The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-02-26
Seige Is
in Bochunn
French Soldiers Move Tanks
and Machine Guns to Gen.
ter of City-People Cen
orally Hostile.
500 Persons Arrested

Essen, Feb. 25.-1P)-The storm CEN
ter of the Ruhr has shifted TO Bochum
because Of the general hostile attitude
Of the population and a state OF seige
has been declared there. The French
moved 10 tanks and numerous ma
chine guns to the center OF the town
and civilians are prohibited from be-
ing on the streets after Q at night.
Last night 500 persons were ar
rested for disregarding the orders OF
the French. but most Of them were
released today
Bochum, from the beginning. has re-
fused to comply with many orders OF
the French and there has been more
or less trouble. Owing to the fact
that the oberburgomaster had disre-
garded certain acquisitions by the
French. he and % members Of the
city council were arrested Friday dur
ing the sitting Of the council.
Seize Chamber OF Commerce.
The French have taken over the
headquarters of the Chamber Of Com.
uerce and searched the building for
secret documents. II was this orgsni-
zation which was presumed to have
inaugurated the boycott which began
at Bochum against the French and
Belgians and spread to other town.
in the Ruhr. The chamber Is sup
posed TO have been aiding the Ger
mans generally.
The newspapers claim the chamber
building and its furniture and paint
ings were unnecessarily damaged bv
the troops. The papers head their
articles dealing with the situation
with New Wild West Scenes in Bo-
chufn." and similar captions.
Rapid Progress Reported.
Dusseldorf. Feb. 25.-6P)-Rspid
progress is being made by the French
and Belgians in operating the Rhine.
land and Ruhr railroad systems. 1t
was announced that passenger trains
are to be run from Essen ard pu.sel.
dorf direct to Paris. beginning today.
and = was stated that plan. for tax.
ing over these railroad lines within
week had practically been completed
The lines will be operated by French
and Belgian civilian workers. sorn.
ie.oeo to $500 Of whom already ar.
here
Germans Agree to Work.
General Payot plans to bring in a.
many more men II they are needed
put II was announced az French head
quarters that an opportunity would
be given the striking German railroad
men to join the transportation forces.
II was said tha. 1000 German rail
road workers already had agreed to
resume work.
Under the plan. all German railroad
men viii be given ample opportunity
10 return TO their tobs. Those who re.
fuse 10 do SO will be expelled from
occupied territory. II Is estimated
that there are 1000 German rail.
readers in the Ruhr district aIons
of whom 10000 are striking.
Marks Seized.
Berlin, Feb. 2s.-Up)-A consiS7-
men, Of 1900. 500. 900 marks. fresh
from the reiohshank. and plates be
longing to the reichshank were seized
b. French soldiers from the Berlin
Cologne express at the small tank
station Of IIsngsley, near Hagen.
The soldiers boarded the train jus;
sS i; was coming into the station and
ransaclSed every compartment al the
poin, Of hayonets
4 reichbank deputy vas about to
look out Of the window 10 make in
shouted:
stand where YOU are; oicse this
window or We shoot.
Finally the soldiers uncovered the
crisp. new marks. hidden in a third
class compartment.
SeiIe Plates.
Two reichsaank guards vainiy PRO-
tested the seizure
The soldiers also took duplicate sets
Of copper plates for an issue Of 80, 600.
mark notes. Both the money and the
plates were on the way to the reichs-
hanks Bhinelsnd branches.
The cash seized amounts to only 4
small fraction OF the hanks daily out
III; in currency. Yet the officials are
highly iRcensed n, the seizure. claim.
INK the money as well as the plates.
Is private property, absolutely i'm
mune from connScsiion.
The German government will make
immediate demands 20 the French
and Belgian govsrnments for res;ors-
ton Of the money and plates on the
ground tina; they are private property.