Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1920-03-19


Bcrlin.-The government OF Ere,
ericii Ebert. the Socialist president {
the German Republic. has been owe
thrown by military coup-d'etat
DR. Wolfgang Knapp, one OF tn
founders OF the Fatherland party an
general director Of the agricultural sc
cietics. has outsted Gustav Bauer, tn
chancellor. and in taking that cffic
himself has temporarily assumed su
preme direction of affairs
There are now two contending gov
ernmcnts in Germany. the new one un
der Chancellor kapp at Berlin. the OLE
one under President Ebert at Dresden
Officials OF the new government de
clare that it is not reactionary Of
monarchistic. The president OF the
old government and his ministers have
issued a proclamation calling on the
people to rise in a general strike as
the only means of preventing the re.
turn of William H.
Berlin is occupied by the troops OF
the counter revoluti0n-to what mum.
Der is not known-and the movement
is spreading rapidly throughout the
provinces. Masses OF troops and naval
brigades. with artillery. have been
brought into the capital and dominate
/ the situation Thus far there has been
| no outbreak and no bloodshed.
| kapp Denies Revolution is React omar;
Chancellor Kapp and MaiOr General
Won Luettwizt have issued :, prnclama.
ton in which they say
THE overthrow OF the gov -rnment
| must not be taken as reactio, Try On
/ tine contrary. it is a progress,e meas
| ure of patriotic Germons OF all par
ties, with a view to re establish ng law,
order. discipline and honest govern
ment in Germany 1t is an overdue
attempt to lay the foundations for the
economic resuscitation of Germany,
enabling her to fulfil those conditions
Of the Peace treaty which are reason
able and not self-destructive"
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg is
reported to be favored by the new re-
gime as imperial president. but thus
far he has remained in the back
ground. The former minister of for
eign affairs. Gottlieb Won Jagow. and
General Baron Won Falkenhausen, for
mer governor-general of Belgium, are
among the leaders of the counter revo-
luton.
! While the movement has been car
ried out rapidly and in apparent or
| der, there is an undercurrent of ankle
| ty among the people of Berlin as to
| possible future occurrences Counter
| measures are expected soon. although
the kapp government has taken pre-
cautions to place those members of
| the former government who could be
reached under arrest.
Members OF the Allied mission in
Berlin are not being molested and they
are allowed to pass without hindrance
In military motor cars through the
barricades which have been set up in
the street.
There are no signs of hostility to-
ward foreigners, who are moving free
ly about the city.
Brief Revolution Predicted.
The conviction has prevailed from
the start among men not identified
with the present revolution that It will
be short-lived, as it is outwardly with
out the support Of the conservatives
or the reactionary leaders. and It 10
viewed in many quarters as trial
balloon" which will collapse shortly.
The most immediate danger 10 re-
cognized as a general strike through
out Germany. which has already been
proclaimed in many Of the principal
cities. including Berlin. In the mean
time the old government is recovering
its nerve, and seems to have very
liberal support from the federal states.
The strike is effective in Berlin. All
the cafes were closed. The workmen
in the electric power stations have
struck, and the surface cars and un-
foreground railways have suspended.
The water supply has been cut on.
The bread shortage already is caus-
ing great concern.