GERMAN REVOLUTION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3447, 29 March 1920, Page 5

GERMAN REVOLUTION.

WORKERS HOLD RUHR» AGAIN

PARIS, March 26.

All the industrial centres in ,the Ruhr region are now in. the hands of the workers’ a.dlnin.is‘trattion. Essen, Borehum, Dortmund, Mulheim, and many» other towns are controlled by the ‘workers’ mass .- committees. The ofiice of burgomaster ‘has been abolished. The Government ‘troops have been entirely driven off the Ruhr district. Many who were made prisoner were cruelly ill-treated; the ‘hatred of the regular troops baffles description. A strong, popular army is in course of formation, regardless of the terms of the Peace Treaty. The police have been replaced by workers.

The Council of A.mbassa(lol's considered Herr Baures’ request to be allowed to send a llL111dI‘~0(1 thousmid German troops to the Rubi" Valley. The French Government strongly opposed granting permission for such a large force into the neutral zone. D.e—spite the fact that twelve German battalions were originally sent, this failed to mainfain order. Communications are now passing between London and Paris. b i

RUHR WORKERS ORGANISING‘

DECISIVE BATTLE IMPENDING

LONDON, March 26.

The Daily Chronicle ‘s correspondent at Essen says that the Workers’ Council at the Ruhr is busy organising its members for war "ngainst the Government reiclls\\'ehr (national militia). The present object is less the estalilisliment of (fommunism than the o\'el'thl'ow of the reichswehr, whom they always suspected of reactionary designs, especially their ofliecrs. The \vnrknlen’s leaders are endeavouring to create :1 unified coniniaud. Hitherto the warfare has been of a. guerilln nature. When it battulian of the reichswehr entered Dortniund flying the old Cermun colours, the workers refused to believe they were government troops. They surrounded and made prisoners of them. This success at Dortmund encouraged the workers, who began a march to various Towns in the district, gaining adherents as they went.

There have been continuous rifle and bayonet fighting, with heavy losses on both sides. The upshot of the fighting was that all troops were expelled from the Ruhu area. The latest information is That the opposing forces are concentrating at Wesel, where six thousand of the reichswehr (national militia) face fifteen ‘thousand Workers. Both sides possess artillery, and are (ligging themselves in. Many isolated battles are reported. The Independent. Socialist newspaper Ruhr Echo, has issued la. formal military communique claiming that the workers captured eleven guns and three thousand rifles.

Crowds gathered at Essen town hall, watching the fideparturc of armed workmen for the front. The only uniform is a red arm-band and on the cap a, ribbon. ' - " "" Rnporfs from.Rullr stafe the workmen suffered heavy losses. Government troops captured an_ armoured train.

ROTTERDAM, March 26.

The booming of guns in the direction of Wesel is continuous. The rods broke the armistice terms, refusing to retire behind Lippe, and they bombarded Wesel all day long, and then advanced on the town. It is reported the town was captured. The Reds are also attacking Munster, whence heavy booming of guns is heard on the front-

The leaders of the Reds claim to have an army of 120,000. They say the only object is to destroy militm-. ism. Any attempt to disarm the workers will unchain a. terrible civil war. FAILURE TO FORM CABINET. AMSTERDAM, March 27. Muller, Bauer’s Foreign Minister, has failed to form 9. Cabinet. SEVERE FIGHTING PROCEEDING. HEAVY LOSSES SUS'I‘AINED. Jfieceived 10.40 11.111. BERLIN, March 26. There has been severe lighting at Wcscl, despite the armistice.