Evening star., 1923-10-28
Stresemann Fires First Gun
in Effort to Regain Un-
challenged Power.
WARNS BAVARIA TO GIVE
UP FEDERAL TROOPS HELD
Ukase to Zeigner Sharply Phrased.
Rhine Separatist Ministry
Ignored.
By the Associat ted Press.

By the Associated Press
BERLIN, October 27.-The Ebert
Stresemann government fired the
opening guns tonight in its battle
for unchallenged authority within the
federation of the German states by
dispatching an ultimatum to Dresden
demanding the immediate retirement
of DR.. Zeigner's socialist-communis-
tic government, and simultaneously
demanding. of the Bavarian govern
ment the restoration of the Berlin
governments military authority with
in that state.
The central governments commu-
nication to Premier Zeigner brands
the latter's ministry as an outlaw
government whose members openly
incited the population of Saxony TO
riot and to defy the existing martial
law and the central governments
authority in general under the ex-
listing state of emergency. The ulti-
matum virtually gives Zeigner and
his radical cabinet members twenty
four hours to resign.
Bavarian Note Mild.
While the manner of speech en-
ployed in the official communication
to the Saxon premier transcends ira
ditional diplomatic forms, it's note
to the Munich government is couched
In considerably milder terms, hardly
more than plain request that Gen.
Won Lossow. the mutinous reichswehr
commander and now Dictator Won
Kahr's military adjutant, be with
drawn as head of the federal troop
contingents garrisoned in Bavaria,
and that these be restored to the
Jurisdiction of DR.. Gessler, minister
of defense, and his chief of staff,
Gen. Won Seeckt.
The communistic batting of the
reichswehr in Saxony by Zeigner's
minister Of finance. Boettcher, and
his chief Of the chanoeliery, Brand
ler both rabid communist agitators,
is directly responsible for Berlins
determination to put Saxony's pres
ent ultra-red regime out of business.
Both these officials in recent speeches
advocated preference for red terror"
against white dictatorship, and prac-
ticalIy called upon the communists
there to arm and take up physical
opposition to the reichswehr.
Separatists Ignored.
The news that the Rhineland sepa-
ratists have actually formed a pro-
visional government is not taken seri-
ously in official quarters here, where
it is declared that the new min
listers" have nothing to govern. 1t
is represented that the separatists,
wherever they have succeeded in
lodging themselves, are only able to
maintain their positions by support
and protection from the Franco-Bel-
gian occupation authorities.
A protest sent by the German gov
ernment to the allies regarding the
separatist outbreaks argues that the
allies commanders in no case have
the right to recognize separatist rule,
even temporarily. The government
points out that article of the Rhine
land agreement leaves the civil ad-
ministration in German hands and
provides that if the German police
are not strong enough to maintain
order the interallied Rhineland COM
mission must hand over the executive
powers to the military commanders
by proclaiming a state of siege.
Cabinet Crisis Nears.
Tonight's action by the Ebert
Stresmann government, demanding
the resignation of the government of
Saxony, came as a surprise to politi-
cal circles, who had been under the
impression that the Berlin authori-
ties would continue to maintain an
attitude of leniency toward the Saxon
radicals, if only out of consideration
for the united socialist party, which
is allied with the Zeigner regime.
1t is commonly believed now that
this action foreshadows the imme-
diate retirement of the socialists from
the Stresmann coalition government
and that the situation furnishes eie-
ments for an acute parliamentary cri-
sis within the next three days. Bar
Inns procedure against the Saxon
rulers is also viewed as a sop t. Ba-
varia, which is expected to show an
accommodating attitude to Berlin,
despite the outward show of recalci-
trance affected by DR.. Won Kahr.
REPUBLIC MORE SECURE.