San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-11

and the Chicago Daily News. -
Copyright, 1928.
Essen Feb. 1O.-Within the last few
DAYS the French have advanced along
the southern edge of the Ruhr BASIN
between the twin cities of Elberfcld ana
Barmen, straddling the Wupper river
and along the British controlled bridge
head on the eastern bank of the Rhlne
east of Cologne. The French declare
that they have no intention of occupy
ing Elberfeld and Barmen, because II
would add Immensely to the difficulty
of the situation, these cities having
combined population Of more than 3OO,--
600. However. one of the largest OF
the hi-coal products factories and color
works is near them.
The occupation of the Lennep sta
ton is supposed TO cut the two cities
from the coal trains coming from the
British area and controls trains hither-
TO running between Elbcrfeld and
Cologne. The French advance covers
the British area through the occupa-
ton of Lennepl Vohnwinkel. BergiSch-
born, DierenghauSPn and Oberghausen
far to the south of the coal region. 1t
is presumed that the French wish to
widen the blunt point advanced from
the Dusseldorf bridgehead and wish
completely to cover the coal and coke
blockade when traffic is resumed with
! Duisbcrg port on the Rhine.
The French moved ahead through a
| rolling country cut with valleys. One
battalion moved at q time in lorries to
| billetS prepared in advance.
The French at 6 o'clock Thursday
morning undertook an expedition which
brought them along the railroad from
! Rccklinghausen to Hearne and Wanne.
| Preceded by Dragons, the infantry
| Travelled in lOrries close ito the rails
while detachments made side trips to
| occupy the stations. The advance was
| completed by Q o'clock when the vast
stations at Wanne and Hearne were
taken after the RhineHearne canal
was crossed.
The French advance was a complete
! surprise TO the German population
which vanished before the vanguard
| There was much confusion in the sta
| tons where the railroad employees left
| hurriedly with their books. cash and
| tickets and where the passengers were
hustling for their baggage. The trains
| were lett where the crews and pas
SengerS abandoned them. Later when
| through trains arrived. they found the
stations in control of the French One
German report has it that the German
conductor of n LangcdrCr train was
killed with the butt of rifle.
The correspondent has Just como from
a trip through the militarized zone
| There were no French in Gelsenkirchen
but several hundred curious Germans
were kent in order by the local police.
In Wanne the French were in consid-
cradle force. Several hundred yards
from the station there were machine
guns trained toward the crowd. Our
taxi, after forcing its way through the
numerous onlookers. went down Sedan
strasse until halted by two dragons.
who blocked the end of the street where
all the shops were closed
The new French advance is towards
the interior Of the Ruhr valley along a
cross line which if continued to Bochum
will cut the remaining road still in
operation. Mainly it gives the French
access TO the Rhine-Hearne canal
which serves to remove coal and coke
and to bring iron ore to an important
area. Probably the French plan is
TO remove coal and coke by water.