New-York tribune., 1920-03-25
Ebert Troops
Modified to
Crush Reds >
csntInssd frsm pass ens

csntlnued Srem pase one
~. ont this morning and one this
.tsrncon, were driven swiftly over
~. Rhine bridge to-day into Wesel,
'.h.re government troops are besieged
.S 4 IS believed that negotiations are
ZINC ~" ON there for settlement of q
s4Ss;,i 4Rr;.ish and Belgian Civil Control
Commission representatives also have
vSad v.s.sred Wesel. Officially, these visits
srs not being discussed, but evidently
sssv were prearranged, as the Rhine
hr;ive has been absolutely closed to
.rstic v.saH from the left bank of the river.
The workmen's forces are said to
,.va been beaten back more than one
w;,e at, Wesel to-day, although the
sr;nc was never intense and the situa-
s;nn was regarded as rather quiet. 1t
;s re,isbly estimated that the besieged
!. the city number about 5000, and
that there are 1000 men on the line.
Figures as regards the workmen are
iess reliable, but it is said they number
$4,000 or more: They are said to be
lsss effective in strength than their
spurts.
,he moderation in to-day's fighting, it
be;ne believed that the workmen are
los;nr some of the first enthusiasm
that enabled them to cut to pieces the
dusseldorf units that had been interned
nv the British and later TO drive the
troops before them III wide. en-
e;rciinr guerilla movement
A German observation airplanc passed
over Wesel this afternoon Some per-
sons reaching here from Vessel assert
that they saw women. some of them
mounted, fighting with the workmen.
The result of Yesterdays heavy fight
ing. it became known to-day, was dis
tinctly in favor of the besieged govern
ment troops. A few of the workmen's
forces crossed the river from Lippe,
nearly to the south and within little
more thar a mile Of the town, but
were eventually beaten back, and it was
learned that the workmen. discouraged
in their attempt to take the important
main citadel protecting the bridge. had
shifted their attack to the southeast,
from which point there was desultory
firing throughout the day, with few
brisk sputserings of machine gun fire.
Allied Commission Impcriled
The workmen threw number Of
shells in the vicinity of the city, scor-
ing one distinct hit almost as the AL
lied commissioners passed the spot.
Apparently the governments posi-
ton is secure to the northward con-
Meeting Minister, as q railroad train
is reported TO have entered the city
this afternoon. One hundred and
eighty-three government stragglers
who crossed the river last night, were
taken to Crefeld to-day, along with a
German lieutenant colonel and two
tther officers, who said they were civil
ans and had been dismissed from the
army. About 100 wounded here are
ueing evacuated in motor ambulances
/. Crefeld
The Belgian forces strengthened
their positions to-day: They planted
machine guns on the bridge, dug
the old German Rhine defenses. Lieu
tenant General Baron jacques, of the
Belgian forces, inspected the defenses
this morning.
The government forces are keeping
spen the northern side of the town to
admit reinforcements, should these be
sent, or to provide for possible
forced retreat.
About 100 interned prisoners. who
led across the bridge from Wesel last
night, are held here by the Belgians.
dozen German wounded also were
hysught over during the night and
treated at the hospital here.
aeinforcemcnts from Minister
Reinforcements are reported by the
,,oI -
Yesterday from Minister. They sale
cast, so that if Wesei becomes unten.
able it will be possible for the troops
70 make their way out on the north
side and join the oncoming relie1
forces.
Meanwhile the town is said to be
held firmly, although the Reichswehl
forces have been under a hard hammer
ing for five days.
The prisoners here are mostly young
men. Many of them told tales OF
iortures they claim they had suffered
Their accounts, however, we're not sup
ported by their appearance.
me siege proper of Wesel begar
ate Monday. Three days previous units
o. the Reichswehr, which had beer
driven northward and westward b,
workinen, occupied the city and or.
ranized for its defense. fhe work.
men were poorly organized and few
wore uniforms, but they were furious
wlth determination and drove the
keichswehr troops before them, fore.
,hg the soldiers into Wesel. On Tues.
day the workmen intrenched themselves
aad the artillery leveled the defense
Of the city.
At 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon the
'orkmen delivered a heavy general as.
saait upon the city. They took small
.nateau to the southeast, which the
.roops had held as an advance machine.
gun position. but which was not i'm.
per'ant strategically. All Tuesday
sla tuesday night the workmen's guns
pounded the town, and day the firing
Oegan early, but it was intermittent.
Ihe losses of the government troops
Ire ias. SAID to have been heavy during the
".s. ,aSs snree days march under guerills
ss' SSrlare' but the number of casualties
cannot be ascertained.
Halle Completely Cut OF
..EipSlC, March "a (By The Asso.
nassa .r;ss Fress ).-Halle, the large indus.
cts i.ai town to the northwest of this
N.Y.; my, was completely cut off from com.
~an'eation sara last night. Latest reports
nsr ,.V Una, ma. the troops had gained the up.
sonsJn Hand Yesterday afternoon, after q
d0,ueraole redvoa, part of the city had beer
;nssa ;ssusea to ruins. Saxon troops to re.
IN .iorce M, the governments contingents
" MALE are on the way to that town.
!, N other Of the various communitie.
m.5 ~ sals section Of Germany the tur
"o'i amid which thev hova hoon .x;.+