El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-06-07
SET
Up IRON RULE
IN LETTLAND
Baltic Troops Execute a
Coup D'etat Under Gen.
Won der Goltz.
RESTORE OLD TIME
FEUDAL REGIME

7 oNDON. Eng, June 7.-(Corre-
Il spondenee Of the Associated
Press).-Gen. Won der Goltz. com
mander OF the German troops in Lett
lond, or Latvia. one OF the formerly
Russian Baltic provinces OF which
Libau and Riga are the chief ports,
has established a virtual dictatorship
in that country under the preteuce
that he IS fighting the spread OF Boil
shevism among the Let's. according to
the Reuter- correspondent at Lfbau.
About the middle Of April Baltic
German troops, which had been op-
Grating in Lettland against the Rus
the 'front.' back 70 Li1au and, under
the direction Of the baltic baron
Mantsuffel, executed d coup d'etat.
overthr0Wing the Lettish provisional
government and arresting the Lettish
cabinet Premier Ullmauis. however.
evaded arrest and found asylum IN
der the protection OF a British mis-
sion which was hacked by the pres
ence OF a British warship in Libau-
Was PrearranEed.
The correspondent asserts that this
coup d'etat undoubtedly was carried
out with the connivance OF Won der
Goltz- II viii be recalled that one
Berlin newspaper has admitted that
the movement was the result OF an
intrigue conducted by the German
barons in the Baltic provinces who. It
said. supplied money TO maintain
German troops IN Libau-
Won der Goltz owes his presence IN
Lettland at the head OF a large force
Of purely German troops 10 an article
OF the armistice IN the world war
which provided that German troops
should remain IN Lettland until the
allies gave orders 10 the contrary.
writes the correspondent His close
supporters are Baltic German barons
who are descendants OF the old Teu-
tonic knights They hold immense
tracts OF land and enjoy feudal privi-
leEes OF a kind shat were abolished
even before the French revolution
These wealthy land owners are eN-
rremely tenacious OF their enormous
privileges. which they fear 70 see cur
tailed under any democratic regime,
and. the correspondent says. they now
have entered into conspiracy with
Germany's occupying forces TO over
throw democracy in Lettland and pre-
pare the way for annexatio1 to Ger
Took Lett's Arms.
The Germans act as though they
owned the country and they show
not the slightest consciousness OF haV-
ing been defeated IN the war. says
the correspondent To British mis-
sion which protested against the dis
arming OF the Lettish troops IN Libau.
Won der Goltz replied that .'the situa-
tion had been reestablished." but the
correspondent says there was not
word OF truth in this. for arms were
not restored 70 the Let's
The British mission here" writes
the correspondent. has no power 70
coerce the Germans into doing any
thing, and this can only be done
through the machinery Of the armls-
tice commission at spa The German
troops are making no movement
against the Bolsheviki, between whom
and themselves they keep the river
Won der COLT pretends that the
Let's themselves are BolsheTlki,
against whom he has TO guard the
country
The Lsttfsh premier. II. Ullmanis.
a refugee in the house OF the British
mission. told the correspond
ent that England should send ammu-
milton. food and a loan TO enable the
let's to raise an army. that Won der
Goltz should be removed and repre-
sentative Of the allies put into con-
troll This. he said. would break the
conspiracy for German dominion
The correspondent says he was IN
vited by Col warwick Greene. head
OF the American mission, 70 attend
conference at his house with three OF
the Baltic German leaders who tried
hard 10 win the sympzthies Of the
Anne ricans in support Of a new cabi-
net which they favored Col Greene
Informed them that ne could not rec
1mmend his government to recognize
the situation created by the German
COUP d'etat so long as the Baltic
troops exercised CONSTANT and pre-
vented the restoration Of the old gov
eminent or the creation OF new one
By a free and fair agreement