Evening star., 1920-03-16
EBERT EXPECTED
T0REST0RE POWER
THROUGH GERMANY
Sporadic Spartacist Out
breaks as Result of Strike
Foreseen by Washington.

BY the Associated Press.
Restoration of the authority of the
Ebert government. with sporadic
Spartacist outbreaks throughout Ger
many. are expected by military Of
ficials here. who interpret dispatches
from Col. Edward Davis. military at
tache at Berlin, as indicating that the
coup d'etat is not so serious as had at
first been supposed.
The calling of a general strike ny
the Ebert cabinet is regarded here as
certain to encourage the most radical
elements of the German nation to
make another attempt at revolution
and overthrow Of "capltalistlc So
ciety. But while the recurrence OF
violence in the large cities. similar to
the Suparticide revolts last year. Is
looked for, the soviet sympathizers in
Germany are said to constitute SO
small a minority that serious. trouble
need not be expected.
short Life Predicted.
Official advices to the State Depart
ment today from Berlin said some Of
f'cials there had expressed the belief
that the new government would last
but a short time, and that Ebert and
II
the capital soon.
There was much speculative discus
sion again in War and State Depart
ment circles as to the status of Gen.
Aliens troops on the Rhine, in view
of the fact that the American forces
alone are there under armistice condi-
tions. Disagreement was expressed as
to whether they would be under the or
ders Of Marshal Foch as supreme COM
mander.
Some War Department officials
thought that, technically. the marshais s
Aliens command. Other officials held.
however. that the treaty of Versailles
had abrogated the French leaders au-
thority, at least so far as the Ameri-
cans were concerned.
Question Academic One.
In any case, Secretary Bakers view
appeared to render the question purely
an academic one. He said Gen. Alien
was vested with authority to preserve
action contemplated involving his
forces would have to await specific
approval from Washington.
Military action by any of the oc-
cupying forces. it was pointed out,
would be contingent more upon the
character of the revolutionary change
in Germany than upon the revolution
would be only of passing interest to the
commanders, unless it portended a
departure from German engagements
under the treaty of Versailles and
professions of the former democratic
government to the allies.
1t is well understood. therefore, that
for the present at least Gen. Allen
will conane himself strictly to a
maintenance of the status quo in the
Coblenz sector so far as this relates
to the maintenance of order. This
could be done, it is thought, without
interference with any political
changes which the German popula-
tion may seek to make.
In Case of Strike.
Should a general strike extend to
the American section, as~is threat
ened, Gen. Aliens situation might be-
come more involved. Inhabitants of
the sector could not. it was thought
oe permitted to suffer for necessities
of life and the line of communications
of the American Army must be kept
open While Gen. Allen has large
discretion as to measures necessary
in such an emergency, it was believed
that beyond warning strike leaders
against any acts having this effect,
he would scarcely do more than op-
crate public utilities with troops and
such civilians as he might need to
replace strikers.
In reviewing the German political
situation as shown in press advices,
officials noted the apparent split be-
tween northern and southern Ger
many over the new government.