r_

LONDON, M,ar«:'n 17‘

The streets in Berlin are brilliantly illnm.’r9.‘.ro<l :1? night as a proczmfion against a Communist outbreak.

’ Trebitsch Lincoln warned the foreign journalists it was perilous to frequent sir-cots at night time. The unity is quiet, and complete general ‘strike continues. Aoroplanes hovorerl ‘over the city all day long dropping [proclamations and exhorting the citi- ' zens to remain loyal to the old Govern- ' ment. ! KAPP RETIRES. ' ___,__. FOR PERSON OF GREATER W AUTHORITY. Received 11.50 a.m. BERLIN, Mm-ch 17. Kapp has retired in favour of some person of greater authority, preferably a :s_9ld‘ier of high rank. The National Assembly meets at Stuttgart today, when a resolution will be proposed appointing a Dictator tot-restorelthe Constitution. The National Army remains loyal to the old Government. Preparations are in the making to march to Berlin. ,Noskes' troops firmly hold Munich.

HTNDENBUEG ‘ASS FPEACEMAKER.

FIGHTING IN VARIOUS PARTS.

Received 9.20 am. LONDON, March 17. Izatest /telegrams, via Copenhagen,

indicate there were grave dgvc-lop-ments and bloody fighting on Tuesday night at Spandau, between soldiers. and Communists. Sixtyfivg-, were kmed and a large number wounded. The position last night in Berlin wa.s most serious, and a general rising by Socialists was feared. The Independent. (ifonnnunists proclaimed a republic, and sent Kap-D a list of their Millist._ry, together with an ultimatum. Kapp replied by declaring that martial law will be drastically enforced. Pickets throughout the city have been st;l'engthened. and all citizens must ‘be in. doors by niglttfall. 1.-lindenburg has assumed the role of peacemaker, and telegraphed Kapp urging the with. drawal of the troops and the dissolution of the ‘new Government, provided an early election is held. Hindemburg sent Ebert a copy of the telegram earlier. A Berlin message agreed that both the Old and the new Govcrnntents have most to fear from a renewal of Spartacist outbreaks, Kapp stated yesterday that he put aside negotiations with thl‘ old Government in order to concentrate against. the iComnlunists. The Government expected a revolt immediately. . Stiittgahir .‘t.e‘legra.ms ,st.utc extreme radical developments have already begun at Solingon, Essen, and elsewhere in the Rhineland. The Spartacists are only awaiting an opportunity to seize power, and declare a dictatorship. A Soviet. has been established in several places, including Stuttgart. The Spartacists are relying on the support of two hundred thousand Russian prison‘crs still in Germany. A violent agitation in favour of a évoviet. Republic and an alliance with Russia has begun in Berlin by the Independent Comn:unis,ts yesterday. The trouble originated by the workn‘.-en charging the military, who were marching in the Brumieustrasse playing patriotic airs, sewral being killed and wounded. .-\n~ other skirmish took place at Charlotteuburg, resulting in a number being killed and wounded. Workmen at Strausberg, eastward of Berlin, dis_a_rr_ned the town militia. At .Spandau tll:--ed casua,’-lties wot"-c ’_a:lln.ost entirely confined tocivilians. Fighting in other ]_»art.~‘ or" Berlin district continue, including ‘the "inner potrtion near‘ fithe castle. where eight were killed and twelve wounded. ' ' ,I>ARls', March 1-7. The French Charge d’Afl‘aires ‘has arrived at St'utt'g‘art, and has been instructetl to maintzlin diplomatic relations wisth Baur-r’s G"overnme,nt.. SOCI.-\LISTS TAKE ‘A HAND. Received 10.50 am. BERLIN. March 17. It is reported the Independent Socialists. Cohen and Daeuniig, have formed :1 Communist Cfomniittee of Action with 9. view to establishing a Soviet Republic and Proletarian Dictatorship. The committee sent an ultimatum to Kapp demanding the withdrawal of troops by to-night. Kapp agreed, provided an amnesty was

granted. . The Fmnkfurt. Zeitung states ViceChancellor Scheffer, who was Minister bf Justice in Bauer’g- Cabinet, but headed with Kzipp, has taken over the reins of Government from Kapp.