THE GERMAN CRISIS.

Wairarapa Age, 31 March 1920, Page 5

THE GERMAN CRISIS.

Spread of Commonisai. IN THE RUHR DISTRICT. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Auatralian-N.Z. Cablo Association.) ROTTERDAM, March 26. Dutch reports state that a motley army of Communists is spreading over the Ruhr district. The men resemble robbers *in a melodrama, with daggers and revolvers stuck in their belts and "grenades dangling in their hands. There is little discipline, and they confiscate all motors and Tob stores wholesale. The commanders of the army are exclusively Independent Socialists. The Communists are imbued with the real Bolshevik spirit, and declare that there is no question of their discontinuing fighting until a dictatorship of the proletariat has been established. A HOPELESS PROSPECT. BERLIN, March 29. The Communist leaders in the Ruhr regard their prospects as hopeless, and have asked for a renewal of the armistice. GREAT EXPLOSION IN BERLIN. LONDON, March 26. The Berlin correspondent of The Times states that a great explosion of munitions in a store in South Berlin shook the entire city. Many houses were destroyed, and a church and the Town Hall were partially wrecked. The number of casualties is unknown. PAN-GERMAN PLOT. ANOTHER EFFORT. PARIS, March 28. The Berlin correspondent of Le Journal says it is rumoured that the Pan-Germans are planning another coup d'etat. Von Seeckt has disregarded his instructions to disband Erhardt's brigade and the Baltic troops. Four armoured, cars have been added to the brigade and many to the Monarchical troops. Hartung's severity in maintaining order exasperated the workers near Potsdam. Several bombs were fastened under his motor lorry, and exploded, blowing it to atoms. CABINET PROBLEMS. | i BERLIN, March 26. j At the eleventh hour, difficulties have arisen in connection with the reconstruction of the Cabinet. The Workers' Unions protest against the inclusion of threo temporary Ministers, and Schiffer's resignation is particulary demanded, in view of his negotiations with Kapp; If his resignation becomes necessary, the Democrats will withdraw their two other nominees, 'and decline to assist the coalitjon* Owing to the impasse the National Assembly will not meet to-day. . ' —-r —-f* »■: ' HEAVY FIGHTING CONTINUES. BERLIN, March 26. Heavy fighting between the Communists and the Reichswehr is proceeding along the line of Hamm, iHagen, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Wesel, Munster, and the Lippe stiver. The Revolutionaries hold many works in "Westphalia, and threaten to ruin them if the Reichswehr attacks them. Tho Revolutionaries are-well armed, and are entrenched along the Lippe,