New-York tribune., 1919-09-02
Attempt Made
To Form New
Rhine Republic
Supporters of DR.. Haas. of
Landau, Take Postoffice
at Ludwigshafen After u
battle Lasting Four Hours
No Revolt, Say French
DIR. II. A. Dorten Told Not
to Hold Meetings in the
Area Occupied by U. S.

CoBLENZ, Sept, (By The Asso-
Grated Press).-A coup d'etat to estah-
l'sh an independent republic of the
faatina:e appears to have been at
tempted early Friday in Ludwigshafen.
according to German newspapers. a
numoer of supporters of DR.. Haas, of
Landau, attacked the postof,icc in
tadwlGshafen land after a four hours
hSh'' succeeded IN overcoming the re-
s'stahce OIL the postoffice officials. Hand
gfenades are said to have been used
IN the assault. The postmaster and
another postal official are reported to
nave been killed in the rioting.
French troops are now in complete
control of the situation.
The movement for q Palatinate re-
pup'lc haa been planned for some time
under the leadership of Dr.. Haas. tho
scheme not being related to that of
pr H. a. Dorten, of Bonn, who headed
the agitation for the creation of the
khenAsh republic last June. The fol-
IoWers OF pr. Haas are seeking to
make the Falatinate Independent. from
Prussia. They are also accused cf do. do
s'r'ng to sever the Palatinate entirely
from Germany.
Dortcn in American Area
''"S "Se" icaiHcu tnat Dr. UOrten
recently had been entering the Ameri-
can occupied area Il was annouroed
to-day at the Headquarters of the
american forces in Germany that Dr..
Dorten not long ago made a speaking
tour IN this area without the permis-
sion OF the Americans, who since last
december have refused to allow the
holding of political meetings within
the occupied zone or any other action
1ehding to cause feeling of unrest
among the civilians
Dr. Dorten came to army headouar
ters at Coblenz at the request of in
telllgence officers and the army au-
thorlt'es in charge Of civil affairs. He
was informed that the policy of the
Americans not to permit any propa-
ganda or speechmaking- advocating a
change in the government of the terri
tory now'under military control, or any
unchanged, He was loid by the Ameri-
can authorities that if the people of
the Rhlncland desired a change in the
government the question should be
taken up with the peace conference
and that hereafter he would not be al
. lowed in the American sector without
special permit from army headquar-
ters.
Discouraged Elsewhere
Dr. uorten also has met with dis
c0uragement in most other setRions of
the Rhneland, but it has been reported
to the army by the Germans that de-
spite this he is persistently Keeping
up his efforts, travelling from place to
place accompanied by members of his
staff. Reports from various sources
are that he appears to have plenty
of money to carry on his activities.
MAYENCE. Sept. 1.-The French
authorities of occupation announce
that the German newspapers have pub
ished erroneous reports concerning the
disorders of Friday at Ludwgshafen
They declare that there has been no
revolt and that the disturbance which
resulted i'll the death of the post
Master and another postal official was
due to exaggerated nervousness on the
part of the local police.
A Berlin dispatch received on Satur-
day night stated that Frenchmen, in the
surrection at Ludwigshafen, the dis
patch quoting q telegram to the "Lokal
Anzeiger" to that effect. The attack
on the postoffice was said to have been
made for the purpose of telegraphing
abroad the news of the establishment
of the yepublic.
The Dr. Haas mentioned is apparent
ly DR.. Ludwig Haas. Minister Of the
interior for Baden. AT the time OF the
peace negotiations DR.. Haas con-
trbuted an article to the Berlin
"Tagcblatt" denouncing President Will
sons attitude.