Evening star., 1923-01-08
FRENCH TO SEIZE
! ESSEN AS INITIAL
STEP THURSDAY
OCCUPATION Slated to Begin
With Force Of Troops, Engl-
neers and Customs Men.
BELGIAN AND ITALIAN
EXPERTS WITH PARTY
Preparations Commission Expected
to Rule Today That Germans
I Have Defaulted Payments.
, Bv the Associated Press.

by the Associated Press.
PARIS, January S.-The occupation
Cf Essen by a small French force,
accompanying engineers and customs
officers is now slated for Thursday
morning il was stated on good au-
%+hority today.
Belgian and italian engineers ana
technical experts will accompany the
French, but only the Belgians, it is
understood, will contribute to the
force of occupation.
The meeting Of the reparations
commission today to determine
whether Germany defaulted in her
deliveries of coal in 1922, found the
French government going ahead with
its plans for a coercive movement in
the Ruhr valley.
Louis Barthou, replying to Ger
7nanys objection that her experts
might not reach Paris in time to ap-
pear before today's session or the
commission, asserted that that body
was not obliged to hear the German
Spokesmen anyway 1t was regarded
as certain, however, that the experts
Herr Walmischratte and Herr Lubsen,
would arrive in good time for the
meeting.
One of the difficulties is whether the
German engineers and mine man
ayers shall be retained, in view of the
tfact that it would take French Of
fcials at least a month to master
the details of administration. Ap-
parently it was with the idea of los
.ng no time in this respect that the
first contingent OF forty engineers
twas rushed to the Rhineland last even
ing. o,,,h .,
action in the Ruhr to show Germany
she is in earnest, IL was Sdlu III VI
fetal circles today.
In connection with this declaration,
Il was pointed out in military circles
that calling out additional troops Tor
the occupation was not necessary, pc
cause not more than $4,000 of the
100000 or more French and Belgian
troops on the Rhine are being actu-
ally utilized in service of an lmpera-
live nature. The remainder are avail
able for any use Marshal Foch may
have for them under the French-1tal-
jan-Belgian action.
Engineers All Ready.
The occupation of Dusseldorf, Duis
berg and Ruhrort was effected py
force equivalent to two divisions, or
about $4,000 men, and, in the opinion
of the military experts, it will require
certainly no more than twice that
number to occupy the points in view
in the Ruhr.
The engineers, coal mining experts
and other men of the mechanlcal
branches required for the control OF
the mines and customs services tnat
Premier Poincare has planned already
have been in consultation at the Lieao-
ouarterS of the French forces occupy
Gnp the outlet from the Ruhr valley
and are ready to go in and begin ap-
pIication of the scheme whenever they
are furnished the protection thousht
10 be necessary at the beginning,
until the Germans get accustomed to
their presence.
At present there are French troops
equivalent in numbers to division
in Duesseldorf and vicinity. These
troops have been where they are now
stationed since the beginning of the
occupation of the Ruhr valley export
points a year and a half ago. NJ.
Poincare told his colleagues Of the
cabinet this morning just what he
intended to do. The cabinet members
contented themselves with taking
note of the plan, considering it no
more necessary to give express ap-
proval of the details of the operation
than to approve formally the pre-
mier's action in the allied conference,
which approval they nad also regis
tered without specification.
To Give Program Thursday.
NJ Poincare explained to his col
leagues that he would inform the
chamber of deputies and the senate
on Thursday of the French program.
THE premier will ask for the adjourn
nent of any interpretations on the
subject Of the seizure of guarantees
until some future date, when he will
be able to give better idea of the
result of the action undertaken.
Opinion in political circles and
among those coming in close contact
with the premier is that he will in
form the chamber Thursday afternoon
that the occupation of the points re-
.arded as necessary for the allies to
hold already has been accepted.
II seemed certain this afternoon
that the reparations commission
would vote Germany in voluntary de-
fault on coal deliveries for last year
after the final hearing of the German
Iroptipuad DaUa ColiIpop