The Pensacola journal., 1920-04-08
REACTION in FRENCH PUBLIC
OPINION CONCERNING MOVEN
GERMANY NOTABLE OVERNIGHT
In Some Quarters Belief is Ex-
pressed French Government
Fell Into German Trap
FIRST AFFRAYS OCCUR
Number of German Civilians
Were Killed and Injured at
Frankfort by French Troops

Paris, April 7-Considerable reaction
is noticeable today in French public
opinion which was unanimously IA
Ivorable yesterday regarding the ad-
Ivisedness of the occupa ton of Rhine
lcities. Official circles are silent but
there is some anxiety regarding the
attitude the allied governments have
adopted.
| Failure of the American ambassador
and representatives of Great Britain.
Italy and Japan to express an opin-
ion is not regarded unfavorable but
merely as pointing to the fact that none
have received instructions from their
respective governments
/, Banking, financial and business cir
cles are more outspoken. Opinions
are freely expressed that the inter
vention was untimely and detrimental
| to French interests. At the stock
exchanges comment indicated the be-
lief in some quarters that the French
government fell into a trap cleverly
laid by the German government to
separate France from the allies by
asking individual French authorization
to enter the Ruhr district and putting
it up to France alone to refuse
Frankfort, April 7.-Affrays with
French troops occurred at different
points here this afternoon which re-
suited in members of the German
population being killed or wounded
The trouble had it's origin in a rumor
that as a result of pressure by the
allies. French troops have received
orders TO evacuate Frankfort Feeling
was heightened when students in au-
tomobiles harrangued the crowds and
melted them against French troops.
Frankfort, April Thy Courier to
Coblenz)-Colored French troops turn
ed a machine gun on a crowd i'm
Schiller Platz this afternoon, killing
la man and child. wounding eight
women, forty-four men, some serious
Ily.
Six Germans were killed and thirty
five wounded in an affray here to-
day. Order finally was restored
Paris. April 7-Premier Millerand
tonight said occupied German cities
will be evacuated as soon as German
troops are completely withdrawn from
the Ruhf district.
London, April There is little
probability of Great Britain partici-
pating in the French advance into
Germany as far as can be ascertain
ed at present and according to "A
statement current in some quarters
the British government feels itself
placed in awkward position by the
French occupation of German cities.
When such a move was discussed
recently at the meeting of the am
bassador's council, it is said Great
Britain and Italy dissented or at any
rate strongly urged the necessity of
careful consideration before taking any
, definite steps. Consequently it was
not expected that France would pro-
J ceed to occupy the neutral zone with
out their formal approval Such ap-
! proval, it is said, certainly has never
been given and when the British gov
ernment was faced with the accom-
,plished fact it was considerably sur
,prised.
OF these reports there is no official
confirmation, but they are accepted in
some usually well-informed quarters.
Editorial opinion in this mornings
spapers is divided. The Daily News
sees very strong reasons for regard
ing the action of France as a mistake
but expresses the belief the matter
!. will not lead to any grave cleavage
between France and Great Britain and
italy.
| Coblenz, April 1.-Two thousand
Communists have crossed the Rhine
into the British zone of occupation
land have been interned. Twelve hum
idred more are expected to arrive to-
day.
| Flight Of large numbers of the COM
, munists into occupied territory is con-
sidered an indication that the revolt in
, the Ruhr region is near an end.
? iBochum was still in control of com
munists late yesterday and they ex-
ipected a big fight there. The situa-
ton in the Ruhr valley is bad and liv-
ling conditions are almost unbearable.
"A railroad strike at Essen is reported
land no trains are running.
II The reaction locally TO the move
lment of French troops into German
cities east of the Rhine has not dis
. turbed the population which under
stands the policy governing the mill
Itary command Firm conviction is
expressed by Germans that the action
of the French viii solidify more than
lever sentiment all over Germany