The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-01-18
Plan Made
to Mobilize
Conscripts
Coal and Coke From Ruhr
Valley Seized by French
Will Start Working
State Forests.
Industrial Plant Closed

--~ - AN~A AAAAN hOSSAA
London. Jan. 1.-The Riga corre-
spondent of the Times says he learns
from reliable sources that the Rus.
sian soviet government has decided
I" mobilize the fiveyear conscripts
with view of assisting Germany.
should Germany decide TO resist
French action.
Paris, Jan. 17.-tBy \. P) - Tho
French government has begun its
policy of requisitioning in the Ruhr.
1t was announced this evening Five
thousan eight hundred tons of eoka
and 600 tons of coal, which the Ger
mans had loaded In cars. was taken
and rerouted for distribution among
the allies
The French. Belgian and Italian
governments today gave the order i'm.
mediately to commence working tho
state forests on the left bank of the
tthne as penalty for Germany's de-
fault in the delivery of timber, al es-
tablished by the decision of the repa-
ration commission on December 26.
Plant Shut Down.
katerinberg, Jan. 1.-tBy A. P)-
The first shutdown Of large indus
trial plant in the Ruhr since the
Franco Belgian occupation occurred
today in this town. lying between Es.
sen and Gelsenkirchen, when the KeI.
ierman locomotive works. employing
1900 men, ceased operations.
The plant had been working on a.
nine.hour day schedule, but the work.
men informed the management that in
view of the French ruling set forth in
General Degoutte's proclamation that
the eight-hour day must be respected.
they had decided to work only that
number of hours. but insisted upon
nine hours pay. Thereupof the Kel.
lerman management closed down the
plant.
To Operate Mines.
Essen, Jan. 17-lBy A. 'P.HThe
French occupational authorities an
nounced this afternoon that they will
begin operating the mines of the Ruhr
district tomorrow, requistioning Ger
man labor if necessary.
The Ruhr coal and industrial mag
mates who refused to cooperate with
the French will be prosecuted beSore
court-martial.
AT Bochum the population has been
notified by the occupying officials that
the troops will act without warning
against any action directed at the
French troops or officials. even il it
be only whistling or shouting.
Operations Complete.
dusseldorf, Jan. 17.-(By A. P.e
1t was officially announced bv Gen.
Degoutte this afternoon that the mill
tary operations of the Ruhr occupa-
ton now are completely finished.
The French will take possession of
the mines throughout the district to.
morrow morning, placing military
guards at the head of every pit.
The Ruhr magnates We're informed
late this afternoon that their property
VIII be confiscated and will be worked
uhder French management for the
benefit of the reparation account
Representatives of the German
l"agantes failed to appear this morn
ing before the control commissions
sending word they had decided ~
OBEY the instructions of the Berlin
government instead OF the French
orders as to coal deliveries. TINS
placing the next move squarely am to
the French occupying authorities.
Az the conference here Yesterday
between the French authorities and
the operators, General Simon said to
the Germans:
we have not summoned you here
for a discussion but to transmit 10
you the orders of our government.
III you do not see fit to obey them
you VIII be prosecuted before n court
martial, condemned and imprisoned.
The industrial leaders filed ont of
the room without uttering a word. but
once outside of the conference hall
they made no secret of their deter.
mination to go to Jail rather than
submit
Labor Leaders Appear.
Thirty.two labor leaders, represent.
ing all the districts and all the trades
In the Ruhr, including the Catholic
socialists and communists syndicates
OF miners. railroad men and steel and
IRON workers. We're introduced. DIR.
Groetzner, Prussian governor Of Dues
seldorf province. acted as their spokes.
man.
Gen. Simon told the labor leaders
France was the friend of the working
man. The German government, he
declared. was responsible for the re.
cent events and was willing to sacri-
lice the working men to its imperial
istic policy. 1t had permitted the food
stocks to become depleted and cared
little whether its own nationals starry
ed or not.
Gen. Simon, continuing, requested
the labor men to get into touch with
their comrades in the Dusseldorf and
Duiesburg zones, which had been un-
der French occupation for two wears.
and learn how we'll the working men
'ad been treated. The leaders agreed