The Washington herald., 1920-05-11
ERHARDT'S MEN.
WATCH BRITISH
German Marines H a | t
Troops in English Uni
form Near Their Camp.
ASK TO SEE PASSES
Troops Guard Chief So His
Arrest Cannot Be
Caused.
ASK TO SEE PASSES
(washingtOn Herald-Public Ledger
Service, Special Cable Dispateh.)
By HERBERT T. BAILEY.


Hanover. May 10. II attempted
yesterday to- enter the Munster
camp, where Cen Erhardts troops
are concentrated. but from which
Erhardt is now reported to have
mysteriously disappeared. I was
peremptorily informed that strict
est orders had been issued that no
civilian be allowed inside the camp.
Only allied officers of the control
commission are admitted and even
they have difficulties. A few days
ago a British colonel and two ON
GERS OF his stan were driving in a
British staf car to the camp. On
the road they suddenly were called
upon to halt by an armed German
automobile in which sat -four Ma
rtnes- The German car was quickly
drawn across the road to prevent
escape and the British officers found
themselves facing a mounted ma
chine gun ready to open fire. Two
rifles were leveled at their heads.
The colonel naturally demanded to
know why they made so much fuss
when they could see from his uni
form that he was a British officer.
we want to see your passes" re-
piled the Marines. These were
shown, and then the leader Of the
Marines confided that they had re-
ceived q report that orders were out
to arrest Gen Erhardt and they sus-
pected that British officers would
carry out the arrest
Look for BOlsheyists.
When the British complained at
headquarters of this conduct. to-
gether with profuse apologies which
were rendered they were told tina,
Erhardt had to be careful as num-
ners Of Bolshevists were visiting
the camp disguised in British OH
GERS uniforms"
British indignation turned into
amusement at this very German re-
ply.
Erhardt, according to estimates
OF AIMED oncers, had until he dis
appeared approximately 10000
troops under his command here. OF
these nve thousand belong ia the
Marine brigade, while, in spite of
MS denials, there are a consider
able number of Baltic troops to-
gether with a majority of the
Reichswehr who were driven into
the British occupied zone by the
workmen's army in the Ruhr fight
ing and have since been returned to
Germany.
Then, too, numbers of nondescript
soldiers of various regiments Of
the old regular army have focked
10 the camp and there, in the heart
OF the pine forest, they are living
In concrete and wooden huts sum-
piled with good food and mone>
from Berlin and splendidly
equipped. an excellent fighting
force, the most formidable and en-
phatically reactionary in Germany
today.
Troops Show EmeIency.
The soldiers 1 saw at the camn
are certainly the smartest I have
seen this side Of the Rhine. They
walk with energetic steps, their an
pearance is neat and clean, they
salute their officers with military
precision. I'VE are Just waiting here
for any orders" one of these pre-
torians told me today. I'VE want
to remain Marines, we do not want
to be disbanded"
would you march to Berlin to
help another reactionary coup?" 1
asked him.
That depends on Erhardt," was
all 1 could induce him to say.
They have talked of disbandinK
the troops here and settling them IN
surrounding country after clearing
the forest land" one of the allied
officers remarked to me today, mot
only do the soldiers want to go on
the land but waht would happen
il they did go is that uniforms and
rifles would be stored away and an
the Lssrnsnt when the allies were