The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-05
FOCH PREPA ARES
FOR vASION OF
THE RHINELAND
French to Occupy More German
Towns as ReprisaI.
Germans Continue Advance
Into Neutral Territory.
BRITISH DELAYING DECISION
Radicals in Ruhr District Con-
tinue Fighting; 200 Killed.
Renewed Advance Into Ger
many to Start April Z.

Paris, April 5.-The utmost secrecy
is being maintained in official circles
concerning the nature of the military
precautions which Premier N1illerand
has instructed Marshal Foch to take
in the Rhine occupation zone A ru-
NOR was current in Paris this after
noon that General Degoutte's army
began moving from Mayence and
Wiesbaden upon Frankfort this morn
ing but the war office refused either
to confirm or deny the report.
All officers and soldiers on Easter
holiday leaves have neen ordered to
join their units Immediately. France
has four classes of men-thOse of
from 1916 to 1919 inclusive-still un-
der arms, or about 100000 men. No
other class has been recalled and no
effort made to increase the effectives
besides the cancellation of all leaves.
Prepare for Advance.
French troops commanded by Gen
eral De Goutte, which are stationed
along the Rhine, are prepared to enter
German territory this morning, ac-I
cording 20 the Diesbaden correspon-
dent of the Matin. 1t is reported that
the French government has decided to
the Rhine as a reprisal for the move
ments of German government troops
into the neutral zone fixed by the
Versailles treaty.
No official announcement had been
} made of such an order, however.
Newspapers continue to discuss the sit
uation resulting from the entry of
German government troops in the
Ruhr basin and the Petit Partisan de-
clares the indications given by the
do not correspond with the informa-
tion received by Marshal Foch. De-
naud is made by the Journal that the
expenses of the occupation be borne by
the Germans, and it is suggested that
cities occupied be taxed to make up
this amount.
Radicals Sdn Fighting.
In the southern part of the Ruhr
district, says the Echo de Paris. the
German government troops have ad-
vanced without resistance, but have
encountered serious opposition in the
central portion of the Ruhr basin.
200 persons have been killed in fight
near Duisburg, according to informa-
ton reaching this city.
French military measures destined
to force the German government to
withdraw its troops from the Ruhr
basin are now entirely in the hands of
Marshal Foch. it was said at the for
eign office today. It is advanced in
some well informed quarters that oc-
cupation of Frankfort, Darmstadt,
Hamburg and Hanau is unlikely to ex-
ercise sufficient pressure upon the
Germans since they may well argue
that this occupation is distasteful to
the French as well as to themselves
and cannot continue indefinitely.
Start on April I.
French occupation of German cities
in the Ruhr district to guarantee evac-
uation of German troops which en-
tered the neutral zone in violation of
the peace treaty will not be carried
out before April 7, it was learned here
today.
,, This decision was made at a con-
ference between Premier MiHerand
and Marshal Foch. The French lead
ers decided that their troops would
not be sent into German cities garri-
districts of the Ruhr valley where
Teuton troops already had penetrated
in their effort to clear out the Com
munist rebels.
France. it was made clear. did not
intend to risk possible clashes between
her troops and the reichswehr.
British Decision Delayed
The British representatives ex-
planned to Millerand today that the de-
lay in Great Britain's reply to the
French communication. notifying Bri-
tain of Frances decision to occupy cit
les in the neutral zone was caused BY
the fact that most of the members OF
the London government were away
from their offices during Easter
A dispatch to the Petit Parisier
from Mayence said reichswehr troop:
had entered Hamburg. Dortmound and
Recklinghausen. The troops were
singing and shouting "hoch de-
kaiser" the dispatch said.
Appeal to United States.
DIR Won Mayer. the German charge
d'affaires here. today sent notes to tn,
American and British embassies ap
peahNH to the respective government
against the military measures Franc,
had announced she would put in fore
IL Germany persisted in her position o
= seuding troops into the Ruhr district
in violation of the peace treaty
MNlerand already had notified tn
allied governments of Frances inten