The Washington times., 1921-01-25
ORGESCH CHIEF.
.DEF|ES FRANCE.
Head of German "Home Guard
System Says No Power Can
Disband Men.
~ FRANK u. MASON,
I.tersstisasi News service.

BERLIN, June 24.-"Neither
France nor Germany can legally dis
band the orgesch and We have no
intention OF breaking up our protec-
tive league
This declaration OF defiance was
made today by Councillor George
Escherich, organizer and commander
OF the Bavarian Einwohnerwehr, and
also president OF the Orgesch.
CHARGE MONARCHIsTs AIMS.
The Orgesch il the group name OF
a series OF organizations In Germsny
which were formed TO work for the
preservation OF national interests"
1t Is widely charged that the real
object OF the Orgesch IL to attempt
to re-establish the monarchy.
Dir. Escherich II one OF the most
talked about and most written about
man in Germany today. The French
press paints him as a ultra-mili.aris;
who IL threatening new war TIC
German radicals accuse him OF being
an arch-conspirator in the move
ments TO restore the monarchy. Dr..
EscheIich outlined the aims OF the
CrgesCh as follows:
"If France orders and Wilhelm
strasse attempts TO dissolve the
Orgesch. they will md IL Impossible
because the league Is protected by the
clause guaranteeing general rights in
the constitution. 1t In no way viz
lates the treaty or Versailles. We
have won legal test cases in thh
coures OF Breslau and Stettin, the
prussian minister OF justice :,ling
down a decision that he canno- for.
Did the Orgesch because IL IL an UNI
armed society and entirely within the
law.
JUST HOME GUARDS"
"Propagandists have Intentionally
caused confusion by mixing up two
such organizations. the Bavarian Elm
wohnerwehr and the Orgesch. The
Bavarian Elnwohnerwehr is an organ
ization OF authorized civil guards
similar TO the home guards OF tae
United states in war time. but tn"
members wear no uniform. They
are militariZed beyond the extent or
the national guard in America.
The Orgesch is "A national civil Or
2anization. Its purpose IL to assemble
our whole national strength for the
peaceful upbuilding of German de-
Tense against Bolshevism The on'y
connection between the two is that
| am chief Of the Bavarian Fan
wohnerWher and president OF the Or
gesch."
HAS 1000. 900 MEMBERS.
The Orgesch numbers more than
!. 600 900 members. who are obligated
TO support the German constitution.
The other obligations upon them
might be summarized as follows:
protection OF life and property.
Fight the sessionists.
Maintain order and fight revolu-
ton. no matter whether 1t comes
from Bolshevlsts or reactionaries.
Another revolution would be a
crime against the German people. !
know certain monsrchist circles are
attacking me because / refused to
join Kapp last March and also be-
cause. In several instances. tho
Or2esch acted as a brake to call to
cider irresponsible hot heads who
were talking revolution.
AGAINST ANY VIOLENCE.
1--WE stand by the state and
against any violence. no matter
whether it comes from reds or roy
slsts. We have proved that the
best insurance against Bolshevism
is to mass the citizens with high
consciousness of civic duty into d
firm defensive block"
DIR. Escherich was asked il he look
ed for more Bolshevik disorders. He
replied:
Il see future that is very dark
Only the re-awakening OF the peo-
pies consciousness to their duty
and 10 one another can prevent q