Evening star., 1923-02-05


wall, and perhaps the whole struc-
ture, will collapse. Yet you can cut
a hole carefully through a house in
such way that the wall and the
building will remain firm"
This simile was used today by
German civil engineer In Essen to
sum up his impression OF the Franco
Belgian attempt to obtain reparations
in coal by occupying the Ruhr. The
sentiment expressed by the engineer
is typical of that of a majority of the
Germans with whom the correspond
ent of the Associated Press has dis
cussed the situation in this region
since the occupation began some three
weeks ago.
The engineer reviewed the situation
from the practical standpoint
When the military began the block
ing OF coal and coke trains destined
for unoccupfed Germany. number of
these trains, as we'll Is trains with
other freight shipments, were brought
to a Standstili by the ring Of bayonets
which formed a picket fence around
the Ruhr. Apparently believing their
interests would he served by permit
ting the halted locomotives to be un-
coupled and returned to the interior
OF Germany to bring back westward
more trains, the occupation author
tiles permitted the engines to be
driven off. The locomotives never
came back, and now there are scores
Of snakelil<e freight trains drawn up
at the new customs frontier with
their engine heads chopped off and
gone.
Obstructive Tactics.
The French admitted that IA tenn
porary dilemma had been caused by
this new phase of obstructive tactics
and that they apparently could mere
ly sit back and await the arrival Of
locomotives. either from across the
Rhine o. other locomotives that
might oe seized within the RuhY.
Meantime. after the Germans toind
the first coal shipments thus blocked,
they discontinued permitting trains
to come within the grasp OF the bor-
der guards. Free from interference
of this kind i'll the interior of the
Ruhr. the Germans sped up the de-
livery of coal and coke to factories
and other consumers inside that area.
The situation. as estimated in Ger
man circles. is that il military force
is not applied, this traffic can go on
for Il month. until every plant in
the territory has all the fuel stocks
II possibly can accommodate. The
mines themselves intended to pile up
huge heaps Of their output to the
limit of their available space, up to
point where danger Of starting
smoldering heat fires can be avoided.
The French have outlined the Situ-
alton briefly in informal statements.
about as follows: There are two gem
eral directions by which coal and
coke products can possibly leave the
Ruhr. One is to unoccupied Germany
and the other to France and Belgium.
The former outlet. they say. has been
STONED Of
blocking signals and by sentries
standing on the right of way. armed
with rifles and machine guns.
shipments stopped.
Thus. the French say. it is absurd
to speculate on the direction exported
fuel may take-that it's only direction
leads eastward. They declare. how
ever, that reparation shipments to
Italy are being allowed TO proceed. as
we'll as contract supplies consigned
TO Switzerland and Holland.
The Germans. however. assert that
these shipments also are being
stopped. They cite in this respect
at Dortmund- DoSten and Wesel. The
Germans faced by the alternative
OF shipping only to France and to
Belgium, are continuing 10 adhere
str,ctiy 20 tne herman Iuel commiS-
sar's instructions not to handle such
| shipments under any circumstances.
even for cash payments
! Interviews with labor leaders re-
veal their determination not to yield
on any point to the French. This
determination apparently was as
strong today as at any other time
during the period Of occupation. The
leaders hold that negotiations must
eventually be entered upon as the
only feasible solution to the situation,
i,'lu that these will be impossible
as long as the Ruhr is occupied.
Heads of the miners and of the
trades unions expressed the opinion
to the correspondent that the work
men would continue to be willing
to produce coal except under two
conditions: They would cease work
; Immediately If a soldier set foot on
mine property or If any trades union
leader was arrested