The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
Machine Guns Are Planted by French Soldiers as Protee- ton Against Throngs Well
 coming Home Industrial Leaders Convicted in Court
AMERICAN TROOPS SAIL UPON ARMY TRANSPORT
American Government Has No Intention of Participating Officially in Discussions of Preparations TangIe, Secre- tary Hughes Tells Boyden
By Associated Press

PARIS, Jan. 25.-All the ele- ments usually cited as contributory causes of open war exist in the Ruhr valley. The German popula- tions, wrought up by the presence of the French and Belgians, their hatred accentuated by the arrest and conviction of the industrial leaders, have carried out demon- strations of a violent nature at va rious centers of the Ruhr and the occupying forces have placed their machine guns, '75s and weapons of larger calibre at strategic points, for the purpose, if necessary, of overcoming resistance that appears to be no longer passive, but ex- tremely active
 The return of Fritz Thyssen to Dusseldorf and then to Essen was made the occasion of remarkable demonstrations, in which French cavalry and foot soldiers were called into action. There was some firing by the military, although the French are under orders not to use their rifles unless attacked.
 Rail Strike Complete
 The railroad strike is reported to be almost complete; the roads are tied up and traffic of all kinds is suspended. Meanwhile the French are sending into the Ruhr railwas men and workers of all kinds, and promis. to have the various public services in operation without a great loss of time
 M Le Trocquer. the French min ister of public works. and General Weygand, Marshal Foch's chief of staff, are on the spot, and military measures of sterner nature are threatened if the recalcitrant spirit of the Germans continues.
 While M Le Trocquer declared at Dusseldorf that France is here to stay until she gets complete satis- faction from Germany" Dr. Hermes, the German minister of finance, in introducing the budget in the reich stag at Berlin. announced that Ger many was firmly resolved to resort to every means at her disposal to frustrate the aims of the policy of violence which was being D rsued against her.
 Crowds Ugly
 ESSEN. Jan. 25.-The crowds in the streets of Essen have grown big ger and their mood uglier since the return of the industrial maenates. who at Mayence yesterday were con victed by a French court-martial and fined for disobedience of the orders of the Franco Belgian authorities. For time today 1t seemed as If serious clashes between civilian mobs and French machine gunners were in- evitable.
 There was great jubilation at the station on the arrival of the mag mates train and mighty cheers and popular songs greeted them and fol- lowed them 10 their homes and ho- tels. The French guards, belieeing themselves menaced, summoned rein forcements, planted machine guns in the main squares and took posses sion of the lobby of the Hotel Kaiser hof. which tonight resembles an ar senal. while two companies of French dragons are guarding the adjacent square.
 There was another noisy demon- stration in front of the post office but no conflicts. The atmosphere continues electrical and the temper of the civilian crowds is more hos tile than at any time since the be- ginning of the occupation.
 AMERICAN TROOPS LEAVE
 ANTWERP. Jan. 25.-Moving slow ly down the River Scheldt tonight on the way home aboard the Amer ican transport St. Mihel is the last contingent of the troops who rep the United States in the World war.
 The troops arrived here this morn
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