New-York tribune., 1920-04-12
Separatist Movement in
South Germany Grows; ;
Plan Launched to Name
Ludendorff as Dictator
Berlin Also Loses
influence i'm West
'Zigzag Policy of Govern
ment Criticized; Peas.
ants Threaten to Strike
By William C. Dreher
Special Gable to The Tribune

copyright. 1920. New York Tribune Inc
BERLIN, April 11.-A secession
movement in south Germany, centering
in Munich and affecting Bavaria and
neighboring states, is reported in dis
patches received here to be gaining
strength. The reports give out ILL
disguised hints that the south Ger
mans, dissatisfied with the coalition
government in Berlin, particularly be-
cause of its recent concessions to the
labor unions, are pushing a separatist
campaign.
"The Munich Post" Socialist
newspaper, prints the details of nego-
tiations which are said to nave been
carried on by Rheim, the Catholic
peasant leader in Bavaria, and his as
sistart, Ankenbrand, with officers in
the Bavarian army, looking toward
coup d'etat. which would set up Cen
eral Ludendorf as dictator in the
south.
West Also Is Rebellious
Similar dissatisfaction with the
Berlin administration has been ex-
P1eoScu Ill CHe West. Inc CaCnOllC
newspapers in particular are restive
because of what they call the govern
ment's dilatoriness in handling the
Ruhr insurrection and have expressed
themselves plainly in some cases in
limiting dissolution of the republic
Thus "Tremonia," the leading Cath
olics organ Of western Germany, calls
upon the government to abandon it's
zig gag policy in dealing with tho
Reds" 1t says: eve must either go
with the Berlin government or against
it.. We know those are harsh words,
but the necessities of the hour Justify
them"
A commission representing the
Reichswehr troops operating in the re-
gion Of Essen and also the Socialist
and Catholic labor organizations there,
which is in Berlin to make representa-
tions regarding the pacihcaton of that
region, demands that the government
punish the "Red" leaders Immediately.
1t further demands that the court mar-
tials be held at the front without delay
in order that the punshments may be
effective.
The commission also protests against
the interference of the labor unions in
the government.
The newspapers here point to these
demands as part of the movement in
the south and west to foster secession
tendencies under the slogan "Cut loose
from Berlin" They assert the fact
that the movement is gaining support
daily is due to the slackness with which
the government has dealt with the in
surrectionists.
The palatinate Peasants Associa-
tion has sent President Ebert sharp
ly worded note, protesting against the
concession Of the government to the
unions and threatening, if the govern
ment yields further, to call general
strike of the peasantry or to take
even more extreme measures.
Soviet Tendency Criticized
The mind of the public is occupied
largely with internal political affairs.
The Kapp adventure and subsequent
developments left grave discomfort in
the ranks of the coalition government
The subjection of the government by
the labor unions has evoked sharp crit
icism in both the Catholic and Demo
cratic organs, where the view is ex-
pressed that Germany is now under
sort of soviet system, through the sur
render Of the government to the work
erS.
STUTTGART, April 10.-Ministers of
South German states met secretly here
to-day, Bavaria, Baden. Wurttemberg
and Hesse being represented. Osten-
sibly the meeting was called for dis
cussion of commercial relations, but it
is believed it concerned issues recently
contributing to widening the gulf be-
tween these states and the central gov
ernment, in which Bavaria has been a
dominating force.
PLAUEN, Saxony, April 11.-Govern-
mental threats to deal severely with
Max Hoelz, the Communist leader here,
have provoked audacious reprisals, and
he has formed the "Plauen Division of
the Red army" to which recruits are
attracted by the payment of 25 marks
day in wages.
Barracks in this city were occupied
yesterday by Hoelz's forces, which
later took over the railroad station.
They searched all the hotel guests for
arms and stopped the Berlin Munich
Express, searched the train and forced
travellers to produce their passports.
The train was then allowed to proceed.
A Leipsic newspaper man, who had in
his pocket an article he had written
relative to Hoelz, was taken from the
train.