The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-07-15

BY Universal Service.
Berlin. July 14.-The escape Of
Can't. George Ehrhardt, daring leade,
Of the Kapp revolution of 1920. from
prison at Leipsic, has set eommun's
tic, socialistic and a large part OF the
republican organizations in Germany
vibrating with agitation.
His mysterious flight. still unex
planned, to which few details were
added today, dominates everything
else in the German press.
The Ruhr. republicans and the
speech of Premier Baldwin OF England
are for the moment almost forgotten
In the intense political feuds, hatreds
charges and counter-charges that
have followed Ehrhardt's escape.
Twenty-Five million marks, the larg
est sum ever offered for the arrest
of a criminal in Germany, is the Of
fer that has been posted over all Ger
many for the capture OF the fugi-
tive.
Fear Civil War.
The communistic, socialistic and O
portion OF the democratic press inter
pret Ehrhardt's escape as certain
signal for coming coup by the ma
tionalists and the approach OF civil
war. The so-called nationalistic or
patriotic press, scarcely wells its sat
isfaction over Ehrhardt's successful
flight from prison and some papers
Of that category print eulogistic bio
graphical notes, painting Ehrhardt as
a great patriot who lives only for the
purpose of helping to free Germany
of radicals within and the enemies
without. The Role Fahne. official
communist organ. declares Ehrhardts q
flight is confirmation of that paper &
alarm cry of Thursday when 1t an
nounced civil war was imminent.
The flight OF Ehrhardt confirms
our repeated assertion that the high
est officials and government circles
stand in with the fascisti." II stated
"Such an escape in broad daylight
from a federal prison can only take
place under strong guard when the
entire republic. including the Cunc
government, is blind.
workers, to your arms" was the
concluding appeal of the Role Fahne
Talk Of Dictator.
It IL highly symptomatic of all po
ntical conditions In Germany today
and still more characteristic Of the
intense distrust and suspicion between
different political groups, that the
escape from prison of this one mar
may be interpreted by so large part
of the socialistic and democratic press
as endangering the existence of the
republic.
More and more one hears in all cir
cles talk that present conditions can
not continue beyond fall and the con
viction expressed that Germany musi
have a dictator.
No trace has been found Of Captain
Ehrhardt up TO late this afternoon
and 1t is believed the marine officer
has reached Bavaria and found re
fuge among its nationalist organi
Ations.
Colonel Schuetzinger, formerly al
army officer of the old regime. bu
now aconvert to socialism and chief oi
police in Dresden, in an article II
vorwaerts, the official socialist organ
today discussed In all seriousness "ths
great danger Of civil war and tbs
chances of success for overthrowinf
the present government by establish
ing a dictatorship over the situation
headed by German Mussolini."
He declared Hitler-Ludendorff fol
lowers have established national so
cialistic garrison in the south Ger
man states, but stated the Hitler
Ludendorff counter revolutionary
army OF 100000. as legend has 1t. II
reality is hardly more than 10000
equipped with little artillery and onl,
moderate number OF machine guns
But being highly organized. this force
as he views It, is quite sufficient L
start the ball rolling.