New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-23
'sYou Cannot Paint .Situa.
ton Throughout Ger
many Too Black De-
clares Ministry Official
BIG Guns Used i'm
Ruhr Region Fights
Two Crack Regiments Are
Forced Back by Reds:
Leipsic Riots Continue

Minister of Defense, presented his
resignation to President Ebert this
afternoon and the President ac-
cepted it. Other Cabinet changes
are imminent.
1t is announced that the Inde-
pendents demanded a definite labor
Cabinet and that the government is
considering the demand.
A rumor was printed in the news
papers Of the capital this noon that
President Ebert had requested
Philip Scheidemann to form new
Cabinet.
Conditions Declared Menacing
Conditions in Germany were de-
scribed by the Ministry Of Defense
this morning as extremely serious.
"You cannot paint the situation
throughout Germany too black" an
official at the ministry declared.
"The strike is practically over" the
government press bureau announced
shortly before noon. It was said that
martial law probably would be called
on this afternoon, as 1t was asserted
this was the main reason for the con-
tinuance of the strike by the radical
elements of the workmen.
The Spartacides have been operating
in small bands in the outskirts of Ber-
I'm. They are sniping in the darkness
along the main avenues of approach to
the city, and in some instances these
approaches have been closed by barbed
wire entanglements and barriers Of
paving stones.
The city now is becoming normal.
The postal services are working, stores
are open and electricity is available to
city and circle railroads have resumed
operation. but the elevated has not
started up.
Reports from Quedlinburg, Saxony,
said there had been violent fighting
between troops and Spartacides Both
sides suffered severe losses.
Halle -Saale is reported held by
government troops after an artillery
battle lasting for several days.
Reds" Take Three More Towns
The Ministry of Defense informed
the corresp spondent that the conditions
in the Ruhr district were becoming
worse. The towns of Oelde. Ahlen and
Drensteinfurt, in Westphaiia, south
east of Muenster. had been taken by
the Communists, it was stated, and the
movement was spreading north and
east
Artillery has been brought into ac-
tion at some points in the Ruhr coal
basin, near the zone under occupation
by the Allies, according 20 advices
received here. Bochum. which was in
the hands of the Communists, has been
recaptured by the Reichswehr.
Fighting continues in Leipsic be-
tween workmen and troops and there
is also fighting at Halle. Troops from
Sllesla are officially reported to have
arrived in the Ruhr district, and fight
ing with the Spartacan army there is
expected Tuesday.
Crack Regiments Forced Back
Pitched battles were fought Sunday.
the Ministry of Defense has been if-
formed, and two crack regiments Of
government troops have been forced
to fall back on the fortress of Vessel.
on the right bank of the Rhine.
twenty-five miles northwest of Essen.
after heavy losses had been sustained
on both sides. Ten officers in one of
the regiments were killed. The Red"
army. it was added, was we'll armed
with artillery.
1t was stated officially that the esti-
mate placing the size of the "Red~
forces in the Ruhr region at 70. 900 ara
information from the Essen area savs
living conditions there are becominr
critical. that fanatical sentiment RACES
and that reaction on the part of the
public is expected if the Reichswehr
do not drive out the "Reds."
A general strike has been called in
munich, and 1t is expected the move
mont will extend throughout Bavaria
unsess IT IS stopped as a result of the
the demands of thekworkingmen for pay
during the period they were on strike
against the kapp regime. Meetings
are to be held in the Wiirtembcrg fac
torres by the councils of workmen to
consider if similar action should be
taken throughout Wurtemberg.
Peasants to Cut OF Food
The peasants in western Germany
are preparing to cut off the food sup
plies from the troubled Industrial Gen.
ters.
The situation in Upper Silesia, par
ticularly Breslau. is still very serious.
The government forces have been CON-
PEELED to evacuate Breslau, according
TO reports received here.
In Berlin there has been LITTLE
change in the strike situation since
Sunday. except that the city railway
this morning began a fairly regular
service.
The inner city and the adjacent
streets still present the aspect of an
armed camp. The mortars, machine
guns and wire entanglements were
viewed by thousands of Sunday prone
naders. but many of the streets were
barred to traffic
The lower class plaeS of entertain.