Omaha daily bee., 1920-03-15
u. S. Officer Cautions
Germans About Strikes


While adherence to the new gov
ernment has been promised by some
of the outside states, Saxony has
declared against\it, and Bavaria,
Wurttemburg and Baden have joined
in denouncing the movement.
The national party refused to have
relations with the Kapp government,
and the conservative leader, Count
Posadowsky, asserts that he will not
identify himself with the new chan
cellor. Hamburg and Darmstadt are
said to be irreconcilable.
Hindenburg in Background.
Meanwhile one of the greatest
figures in the German national life,
Field Marshal Won Hndenburg, has
kept himself in the background, His
former close associate, General Lu-
dendorff, credited with being the
brains and moving spirit OF the Ger
man army in its belligerent days,
has had a conference with the new
chancellor. What passed between
them is, Of course, not known. 1t is
possible, however, that Won Hinden-
burg, who is already candidate
for the presidency, may loom large
before events take definite shape.
With the advent OF the general
strike proclaimed throughout Ger
many by the independent socialists,
affiliated with the trade unions and
other organizations, Berlin is al
ready beginning to feel the pinch of
suffering again. The water supply
has been largely cut off and food is
scarce. Hotels are shutting down,
and If the strike continues, means
of transportation, both passenger
and freight, will be at an end.
Nosks Organizing Troops.
Gustav Noske, minister Of defense
in the Ebert government, is report
ed to be in Saxony organizing
troops. Noskc has always been
fighter, and there is reason to be-
lieve that he will not accept the
present situation without drastic ac-
ton in opposition to il.
That Noske has troops still loyal
TO him is indicated by the fact that
they have repulsed an attack against
them in their barracks at Frankfort.
Reports have been received from
that city of numerous casualties in
the fighting, but whether this was
between troops and militia, or be-
tween troops and workmcn, is not
definitely known.
People Discuss Situation.
The streets OF Berlin exhibited
their customary Sunday aspect to-
day. Inter Den Linden was
crowded; people gathered in the
sunshine to discuss the situation.
One OF the main attractions con-
sisted of barbed wire cntanglements
near Wilhelmstrassc and field guns
and machine guns posted in front OF
the military guard at the Branden-
burg gate.
Towards noon, however, the
walters in the hotels ceased to, work,
and the guests who had not been
prudent enough to lunch early. had
to hunt food for themselves.
New Cabinet not Formed
The new cabinet has not yet been
formed, but it is definitely known
that DR.. Traugott Won Jagow, for
mer chief of police Of Berlin and a
notable reactionary,> will be Prus-
sian minister OF the interior.
1t is proposed for the present to
have only two-man cabinet, or d.
composed Of DR.. Wolf
gang Kapp and Major General Bar
on Won Luettwitz.
Minister of Transportation Osser
has informed Kapp that the railway
employees of Prussia objected to a
cabinet in which Kapp and Won
Jagow are represented, and that il
they remained in Office the entire
railway forces would strike.
Fifteen Persons Killed.
London, March H. - During the
fighting in Frankfort, IS persons
were Killed and 100 wounded, says
an Exchange Telegraph dispatch
from Berlin.
The police were compelled to
leave the town in consequence of
the mob seizing an arms depot, the
dispatch adds.
Shots were exchanged between the
boats in the harbor and
workmen in the naval dock yard at
Kiel Saturday afternoon, says a dis
patch to the Central News quoted
the Berlingske Tidende's Kiel cor
respondent, as confirming the sur
render OF the German feet. Ma
rincs are now occupying the dock
yard. A general strike has been de-
ciared by all the workers, except
those in the gas and water plants.
The City Was Quiet at Midnight.
There were a half million people in
Under Den Linden during the day.
but no clashes with the troops were
The military patrols
seemed to have the situation we'll in
hand, but the real test of the situa-
ton is expected to come Monday or
Tuesday when the general strike \
probably will be in full swing.
Chancellor Kapp today told the
newspaper correspondents that the
government would not hesitate TO
Suppress any insurrection by strik-
ers.
As yet there is no visible political |
support for the government, but re-
ports indicate that the new govern
nent is winning the support of
troops in south Germany and that |
It's prestige has risen considerably
since Saturday.