The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-03-22
EBERT TROOPS
SURROUND RUHR
Plan to Force SpartaCiStS,
Now 10000 Strong, to
CapituIate.
ODDS AGAINST THEM;
BERFEL HEADS REDS
Kapp Supporters Seek Am
nesty-Strike Situation
in Berlin Better,

dllS MdrCn ETA. P.)-Sparta-
can forces in the Ruhr valley of Ger
many number at least 10000, and
some estimate them at 10000, ac-
cording to latest advices received at
the foreign office here. They are
well organized, being composed of old
troops and veterans, supplied with
artillery, machine guns and mine
throwers and having batteries of IT.
cen1metre field guns with plenty of
ammunition.
Maj. Berfel, relative of Maxi
milan Harden, is commander of these
troops. He is also known as the
man who published Prince Lichnow-
sky's report, blaming the German
government for starting the world
war, and was also prominent in the
Spartacist troubles at the time of the
armlstice, and also in January, 1918.
Ebert government authorities are
concentrating troops and planning to
surround the Ruhr valley and force
the Spartacists to capitul, tie. These
men, however, are younger and less
trained than the reds. .,. ........
Increase IN Claims.
Negotiations by members of the
Ebert government, party leaders of
the German national assembly and
delegates of workers, which have
been going on at Berlin, are declared
in an official British report to have
been interrupted because of an in
crease in the claims of the workers.
Spartacan forces still control Stet-
tin, Dusseldorf, Elberfeld and Essen,
where great disorder prevails. Kiel
land southwest Germany are quiet,
but some agitation Is reported in ag-
ricultural sections of Pomerana and
Mecklenburg
Conditions Worse.
An Associated Press dispatch from
Berlin says that the ministry of de-
fense informed the correspondent
this morning that the conditions in
the Ruhr district were becoming
worse, The towns of Oelde, Ahlen
and Drensteinfurt, in WestphaIin.
southeast of Muenster. had been
taken by the communists, it was
stated. and the movement was
spreading north and east.
Pitched battles had been fought, the
ministry's information showed, and
TWO crack regiments of government
troops had been forced to fall back
on the fortress of Wesel, on the right
bank of the Rhine, twenty-five miles
northwest of Essen, after heavy
losses had been sustained on both
sldes. Ten officers in one regiment
We're Killed.
The red army, it was added, was
well armed with artillery.
Worse For the Government
An oinclal report to the Associated
Press from Leipsic says that no further
eXcesses occurred on Saturday in that
city and that several points evacuated
py the Workmen were occurred by
troops. In the suburbs, however, the
Workmen refused TO abandon their po-
sHions, Further communists reinforce
40 1d6
Railway traffic in the Leipsic region was
PA fully resumed on Sunday.
In the Halle district the position was
reported worse from a government as
pect. CouLteH action among a section
of the worklngmen is threatened
through the calling OF a strike If
soviet republic is proclaimed. Com
/. Amunists are declared to be preventing
willing mben from resuming their work.
Call Strike in Munich.
4 general strike has been called in
Munich. and it is expected the move
ment will extend throughout Bavaria
unless it is stopped as a result of the
negotiations now in progress to settle
the demand for the working men for pay
during the period they were on strike
against the Kapp regime. Meetings are
to be held in the Wurttemburg factories
by the councils of wortmen to consider
if similar action should be taken
through our Wurttemburg.
Reports received here from Nurem-
following some disorders the previous
night. Further disorders at Leipsic on
Sunday were reported.
Stuttgart reports that troops from
Silesia are officially reported to have
arrived in the Ruhr district, and
fighting with the Spartacan army
there is expected tomorrow. EXag-
eerated r,,mors as to the size of the
red forces there are current in TINS
city Some reports place the num-
ber at 10000.
kappists Seek Amnesty.
An International News Service dis
match from London supporters of the
fallen Won Kapp regime in Germany
are reported to have opened negotla-
tions with President Ebert for am
nesty, according to a Berlin dispatch
to the Times today. In addition TO
amnesty the followers OF Won happ
are said to be seeking representation
in the cabinet. Baltic troops are still
in possession Of the barracks at Ber-
lin, the Times correspondent says
Strike Situation Improves.
The strike situation at Berlin is
improving. but the government is
taking strong military precautions
and the streets are filled with barrt-
cades and machine guns, according
TO the following Exchange Telegraph
dispatch from Berlin today;
president Ebert and his ministers
held a long conference with the ma
ioritv socialists, the trade union
leaders and independent socialists-on
Sunday.
THE strike situation is improving
THE national assembly has been
summoned to meet on Wednesday.
strong military precautions are
being taken. The streets are being
filled with barricades and machine
guns arc posted everywhere.
THE Baltic troops and the naval
brigade are still at the Doeberitz
garrison.
1T is becoming apparent that the
government is not inclined 10 adhere
to the political parties agreement
regarding the installation OF experts
in the new ministry.
The American representative at
Berlin has expressed his satisfaction
to the government over the -aH ot
the Won Kapp military regime