Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-16
Troops in Clash
(Continued from PAGE one1

Troops IN CldSH I
CONTINUED from Page ons}
ed the limits of that neutral zone. 80
miles in depth. in which the Germans
are barred from having reichswehr or
the gates Of Dortmund. where they
were ordered to stop for the present.
In view of the progressive obstinacy
Of the German attitude, however, 1t has
been decided to extend the advance
Tuesday, occupying Dortmund. and es-
tablish troops in the northeast. east
and southeast, completely commanding
the important railroad functions.
Southwark. the advance will extend
to Barmen and Elberfe1d. which will
not be occupied just now.
The promptitude which the French
are showing in countering each fresh
measure Of obstruction appears to be
having its effect, at least on the indus
trial magnates. who were at first de-
ceived by the polite conciliatory meth
DDS Of the French, and there are indi-
cations that they will not persist in
their refusal to deliver the reparations
COAL In consequence of this the
French may temporarily hold their
hand.
The Franco-Belgian operations ev-
erywhere are being carried out with
the regularity of clockwork: no Incl
dents are reported. Such protests as
have been made at the different CEN
tiers of the occupied area were of a
formal nature. Che normal life of the
great industrial region continues UNI
modified; the factories are working as
usual.
1t was affirmed in official circles to-
night that the French government has
an Infant counter-move ready for any
move the Reich may make. All ar
rangements have been made to reply
by appropriate measures to German
menaces, whether they concern ques-
| tions of labor, food supplies or trans
portatiOn.
The commission of control has dis
covered that the coal tax has not been
collected for the past three months.
enabling German industry to get coal
at 40 per cent. under the world priees.
and measures have been taken to stop
this.
Paris. Jan. 15.-(By A. P.)-The
Allied Engineers Commission at Es-
| sen, acting in agreement with the
| French government, has decided, be-
| cause of fresh information received,
| to suspend for "A hours the order
| given for the requisition at the pit
| head of the coal due the PREPARATIONS
account. There is ground for hope
| that the mine owners will withdraw
their decision. announced this morn
ing. to comply with orders from
Berlin to cease deliveries OF coal and
coke to France.
Brussels. Jan. Is. (By A. P.)-The
new developments in the Ruhr were
the subject of long discussion by the
cabinet today. The agreement with
the French government regarding
Complementary military operations.
necessitated by Germany's systematic
obstruction, is complete, and all de-
cisions have been taken with COM
mon accord.
Belgian official circles consider the
situation created by Berlin's attitude
as of the graVest nature, but still
hope that affairs will settle down
without serious incidents.
Rome, Jan. IS, (By A. P.)-Pre-
mier Mussolini told his cabinet today
that Italy had never proposed con-
tinental combination against England.
but had advised France to limit her
military action in the Ruhr valley to
the utmost, and not shut the door
upon a possible agreement.
The premier declared that Italy
had given France her political and
technical support. Italy could not is
olate herself without making very
serious mistake, neither could she
associate herself from the operation
for control of the coal fields in the
Ruhr, which was a question of fun
damental importance for European
and Italian economics.
The proposal to form a continental
combination against Great Britain
was non existent; the Italian gov
eminent could never have contem-
plated such a combination.
! If an entente were formed which
could give Europe peace, it could not,
in Italian opinion, succeed without
the participation of Great Britain.
Italy, said Mussolini had no coal and
could not allow herself the luxury of
isolation. Italian policy had been
inspired by the principles of the
memorandum Of London for safe
guarding Italian interests and the
restoration of European economic
conditions.
The Italian government believed it
was possible to reach an agreement
and was working to that end. 1t
would be a grave mistake, declared
the premier, for Germany to reject
such a possibility.
A slackening in the tension between
the French authorities and certain
industrialists in the Ruhr Basin APP
peared to have occurred, and also ap-
parently the working classes were not
placing excessive difficulties in the
way of control of the operations.
'(These remarks of the Italian pre-
mier were evidently made before the
break between the German coal in
terests in the Ruhr and the French
Belgian commission of control was
known to him.
AS the German Preparations payment
due January Is had been postponed
until the 31st, Mussolini pointed out
that it was not improbable France
might come to view favorably the
Italian proposal which was presented
at the London conference.
Bay State Legislature
Resolves AGAINST Khan