New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-07
Troops of Gen. Degoutte
Encircle Two Towns
and Enter Important
Points; No Opposition
4. :. Ambassador
Meets Millerand
Press Interested in Wheth.
er Allies Will Support
Burdensome Operation


munication issued this evening saws:
"The military operation contem-
plated against Frankfort and
Dafmstadt was begun to-day in
the early hours. The troops of
the Seth Corps took part in the
operation and met with no resist
ance. The encircling Of the two
towns and the occupation of inn
portant points of the circle were
completed at II o'clock by our cav
airy, which in the afternoon occu-
pied Hanau, previously evacuated
by the German troops.
"A battalion of German security
police was taken over in the
Frankfort barracks and dis
armed"
Marshal Foch had a conference
this morning with Premier Millerand.
Later, the Premier received Hugh
c. Wallace, the American Ambas-
sador.
The supposition in certain quar-
ters is that the communication made
by Ambassador Wallace to Premier
Millerand had some relation to this
fact, but nothing is really known vet
to support this theory.
up to noon the government had not
received reply from Great Britain and
Italy to its notification to them OF the
occupation Of the Rhineland.
Degoutte Commands Forces
French occupation forces are com
manded by General Degoutte and have
been holding the Mayence bridgehead
They were ordered forward by Marshal
Foch, following the efforts on the part
OF the french government yesterday to
induce the Berlin government to with
draw ITS forces from the neutral zone
along the eastern bank of the Rhine.
where they had been ordered to dis
perse Communlstic units that for the
past fortnight have conducted revolt
in the Ruhr valley.
Strrlng scenes at Mayence yester-
day are described by Henri Ridou. mill
tary critic of the journal des De-
bats, IN telegram to his paper He
says that during the afternoon troop
activity began, and soon auto trucks
and field kitchens began moving east
ward, accompanied by Moroccan troops
with machine guns.
Chief interest in the situation, as
evidenced by newspapers here, is
whether the Allies will support France
and to what extent. This query was
put to Premier Millerand by the echo
de Paris" last night, the Premier
answering:
England was victorious and so vas
France. am confident everything will
work out perfectly"
Asked VINO would pay the expense
incident to occupation, NJ. Millerand .
replied:
why, Germany, obviously, since it
was she that, by her acts, obliged US to
resort to coercion"
Occupation Indorsed by Press
The occupation is generally indorsed
by journals Of all shades of political
opinion. 1t is recognized the opera
tlon will be risky and burdensome. but
unavoidable in view of the tendencies
of the Berlin government. Critics Of
the Premier. however. deplore the fact
the Allies are not partlcl pants in the
movement.
France will enforce respect of the
Versailles Treaty, but the Allies will
not help to do it." is caption ap-
pearing in to-day's edition of the
"Guvre," the inference drawn being
that the purely platonic nature of the
Allied support is due to failure on the
part of N. Millerand and his aides to
meet the exigencies of the situation.
''Pertinax,' political editor Of the
Echo de Paris says more concrete
support will be forthcoming as result
of the Premier's statement issued last
night. He says NJ Milierand feels
capable Of convincing President Wilson
if he is still guided bv rules of logic"
"Mr. Wilson's memorandum OF March
90" the writer continues, said dis
patch of more German troops into the
Ruhr region must, in his opinion, he
justified by the course of events. We
do not expect passive acceptance Of an
accomplished fact from our allies, but
the confident assistance to which they
have accustomed us"
Premier Millerand to-day formally
notified DR.. Won Mayer. the German
French government in ordering the
advance and informed him that As
soon as there had been complete evac-
Iation of the neutral zone by the Ger
man troops the French would cvacu-
ate the cities they had been ordered 20
occupy. The Premier's note read:
"By my letter of April ! asked you
to make insistent representations to
your government TO obtain the imme-
diatc withdrawal of the German troops
which unduly penetrated the neutral
zone fixed by Article 80 of the Treaty
of Versailles.
Germany Notified Of Advance
"My request having obtained no re-
suit up to this time, have the hcnor
o. informing you that The general com
manding in chief the army of the Rhine
has received orders TO occupy immedl.
lately the cities Of Frankfort. Hot-.