The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-05-06
BAVAR|ANS HAVE
BIC HOME GUARD
Claim Army Was Modified to
Fight the BolSheviki.
NO MOVE TOWARD DlSSoLVING
Herr Won kahr, Prime Minister, In
Explaining Stand, Declares Gov
eminent Will Maintain Law
and Order at Any Cost.

Munich, Bavaria, May 3.-Bavaria
solving or disarmng the Ba-
varion "einwohnerwehr," or civil
home guard organization. Nor are
there any visible indications that she
Intends doing so.
The decree of the Berlin govern
ment is being ignored and has not
even been published officially. The
Bavarian prime minister Herr Won
Kahr, explained Bavaria's stand in
the matter as follows:
Our einwOhnerwehr is the out
growth of the realization on the part
Of our Iaw-abiding citizens that un-
fortunately they must rely in a large
measure upon themselves for the pro-
lection of their wives, their children
and their property, against those rad
ical elements that once did overthrow
the constitutional government with
force
"Our bitter experience with the red
terror a year ago and the eXigency Of
the situation are making special emer-
gency police protection necessary and
brought the einwohnerwehr into being
Bavaria cannot under present condi-
tons do without il.
Needed for Protection.
Let me ask you--would the citi-
zens of one of your American states
take no steps in self-defense If a group
of radicals ayowedly followed plan
IL overthrow the government by force
end advocated murder and plumber of
the other classes?
"The charge that the Bavarian elm
wOhnerwehr is the nucleus of an army
ar threatens the safety of any cOun-
try is too ridiculous for consideration
II is either actuated by malicious prop
uganda purposes or is due to inexcus-
able ignorance. The Bavarian people
will be quite happy if they can main
tain law and order in their own coun-
try"
With the popular reaction against
radicalism steadily growing and with
the Bayaran people, always touchy
with regard to their independence,
resenting to be told by Berlin what
they may or may not do, the Berlin
government appears to realize the
delicate situation and so far has not
pressed the Bavarian authorities to
carry out the allied demand for dis
armament.
AS this body of citizen soldiers is
threatening to take on an interna-
tional aspect and seems to have in
It the germ of Bavarian secession, con
siderable pains were taken to investi-
gate the organization on the spot.
1t appears TO be n private emer-
gency policy protective organization
primarily nti-BoIshevist. It is placed
under the executive police powers.
100000 Strong.
The strength of the Einwohner-
wehr is estimated at 100000. All are
volunteers, ranging in age from II
to gray-haired men of 50. Each man
keeps a rifle in his home, together
with a specified quality of car
tridges The rife control Is removed,
however, so that the weapon Is use
less If stolen or taken by force. Po-
lice President Kosher, former
judge, who temporarily gave up the
bench to take charge of the Munich
police, said to me:
1T is obvious that the number we
now have Is sufficient to maintain
order and protect life and property Of
the citizens where an attempt Is plan
ned by well-organiZed numerically
strong group of radicals to seize the
reins of government as they did just
year ago.
1.-THE Einwohnerwehr is an emer-
gency citizens force.
Grave Disorders Ahead.
''The absurdity Of the charge that
1t Is military force Is seen from the
fact that 1t is distinctly provided that
It cannot be used outside the borders
of Bavaria. In Munich this limitation
has gone so far that large numbers
have pledged themselves to serve only
in their respective precincts and re-
fuse to do duty in any other section
of the city,"