Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 April 1920 — NEW CLASH ON RHINE, REPORT [ARTICLE]

NEW CLASH ON RHINE, REPORT

Ebert Officer Wounded When Patrols Exchange Shots North of Homburg. GERMANS USE GAS ON REDS Bombard Dusseldorf With Poison Shells—French Troops Restore Order in Frankfort —Wilson Won't Oppose French Action. Paris, April 9.—lt is reported from Coblenz that there has been a collision of French and German patrols between Bad Nauheim and Nieder Wollstadt, north- of Homburg. In the exchange of shots a German officer was wounded. The report is not confirmed from other sources. German regular troops have bombarded Dusseldorf with gas shells, according to a Mayence dispatch to the Matin. A note prepared by Premier Millerand was read to the ambassodara and then delivered to the German charge d'affaires, Wilhelm von Mayer, in which the premier declared that France had taken great care to Inform and consult with the allies before occupying the Rhine cities. Merciless repression by the Reichswehr forces in the Ruhr basin is reported by fugitives arriving in Frankfort, according to a Mayence dispatch to the Journal des Debats. The fugitives allege they witnessed the shooting of all Westphalians who laid down their arms. Says Situation Delicate. London, April 9.—After a long conference the French ambassador, Paul Cambon, had with Premier Lloyd George and a full discussion of the Franco-German incident by the cabinet council, at which the French view was fully explained to the British ministers, an authoritative statement was issued to the effect that France acted entirely on her own Initiative in deciding to occupy German towns; that Great Britain, the United States, Italy and Belgium were all opposed to the plan and that France’s action has caused a delicate situation. Restore Order in Frankfort. Frankfort, April 9.—The clash in the Schlllerplatz between French troops and the population, resulting in the killing of six Germans and the wounding of thlrtj>five, was followed by a strong display of French military

force, which brought the restoration of order by the time darkness had set in. It was a rumor that the French had been forced by the pressure of the allies and the United States to withdraw from the city that started the trouble. The crowd Jeered and taunted the troops, yelling, “You've got to get out!" at the Senegalese who were patrolling in front of the guardshouse on the square. A French officer ordered the Crowd to disperse and when the order was Ignored a machine gun was brought into play. Disturbances also occurred in other parts of the city. Germans Get Week’s Grace. London, April 9. —A week’s additional grace has been given Germany for the withdrawal of tier troops from the neutral zone, the Evening News says it understands. This would extend the time to April 17. In August of last year the supreme council consented to a provisional increase of the German gendarmerie troops in the neutral zone beyond the Rhine for three months after the peace treaty should go into effect. It was recognized at the time, it was said, that the force provided for in The treaty was considered inadequate to maintain order. The peace treaty became effective January 10 and the three months’ extension granted expires April 10. Wilson Won’t Oppose France. Washington, April 9.—The German government will be disappointed if it expects President Wilson to call France to sharp account for the advance of French troops into Germany. While this government does not approve the entire action of France in this matter it is disposed to weigh the circumstances with a sympathetic understanding. Officials here do not see anything sinister in the policy of France and are disposed to accept Prender Mlllerand’s statement as a reasonable indication of the French position. Such recrudesence of militarism as the French march into Germany may suggest ydoes not alter the disposition here to realize that the failure of the United States to ratify the peace treaty has encouraged, and, in part, justified France in looking after her own interests until such time as the League of Nations is firmly established. The French action, however, generally is regarded as lacking in foresight ___ _: