Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-03-16
STATUS Of j. {.
SOLDIERS ALONG
RHINE IS CAUSE
OF SPECULATION
Opinion Differs As to Who
Would Command Them in
Case Military Invasion of
Germany Is Necessary.
LITTLE NEWS COMES
FROM GENERAL ALLEN
American Commander at
CobIenz Tells But Little
About Situation, and Allies
Also Are Silent
tsY MORNING JsUsNAL SPECIAL LEASED WHIT
W. nShinninn Marnl L. LAN lhl

tss 1oas,sa JaurNAL SPECIAL LEASED wrRUN
Washington, March Is (by the
Associated Press )--IACkin re-
ports tonight from Mai. Gen Hen
ry T. Allen at Coblenz as to mill
tary aspects of the involved situa-
ton in Germany, government ad-
vices today threw little light on the
political status there and none on
possible allied military measures,
War department officials had
hoped General Allen would report
on the conference of allied COM
manders on the situation with
Marshal Foch, but no message had
come.
The state department had an Of
fetal report of a general strike in
Hamburg, with the military in con-
troll and no disorders. other adj
vices were largely summaries of
press accounts.
There was much speculative dis
cussion again in war and state de-
partment circles as to the status of
General Aliens troops on the Rhine
in view of the fact that the Ameri-
can forces alone are under armis-
tice conditions. Disagreement was
expressed as to whether they would
be under orders of Marshal Foch.
Some war department officials
thought that technically the mar
shars authority might still extend
to General Aliens command. Other
officials, however, held that the
peace treaty had abrogated the
French leaders authority at least
so far as the Americans were con-
cerned,
In any case, Secretary Bakers
view appeared to render the ques-
ton purely an academic one. lie
said General Allen had authority to
preserve order in his area and that
any other action contemplated in
yolying his forces would have to
await approval from washington.
Military action by any occupying
force, It was pointed out, would be
contingent more on the character
of the revolutionary change in Ger
many than on the revolution. The
change of governments would be of
only passing interest to the cont
mander, unless it portended a de-
parture from German agreements
under the treaty and professions
of the former democratic govern
ment to the allies.
The present German political sit
uation, it was said. was so obscure
as to defy diagnosis in its true per-
spective until time disclosed the
real purpose behind events re-
ported.
II is well understood, therefore,
that for the present at least, Gem
eral Allen will confine himself to
maintenance of the status quo IN
| the Coblenz sector so far as this
lrelates to the maintenance of order.
This could be done, 1t ls thought,
without interference with any po-
litical changes which the Germans
may seek.
Should a general strike extend to
| the American section, as threaten
ed, General Aliens situation might
| become more involved. Inhabitants
would not, it was thought, be per-
mitted to suffer for necessities OF
| life and the line of communications
of the American army must be kept
open. While General Allen has
/
necessary i'm such an emergency, II
was believed that beyond warning
strike leaders against any acts
having this effect, he would
scarcely do more than operate pub
lie utilities with troops and such
civilians as he might need to re-
place strikers.
In reviewing the German politi-
cal situation as shown in press ad-
vices, officials noted that an appar-
ent split between northern and
southern Germany over the new
government. They also saw signs
of a -kindling of the radica'
spartacan movement as n force to
oppose assumption of power by the
reactionaries. A flareup of the
worst radical elements in Germany
was becoming increasingly immi'
nent, it was said. Union of the di'
vergent socialist parties already
has been reported from various
parts of Germany and 1t was
thought a general strike was only
likely to open the way for further
anarchy and disorder.