Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-01


The great separatist demonstration
here today terminated in a veritable
massacre. A score of persons are
known to have been killed, and the
wounded are believed to be number
cd in the hundreds. Dusseldorf is
still seething with excitement and
more trouble is feared tonight
The French occupation authorities
hold the German military police-the
security police-responsible for the
outbreak. declaring that they start
ed the shooting. in which the Com
munist groups later joined. The hos
pitfalls and police barracks are filled
with wounded. and French military
doctors are rendering all possible as
sistance.
The French authorities late this
evening sent out patrols to round UP
all the security police they could find
in the streets and placed under ar
rest all those still held in reserve
at headquarters.
The city awoke early, teeming with
excitement: thousands were abroad
in spite of an appeal addressed to
the population to remain indoors.
But street cars, automobiles and
other vehicles were absent from the
streets and the hotels and stores had
all lowered their iron and steel graf
ings. About II o'clock the first Of the
% trains bearing the manifestants to
Dusseldorf arrived and was receiv-
ed by a company of Rhineland pub
lie militia, which had Just sworn al
legiance to the Green, White and
Red flag.
Soon after noon all the manifest
ants from points in the "Rhineland
Republic" had reached the city and
a procession formed and marched be-
hind innumerable green, white and
red Republican emblems to linden
burg Strasse-a thoroughfare 200
feet wide by 1000 feet long. adorned
with heroic size statutes of William |,
Bismarck and Won Moltke.
The procession filed past in I'M
pressive marching order to the num-
Der of about $4,000 Republicans, but
with curiosity seekers added. the as
sembly probably totalled 10000 when
the open air meeting place was
reached.
Standing directly under the statue
of William L.. the separatist leader,
Joseph Matthes, began speaking.
1.-THE separatists," he declared.
ARE animated by hatred toward
none, but only desire peace, secur-
ity and tranquility"
Suddenly. without warning. sew
eral hOts were fired from behind
lowered steel curtain protecting the
plate glass entrance to store. In
the manic that ensued a small group
made A concerted rush for the speak
er The security police fired fusi-
lade, and the shooting became gen.
eral, the police being especially ac-
tive in smashing their way through
the crowds, and taking prisoner
MANY who were transferred to head.
quarters.
French military forces We're rushed
to the scene and ordered the Green
police to cease using their revolt
vers. but, according to the French.
the police refused and continued to
fire.
The cavalry seized many OF the
police and surrounded their bar
racks. quelling the disturbance in
few minutes.
The movement for n Rhineland re-
public, separate from the rest OF
Germany, which made itself apparent
shortly after the close of the World
War, has been gaining momentum.
until at the present time thousands
of persons in Rhine cities have come
to be known as "Separatists."
Numerous proclamations called for
Rhineland independence have been
issued, the Separatists going so far.
as to name DIR. Hans A. Dorten, one
of the prominent leaders of the
movement. as president of the Rhine
Republic"
Since the occupation of the Ruhr
by the French and Belgian forces the
! Separatists have become more dar-
| ing in their efforts to split the Reichs,
| and the league for Rhinish inde-
Z pendence. as well as other similar Or
! CARNATIONS. have been appealed to
/ the occupational authorities for all
possible moral and economic sup
| port"
or late public meetings and dem
| onstrations have been held at various
! points in the Rhineland with the OBJ
/ ject of strengthening the hands of
| the Separatists, and counter meet
ings have been held by the anti
Separatists. Thus a strong spirit of
! antagonism has developed between
| the Germans who wish TO retain the
| Reichs intact and those who desire
that all the Rhincland shall constt-
tute state by itself.