Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-04-06
FRENCH OCCUPY 5 CITIES
IN GERMAN NEUTRAL ZONE
FOCH DIRECTS
ADVANCE INTO
RUHR DISTRICT
Frankfort, Darmstadt, Hom-
burg, Dieburg and Hanau
Taken Over.
DECLARE STATE OF SIEGE
BULLETIN.

BULLETIN.
LONDON, April Ga Paris die
patch to the Westminster Gazette
this afternoon said official informa-
ton had been received there that the
Berlin government had ordered the
evacuation of the Ruhr district.
PARIS, April 6.-French troops,
under orders from Marshal Foch,
moved swiftly in the German neu-
traI zone today and occupied five
German cities.
Frankfort and Darmstadt were en-
tered at o'clock.
Homburg and DIeburg were oecu-
pied at O'clock. The French took .
over Hanau at noon,
Early reports indicated that the
various occupations were accom-
pIished without any opposition from
the Germans.
The German reichswehr garrisons
had withdrawn during the night.
They were reported to have retired
to a point ten kilometers to the east
of the occupied cities.
Gen. Degoutte has issued a procIama-
ton declaring his troops are not con-
querors and that there will be no fight
ing, providing absolute order is main
tanned.
state of siege has been proclaimed in
Frankfort, Darmstadt. Offenbach, Hochst,
Koenigstein, Disburg, Frassgerau, Lang
enschalbach and Wiesbaden, it was set
forth.
Operation of German public service wiz
be continued under French control.
STRICT CENSORSHIP
Is ESTABLISHED.
Strikes and gatherings Of more than
five people have been forbidden.
Newspapers are not permitted to pub
lish.
Telegraphs, telephones and mails have
been placed under military censorship.
The proclamation declares that all
weapons must be delivered Immediately
to the city hall, except those of the regu-
lar police.
All infractions of Gen. Degoutte's or
ders viii be punished by court martial
Developments indicate that Marshal
Foch. foreseeing allied opposition to the
French troop movement ordered sr~n
French forces to advance Immediately.
The occupation of towns in the neutral
zone have already led to important
diplomatic exchanges, it is understood
German reischswehr troops advancing
against the communist rebels in the
Ruhr valley have reached a line about
Ilfteen miles north Of Essen, according
10 adV1ces to the French foreign Office.
The reischswehr had not captured
Bottroh (ten miles northwest of Essen)
the foreign off1ce said.
1t quoted advices from allied military
missions which had inspected the coun-
try to the north of Herne.
Advanced elements of the German
troops were reported holding a line
from DOtteln to Werop and eastward,
outside the neutral zone
GOVERNMENT LOSSES
COMPARATIVELY SLIGHT.
In the region Of Unna and Naaf
tnortheast of ESSEN Bavarian and
Wuertemburg troops were concentrated.
Strong resistance was expected In
the Gelsenkirchen, Wanne district north
Of Essen.
Although there has been considerabI~
scattered fighting. advlces to the foreign
Offices indicated the casualties slight.
The government troops advanced be
mind strong artillery and machine gun
fire where resistance was encountered.
The reds losses were reported heavy
Reischswehr were taking no prisoners.
They used tanks TO rout nests of COM
munists Offering particularly stubborn
resistance.