GERMAN PLOTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1922, Page 5

GERMAN PLOTS.

TO RESTORE EX-KAISER. STORM MAY BURST. REPUBLICANS AROUSED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Paris, June 27. For the past three months the French Government has possessed information regarding a plot aiming at the restoration of the Kaiser. This information, which is of a definite and conclusive character, caused the Government great anxiety. It indicated that a Monarchist rising had been fixed for the end of June with Ludendorff as leader. It is now believed that the assassination of Dr. Rathenau, instead of precipitating the coup d’etat, has led to its postponement, since the murder has aroused fierce Republican indignation. The Times’ Berlin correspondent reports that Government and Socialist parties are on the qui vive, as the storm may still burst. The Government is sensitive of the weakness of its position. There is no concealment of the intentions of the murder gang. Since the murder Dr. Rathenau’s sister and aged mother have received a quantity of letters and postcards expressing satisfaction at the crime.—United Service. CONFLICT WITH POLICE. CLUE TO MURDERERS. Berlin, June 27. There was a big demonstration in Hamburg in connection with Dr. Rathenau’s murder. Speeches were delivered calling on the public to protect and preserve the Republic. When the thousands dispersed they found armed policemen at all points. This led to disturbances, and the police fired, killing one man and wounding ten. The authorities are following a clue suggesting that, on the day of Dr. Rathenau’s murder three men, believed to be the assassins, boarded an aeroplane at the Staeken aerodrome, near Spandau. AN IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL. TRIBUTES IN THE REICHSTAG. COUNTRY REMAINS TRANQUIL. Received June 28, 5.5 p.m. Berlin, June 27. There was an impressive ceremonial in Berlin in connection with Dr. Rathenau’s funeral. The coffin was brought into the Reichstag at noon covered with the German flag and was placed under a great crepe canopy on the President’s table, with giant palms and flowers on all sides. The Chamber was heavily hung with crepe and the galleries decked with hydrangeas. The official tribute commenced with five minutes’ silence. Herr Ebert then delivered a funeral oration in the presence of Dr. Rathenau’s aged mother and his daughter. After other leaders had paid a tribute to Dr. Rathenau’s sacrifices in giving up his industrial career for politics, the coffin was carried into a lobby, where students in picturesque uniforms lined the passages, dipping their corps flags as the coffin passed. The coffin was then taken in a motor hearse to Oberchoeneweide, where it was buried in the presence of near relatives. As the cortege left the Reichstag an aeroplane with long crepe streamers circled overhead. Railway workers and other officials paid a tribute by observing five minutes’ silence. Many workers began a protest strike at midday and attended demonstrations during the afternoon. The country was tranquil, with the exception of Hamburg, where the police held up a workers’ procession with a machine-gun and displayed a placard declaring: “Halt; anyone going further will be shot.” The people were so outraged that they pressed on the police, who fired, killing one person and wounding several.