Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-25
Paris Conference

1dflS. Jan. -t-(bN n. 4. )-1Ff-
mier Poincarc is continuing his daily
conferences with the heads of the
technical departments concerned in
the occupation of the Ruhr with
reference to reinforcement of the
continGents already there, which. it
is said in official circles. must nee
eSSarily be larger than at first con
tcmplated because of German re-
Sistance.
Official figures place the number
at present in the Euhr district at
about 5000 troops. fifty French en-
gineers. twelve Italian and the same
number of Belgian engineers.
! Reports are current that one of
the most conspicuous steel manu-
facturers in France has been asked
to 20 to Essen. This is taken to
mean that Nj. Poincare is deter
mined. if necessary to operate the
works there. as well as the mines. II
the Germans continue to stand out.
The calling out of a section of the
railroad workers on. special mo-
bilization order is only the begin
ming of the task of Strengthening
the technical staff OF the Ruhr. 1t
is expected that other technical men
will be summoned as soon as Gener-
al Weygand and NJ. lie TrocqGcr.
cided just what is required.
The French public. which was
surprisingly Indifferent to the opera
tons in the Ruhr at the outset. is
now showing lively interest. due. it
is thought, to the German resistance.
Dusseldorf, Jan. o4-Bv A. P.)-
With their eyes turned toward the
Mayence courtmartial. the Germans
in the Ruhr today continued Their
policy of resistance by refusing to
obey the orders of the forces of occu-
patton. while the French proceeded
to further repressive measures.
EXpllsions of officials since mid
night of January 20. now total ~.
The director of customs OF the BORT
mund district has been placed under
arrest. thus recording the first incar-
ceration since the industrial mag
mates were taken into custody last
Saturday and held for trial by court
martial.
The instructions received in the
Ruhr from the minister Of posts and
telegraphs in Berlin to decline to af-
ford telephone communication re-
questcd by the French military, has
been countered by the French, who
have taken charge of the Bochum,
Dortmund and Essen telephone ex-
changes and are operating them.
Mining operations throughout the
Ruhr yesterday reached 80 per cent
of the normal output.
The workers along the Icppe and
the Rhine canals today, under in
structions from Berlin, refused to
operate the dams or load barges with
coal destined for France.
Documents seized by the French
in Essen show that 1922 was a ban
ner year in cast iron and steel pro-
ducton in the Ruhr. comparing faN-
orably with 1915. which was the
most prosperous on record. The
French report that from eleven to
twelve million tons of steel were
turned out in the Ruhr in 1877.
which is 100 per cent production al
compared with 1913.
Berlin. Jan. "a. <By y. Po-Beyond
designating the arrest. trial and con-
viction of the German mine opera
tors as an illegal procedure. official
quarters here declined tonight to in
dictate the governments further at
titude towards the many penalties
imposed at Mayence.
At the foreign office, 1t was stated
that the government reiterates the
position it has taken in its various
notes Of protest o the French premier
that the mining men. in view of the
federal controllers instructions. had
no choice but to disregard the French
orders, as otherwise toy would have
been liable to indictment before the
German courts
Essen, Jan. 24.--Unless the German
mine directors pay the fine imposed
at Maycnce, it is believed the French
will sequestrate their personal prop
critics. or the mines of which they
are officials. The opinion Is current
here that the purpose Of the arrests
and convictions was to afford the
French authorities legal grounds for
Selling the mines. since they were
unable to gain possession of them
through military intervention.
r,rr vryuAYNNTI